Chapter 10: The Secret My Father Buried
“Your father did.””
My mother’s words stayed in the air long after she stopped speaking.
I held the phone against my ear, unable to process what I had just heard.
Behind me stood Michael.
Across from me stood Daniel.
And somewhere in between them was the truth I had spent fifteen years searching for.
“Mom,” I said slowly.
“What do you mean?””
Her breathing trembled.
“I mean your father knew what was happening.””
Daniel looked away.
Michael’s expression changed.
Even he didn’t know.
“Tell me everything.””
A long silence followed.
Then my mother said:
“Your father discovered what Daniel and Robert were doing with the company. The money they were moving. The fake accounts. Everything.””
I looked at Daniel.
He didn’t deny it.
“But why would he hide it?””
My mother’s voice became quieter.
“Because he was afraid.””
“Of Daniel?””
“No.””
That answer surprised me.
“Then who?””
She hesitated.
“Of what would happen if the truth came out.””
I closed my eyes.
This was becoming another maze of secrets.
Everyone had pieces.
Nobody had the whole story.
“Mom, I need you to stop protecting people.””
“I’m not.””
“You are.””
My voice cracked.
“You protected Dad. You protected Daniel. You protected Vanessa. Everyone.””
“I was protecting you.””
The words hurt because I knew she believed them.
But sometimes protection was just another name for keeping someone trapped.
“Where are you?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if Daniel knows—”
She stopped.
I looked at my uncle.
“Mom.””
A quiet sound came through the phone.
Like she was crying.
“Ethan, your father left something behind.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What?””
“A journal.””
Michael stepped closer.
“A journal?””
My mother heard him.
“Who is that?””
I ignored the question.
“Where is it?””
“I don’t have it anymore.””
“What do you mean?””
“Your father gave it to someone he trusted.””
I looked at Daniel.
My uncle immediately shook his head.
“No.””
My mother continued.
“Someone who promised to protect the truth.””
“Who?””
Another pause.
Then she said:
“Michael Parker.””
Everyone became silent.
I looked at Michael.
His face changed.
“I never had it.””
My mother heard him.
“Michael?””
“Yes.””
“You’re alive.””
Her voice broke.
“I thought you were gone.””
Michael closed his eyes.
“I almost was.””
I looked between them.
“You both know each other?””
Neither answered.
That was becoming a habit.
I lowered the phone.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at me.
“I’m done being the last person to know what happened to my own life.””
I turned to Michael.
“You had my father’s journal?””
“No.””
“Then where is it?””
He looked at Daniel.
“I thought he had it.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I never touched it.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course.””
Nobody had anything.
Nobody knew anything.
Yet somehow everyone knew enough to lie.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
A photo appeared.
A woman sitting in a dark room.
My mother.
My blood turned cold.
Underneath the picture was a message.
*Stop searching, Ethan. Your mother paid the price for your father’s mistakes.*
I looked up.
“Mom?””
The call had ended.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Daniel saw my face.
“What happened?””
I showed him the message.
For the first time that night, Daniel looked genuinely afraid.
“Where did you get this?””
“Who cares?””
I grabbed my coat.
“I’m finding my mother.””
Michael stepped forward.
“I’ll come with you.””
“No.””
He stopped.
“I need answers from you too.””
“I know.””
“Then prove you’re not another person using me.””
Michael nodded slowly.
“I understand.””
I turned toward Daniel.
“And you.””
His expression hardened.
“What?””
“You’re coming.””
“Ethan—”
“I’m done asking.””
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Daniel quietly said:
“You really are your father’s son.””
I looked at him.
“I hope I’m nothing like him.””
The words hurt him.
I saw it.
But I didn’t care.
Because somewhere out there, my mother was in danger.
May you like
And for the first time in fifteen years, I wasn’t chasing the past.
The past was chasing me.
