Chapter 6: My Grandmother’s Final Warning
I read the sentence again.
Then again.
But the words didn’t change.
Your father is not the person you think he is.
The room felt smaller.
My father stood across from me.
For the first time in my life, I wondered if I truly knew him.
“Nia,” he said softly.
I looked up.
“Did Grandma write this because she was angry with you?””
His face fell.
“No.””
“Then why would she say that?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Claire looked between us.
“She wanted you to know everything.””
My hands tightened around the letter.
I kept reading.
*“Richard made choices years ago that he regrets. But regret does not erase consequences.””*
My father sat down.
His eyes closed.
“I made mistakes.””
Everyone looked at him.
“What mistakes?”” Dylan asked.
My father didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
He looked at his son.
“I was involved with Marcus.””
The room froze.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
My father looked at me.
“Not like you think.””
“That’s what everyone says before they explain something terrible.””
He looked down.
“In 1998, Marcus approached me with an investment opportunity.””
Dylan frowned.
“You invested with him?””
“Yes.””
My father’s voice became quieter.
“I lost money.””
“How much?””
“A lot.””
Claire shook her head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
“That’s not what happened.””
My father looked at her.
“Claire.””
She stood.
“You didn’t lose money, Richard.””
My father’s face changed.
“You helped him move it.””
The silence was unbearable.
My heart stopped.
“What?””
My father looked devastated.
“I didn’t know what he was doing.””
Claire’s voice cracked.
“You knew enough.””
Dylan stepped back.
“Dad…”
My father looked at him.
“I swear to you, I never knew about the victims.””
“Victims?””
Claire nodded.
“Marcus wasn’t just stealing from strangers.””
She looked at me.
“He targeted families.””
My fingers went numb.
“My grandmother?””
“Yes.””
I looked at the letter.
The truth had been hidden for years.
But why?
Why protect Vanessa?
Why protect Marcus?
My father whispered:
“Your grandmother found out I had helped Marcus.””
I stared at him.
“And she never forgave you.””
He looked away.
“No.””
The pain in his voice almost made me feel sorry for him.
Almost.
“But she didn’t disown you,” I said.
“No.””
“Why?””
He didn’t answer.
Claire did.
“Because your grandmother believed people could change.””
I looked down at the letter.
That sounded like her.
She always believed there was good left in everyone.
Even when they didn’t deserve it.
I turned the page.
The next part was shorter.
*“Nia, the $120,000 was not placed in Vanessa’s care. I created a separate account only you could access when you turned twenty-one.””*
My breath caught.
“What?””
Dylan moved closer.
“What does that mean?””
I kept reading.
*“If the account was emptied or transferred, someone forged your documents.””*
My father looked at me.
“They stole it.””
The room went silent.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
Again.
I opened it.
This time there was no photo.
Only a sentence.
*“Stop looking for answers, Nia. Some truths destroy families.””*
Dylan saw the message.
“Who keeps sending these?””
Claire’s face suddenly went pale.
“What?””
She pointed at the phone.
“That number.””
“What about it?””
Claire whispered:
“That’s Marcus’s old number.””
Nobody moved.
My father grabbed the phone.
“That’s impossible.””
Claire shook her head.
“No.””
Her voice trembled.
“He’s alive.””
A loud crash came from outside.
Everyone turned toward the window.
A car was parked across the street.
The headlights were off.
Someone was sitting inside.
Watching us.
Then the driver’s door opened.
A man stepped out.
An older man.
Gray hair.
Black coat.
My grandmother’s photo fell from my hand.
Because I recognized him.
The man walked toward the house.
May you like
And before he reached the door, my father whispered the name I had been waiting to hear.
“Marcus.””
