Chapter 6: The Groom's Hidden Past
We never made it to the wedding rehearsal.
Instead, we drove straight to my mother's house with Michael behind the wheel and Daniel sitting beside me.
The Charleston streets passed in a blur.
I kept calling my mother.
Every call went unanswered.
Daniel reached for my hand.
"Emily, we'll find her.""
I pulled my fingers away.
"Why did Vanessa say Ethan was investigating you?""
Daniel stared through the windshield.
"I don't know.""
"Then why did you look frightened?""
He turned toward me.
"Because she said your brother was investigating me. That's not something anyone wants to hear.""
"Did you know Ethan had concerns about you?""
"No.""
"Did you ever argue with him?""
Daniel hesitated.
It was barely a second.
But I noticed.
"Daniel?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"One time.""
I turned fully toward him.
"When?""
"About six months before he died.""
Michael glanced at us through the rearview mirror.
"What happened?""
Daniel sighed.
"Ethan came to my office. He accused me of hiding something from you.""
"What were you hiding?""
"Nothing illegal. I was dealing with a financial issue at my company. He thought I was using your inheritance to cover business debts.""
I stared at him.
"My inheritance?""
Daniel nodded.
"Your father had left you a trust. I was helping you manage some of the paperwork because you were overwhelmed after his supposed death.""
I felt sick.
"You never told me Ethan questioned you.""
"Because it was a misunderstanding. I thought we'd resolved it.""
Michael pulled into the driveway.
"Wait. What inheritance?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Your father left a substantial investment portfolio.""
I stared at him.
"My mother told me there was no inheritance.""
Daniel went completely still.
"What?""
"She said Dad left medical bills and nothing else.""
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Michael opened his door.
"Everyone out. We're checking the house.""
The front door was unlocked.
A broken vase lay near the entrance. One of the dining chairs had been knocked over, and a framed family photograph was lying facedown on the floor.
I ran into the kitchen.
"Mom!""
Nothing.
Michael checked the bedrooms.
Daniel searched the backyard.
I found my mother's handbag on the kitchen counter, her keys still inside.
But her medication was missing.
She never went anywhere without it.
A police officer approached me.
"Miss Mitchell?""
I nodded.
"Your mother appears to have left in a hurry. We found no blood, but there are signs of forced entry.""
"Did anyone see her?""
"A neighbor reported a dark SUV leaving around 11:30.""
Michael came back holding a small envelope.
"Emily. Look at this.""
Inside was a photograph of Ethan.
He was standing outside a warehouse, wearing the blue jacket he had been buried in.
On the back, someone had written:
If you want to know what happened, go to the place where your father kept his second family.
I read it twice.
"Second family?""
Michael shook his head.
"I've never heard anything about that.""
Daniel looked at the photograph.
Then he quietly stepped away.
I noticed.
"Where are you going?""
"Outside. I need to make a call.""
"To whom?""
He stopped.
"Emily, please.""
"Who are you calling?""
He looked exhausted.
"My attorney.""
"Why?""
"Because if what Vanessa said is true, this could become a criminal investigation.""
I stared at him.
"Why would you need an attorney?""
He didn't answer.
Michael stepped between us.
"Daniel, I think you should explain yourself.""
Daniel finally spoke.
"Three years ago, the night Ethan died, he called me.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
"I was the last person he spoke to before the accident.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"You told me you were home that night.""
"I was.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Ethan asked me not to.""
I stepped backward.
"What did he say?""
Daniel looked down.
"He said he'd found something about your father. He told me he was going to meet someone and that if anything happened to him, I needed to protect you.""
My voice cracked.
"Who was he meeting?""
"I don't know.""
"Daniel!""
"He wouldn't tell me!""
I stared at the man I was supposed to marry in less than an hour.
For four years, I had believed there were no secrets between us.
Now every answer seemed to create three more questions.
Michael walked toward him.
"Did you tell the police about that call?""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because Ethan specifically asked me not to involve anyone until he had proof.""
I covered my face.
"You kept this from me for three years.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"Stop saying that!""
My voice echoed through the house.
I wiped my tears.
"You don't get to decide what I can handle. You don't get to keep my brother's final words from me.""
Daniel reached for me.
I stepped away.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
My mother was sitting in a chair, her wrists tied together.
Her face was pale, but she was conscious.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
*Unknown:* Your mother is alive. For now. If you want her back, come alone.
A second message followed.
*Unknown:* Bring Daniel. He knows where Ethan is.
I looked up.
Daniel had gone completely white.
Michael grabbed my phone.
"Who sent this?""
I turned toward Daniel.
He wasn't looking at the photograph anymore.
He was staring at the final line.
His lips parted.
Then he whispered something I would never forget.
"Emily... Ethan might actually be alive.""
My heart pounded.
"How do you know?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
And when he finally answered, the truth was worse than anything Vanessa could have invented.
"Because three weeks ago, I received a letter from him.""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded envelope.
My brother's handwriting was unmistakable.
May you like
On the front were five words:
*Daniel, don't marry my sister.*
