Chapter 5: The Man Who Was There That Night
I held my phone between my fingers.
The message stayed on the screen.
Ask Ryan why he was at your father’s house the night he died.
I looked at my husband.
The man who had kissed my forehead every morning.
The man who held my hand at my father’s funeral.
The man who told me he wished he could have saved him.
“You were there?””
Ryan didn’t speak.
That was enough.
My chest tightened.
“You were at my father’s house the night he died?””
“Emily—”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Don’t start with my name.””
Ryan looked destroyed.
“I was there.””
The truth landed harder than any lie.
“Why?””
He rubbed his face.
“Your father called me.””
“Why would he call you?””
“Because he knew something was wrong.””
I shook my head.
“No. You don’t get to tell me this now. Not after hiding it for years.””
“I wanted to tell you.””
“When?””
He looked at the floor.
“I don’t know.””
That answer hurt.
Because it was honest.
Vanessa moved closer.
“Ryan saved your life.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She nodded.
“The night your father died, someone tried to get into his office.””
Ryan’s expression changed.
“I got there after your father called me.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because your father made me promise.””
I laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I threw the letter onto the bed.
“My dead father’s instructions. Your promises. Vanessa’s secrets.””
My voice broke.
“Does anyone in this room understand what it feels like to be the only person who doesn’t know what’s happening?””
Nobody answered.
Because nobody could.
Ryan slowly reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
“I found this at your father’s house that night.””
I stared at it.
“What does it open?””
“I don’t know.””
“After three years, you don’t know?””
Ryan looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid of what was behind it.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You should have told her.””
“I was trying to protect her.””
“From what?””
Ryan looked at me.
“From the person who killed your father.””
The room went silent.
My heart pounded.
“You said it wasn’t an accident.””
“It wasn’t.””
“Then who did it?””
Ryan looked toward the window.
“I never found proof.””
“But you suspect someone.””
He nodded.
“Your uncle.””
I froze.
“My uncle Michael?””
The same man who gave a speech at my father’s funeral.
The same man who hugged me and said, “Your dad would want me to look after you.””
“No.””
Ryan stepped closer.
“I know what you’re thinking.””
“You’re wrong.””
“Emily—”
“My uncle loved my father.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“People can love someone and still betray them.””
I hated that she said it.
Because some part of me knew it was true.
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time, there was a picture attached.
I opened it.
And my blood ran cold.
It was a photo of my father’s office.
Taken the night he died.
I zoomed in.
Near the desk was a person standing in the doorway.
I recognized the jacket.
The watch.
The silhouette.
My hands started shaking.
Ryan noticed.
“What is it?””
I looked at him.
Then turned the phone around.
Ryan stared at the picture.
His face changed instantly.
“No…”
“What?””
He stepped backward.
“That’s impossible.””
“Who is it?””
Ryan whispered:
“That’s not your uncle.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Then who?””
Ryan looked at me.
May you like
And said a name I never expected to hear.
“It’s your father.””
