Chapter 6: The Truth About That Night
Ryan didn’t say anything.
That scared me more than yelling would have.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Emily was upstairs with her stuffed rabbit, finally asleep after the worst day of her life.
But downstairs, everything I had built felt like it was shaking.
Ryan put the phone on the table.
“Rachel.””
I looked at him.
“Tell me.””
I sat down slowly.
Because there was no avoiding it anymore.
“I didn’t lie about your father.””
Ryan looked away.
“But you hid something.””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
He waited.
Three years ago, Ryan’s father had died suddenly.
Everyone thought it was a heart attack.
Everyone except me.
Because I had been there that night.
Not when it happened.
But shortly before.
I had gone to the family house to drop off Emily’s forgotten blanket.
That was when I heard Diane and Mark arguing.
I remembered standing outside the office door.
I remembered Mark’s voice.
“You promised me.””
And Diane answering.
“Keep your voice down.””
At the time, I didn’t understand.
I only knew something was wrong.
Then I saw the papers.
Financial documents.
The same kind of documents Ryan had found today.
I told myself it wasn’t my business.
Until Diane saw me.
She grabbed my arm.
Hard.
“Did you hear anything?””
I remembered the fear in her eyes.
Not sadness.
Fear.
“I told you I didn’t want trouble.””
Ryan stared at me.
“You never told me this.””
“No.””
“Why?””
I looked down.
“Because two days later your father died.””
Silence.
Ryan sat down.
“And you thought…”
“I didn’t know what to think.””
My voice shook.
“I was pregnant with Emily. I had lost a baby before. I was terrified. I didn’t want to destroy your family without proof.””
Ryan rubbed his face.
“So you kept it from me for three years.””
“Yes.””
He looked hurt.
And I understood why.
“I’m sorry.””
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Ryan answered.
“Hello?””
Nobody spoke.
Then a man’s voice came through.
“Ryan?””
Ryan stood immediately.
“Mark?””
I couldn’t hear everything.
Only Ryan’s side.
“Where are you?””
Pause.
“What do you mean you found something?””
Another pause.
Then Ryan looked at me.
His face changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then whispered.
“Are you sure?””
When he ended the call, I knew.
Something had happened.
“What did he say?””
Ryan looked toward the staircase where Emily was sleeping.
Then back at me.
“Mark wants to meet.””
“Why?””
He picked up the blue folder.
“Because he says Diane wasn’t trying to steal my money.””
My heart sank.
“Then what was she trying to hide?””
Ryan looked at the papers.
And answered quietly.
“She was trying to hide who really took the money.””
I felt cold.
“Who?””
Ryan looked at me.
“The person who has been lying to us for three years.””
And then he said a name I never expected.
May you like
My name.
“Rachel… Mark says the person who forged the documents was you.””
