Chapter 10: The Father Who Came Back
Nobody moved.
The man standing in the doorway looked like someone who had survived a war.
His hair was gray at the sides.
A scar crossed his eyebrow.
His clothes were worn, like he had traveled a long distance without stopping.
But his eyes…
His eyes were the same ones I had seen in the mirror my entire life.
Ethan.
My father.
The man I had never known.
My mother stood frozen.
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Then she whispered:
“You’re alive.””
Ethan looked at her.
“I tried to get back to you.””
Her face changed instantly.
Anger.
Pain.
Love.
All fighting at once.
“You tried?””
Her voice cracked.
“Four years, Ethan.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
She stepped closer.
“You don’t know what it was like waking up every day wondering why nobody came.””
Ethan swallowed.
“I know what it was like being locked away knowing you were out there.””
The room became silent.
Detective Harris looked between them.
“Mr. Harrison, we need an explanation.””
Ethan nodded.
“I know.””
He walked inside slowly.
The detective didn’t lower his guard.
“Start with why everyone thought you were dead.””
Ethan looked at me.
For the first time, I saw something in his face.
Regret.
“I wanted Lena to have a normal life.””
I almost laughed.
A normal life?
“My entire life was a lie.””
His eyes moved back to mine.
“I know.””
“You don’t know me.””
The words came out harsher than I expected.
But they were true.
This man had missed every birthday.
Every first day of school.
Every heartbreak.
Every moment I needed someone.
He nodded.
“You’re right.””
That surprised me.
He didn’t defend himself.
He didn’t make excuses.
“I lost the right to call myself your father.””
My mother looked away.
Ethan sat down.
“After I found out what Marcus was doing, I started collecting evidence.””
“What evidence?”” Detective Harris asked.
“Financial records. Messages. Documents connecting him to illegal transfers through your grandfather’s company.””
My grandmother looked down.
Ethan noticed.
“You knew.””
She closed her eyes.
“I found out too late.””
“No,” Ethan said quietly.
“You found out exactly when you chose to protect him.””
My grandmother started crying.
My mother stared at Ethan.
“What happened the night of the crash?””
Ethan took a long breath.
“The crash wasn’t meant for you.””
My mother froze.
“What?””
“Marcus thought I was in the car.””
My stomach dropped.
“He thought he killed you?””
Ethan nodded.
“He had someone follow me. When I realized what was happening, I switched vehicles.””
My mother’s face went pale.
“Then why didn’t you come back?””
Ethan looked at her.
“Because I saw what Marcus did next.””
A chill went through me.
“What did he do?””
“He used the accident to convince everyone you were dead.””
My mother shook her head.
“But I survived.””
“Yes.””
Ethan’s voice became softer.
“And Marcus found out.””
Everyone went quiet.
My mother whispered:
“He knew?””
Ethan nodded.
“He kept you hidden because you were a witness.””
My hands curled into fists.
“All these years…”
My mother looked broken.
“Where was I?””
Ethan looked at her.
“In a private facility owned by someone connected to Marcus.””
“Who?””
Ethan hesitated.
Then looked at my grandmother.
The answer hit before he spoke.
“Patricia knew about it.””
My grandmother started crying.
“I didn’t know she was still alive.””
My mother turned toward her.
“You visited me.””
The room froze.
My grandmother looked up.
“What?””
My mother’s voice shook.
“You came to the facility.””
Nobody moved.
“I remember your perfume.””
My grandmother’s face went white.
“I thought I was imagining things.””
My mother stepped closer.
“You stood outside my door.””
Tears fell from my grandmother’s eyes.
“I couldn’t get you out.””
“You didn’t try.””
The silence afterward was unbearable.
Detective Harris looked at Ethan.
“How did you survive?””
Ethan reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small flash drive.
“This is why Marcus couldn’t find me.””
He placed it on the table.
“The original evidence.””
Detective Harris picked it up.
“What’s on it?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Everything.””
My mother stared at the drive.
“Then why come now?””
Ethan looked toward the station window.
“Because Marcus wasn’t the only one searching for it.””
A notification sound came from Detective Harris’s phone.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He turned the phone around.
A message had appeared.
May you like
One sentence.
*You found Ethan. Now you’ll find out who actually ordered the crash.*
