Chapter 8: The Brother Who Knew Too Much
I read the message again.
Then again.
My eyes moved from the screen to Ethan.
He looked away.
That was enough.
“Ethan.””
He didn’t answer.
My brother had always been terrible at hiding guilt.
Even when we were children.
When he broke my father’s favorite watch at twelve years old, he had spent ten minutes pretending he didn’t know anything.
Then he apologized before anyone accused him.
This was different.
This was bigger.
“What did you delete?””
Ethan swallowed.
“Daniel…”
“No.””
My voice stopped him.
“Not tonight.””
The garden lights flickered above us.
Behind me was the wedding reception.
Ahead of me was my family.
And somehow, I felt more alone than I ever had.
“What did you delete?””
Ethan looked at my mother.
She closed her eyes.
That hurt.
Because it meant she knew.
“Mom?””
She whispered.
“Let him explain.””
I turned back to Ethan.
“Explain.””
He took a deep breath.
“The first recording was different.””
My heart sank.
“Different how?””
“It showed more.””
“How much more?””
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
She looked terrified.
“The first recording showed Vanessa talking to Robert.””
I stared at him.
“That’s not what the second one showed?””
“No.””
“What did they say?””
Ethan hesitated.
Then answered.
“They talked about your father.””
The air seemed to disappear.
“What about him?””
Ethan looked down.
“They talked about how he was getting suspicious.””
My hands curled into fists.
“When did you hear this?””
“The night before your wedding.””
I stepped back.
“The night before?””
“Yes.””
“And you waited?””
“I wanted proof.””
“You had proof.””
“I had part of it.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You knew something was wrong and you let me marry her?””
Ethan looked devastated.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You protected me?””
I pointed toward the reception.
“My wife just admitted she only cared about money, and you’re telling me you protected me?””
Ethan’s face fell.
“I made a mistake.””
“Yes.””
The word came out immediately.
“You did.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Daniel, please.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She stepped closer.
“I know how this looks.””
“It looks exactly like what it is.””
“No.””
Her voice became desperate.
“You don’t know everything.””
“Then tell me.””
She looked at Robert.
Then back at me.
“I was trying to find out what your father knew.””
I stared.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“When I met you, I didn’t know about the trust.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“But you knew about my family.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked away.
“Because of Robert.””
The name sounded poisonous now.
“What did he tell you?””
She didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
She closed her eyes.
“Robert said your father was hiding something.””
“And you believed him?””
“I didn’t know what to believe.””
“So you investigated me?””
“No.””
“You lied to me.””
She had no response.
Michael stepped forward.
“Daniel, there is something you need to see.””
He handed me a small envelope.
“Where did you get this?””
“Your father’s office.””
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Old.
Faded.
My father.
Robert.
And another person.
A woman.
I recognized her immediately.
Vanessa’s mother.
My breathing stopped.
“What is this?””
Michael answered.
“Your father discovered that Robert had a connection to Vanessa’s family years ago.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“You knew?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
But her face said something else.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“What aren’t you telling me?””
Before she could answer, a loud crash came from inside the reception hall.
Everyone turned.
A scream followed.
My mother ran toward the doors.
I followed.
Inside, guests were gathered around the gift table.
The cream-colored box was gone.
The broken pieces were still there.
But the document Michael had recovered was missing.
I looked around.
“Who touched this?””
Nobody answered.
Then one of Vanessa’s friends slowly raised her hand.
“I saw someone.””
“Who?””
She pointed toward the exit.
A man was walking away.
A man I recognized.
My heart stopped.
Because it wasn’t Robert.
It wasn’t Ethan.
It was someone I thought had nothing to do with any of this.
My father’s old assistant.
The man who had handled his private files.
Michael ran after him.
I followed.
But before we reached the door, my phone buzzed.
Another message.
Another truth.
This time, the sender finally revealed himself.
The message said:
“Daniel, your father never trusted Robert.””
A pause.
May you like
Then another line appeared.
“He didn’t trust me either.””
