Chapter 5: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
I answered immediately.
“Michael?””
For three seconds, there was only silence.
Then a voice spoke.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
“Ethan.””
I gripped the phone.
“Where are you?””
Vanessa stood up.
“Don’t.””
I looked at her.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do.””
Michael sighed through the phone.
“I knew she would be there.””
“Who?””
“Vanessa.””
I turned away from her.
“Are you alive?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
The answer should have relieved me.
Instead, it made everything more confusing.
“Everyone thinks you’re dead.””
“I know.””
“Your brother thinks you’re dead.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Another silence.
Then Michael said:
“Because Vanessa needed everyone to believe I was gone.””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“That’s not true.””
I covered the phone.
“Quiet.””
Michael continued.
“She’s going to tell you she was protecting me.””
“How did you know?””
“Because she always says the same thing.””
I looked at Vanessa.
Her expression was angry now.
Not afraid.
“You’re lying,” she whispered.
Michael heard.
“Is she there?””
“Yes.””
“Then don’t believe everything she says.””
I walked toward the private room window.
“Michael, I need answers.””
“You deserve them.””
“Why did you disappear?””
The silence that followed felt endless.
Finally, he said:
“Because I found out who really destroyed your scholarship.””
I closed my eyes.
The answer I had spent fifteen years wondering about was finally within reach.
“Who?””
Michael exhaled.
“Your father.””
The world seemed to stop.
“My father?””
I barely recognized my own voice.
“My father died when I was twelve.””
“I know.””
“Then what are you talking about?””
Michael lowered his voice.
“Your father wasn’t the man you thought he was.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked just as shocked as I was.
“Michael, explain.””
“I can’t over the phone.””
“Then meet me.””
Another pause.
“Are you alone?””
“Yes.””
“Don’t tell Vanessa where.””
I glanced at her.
“Why?””
“Because fifteen years ago, she wasn’t the only person watching you.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding my phone.
Vanessa immediately stepped closer.
“What did he say?””
I looked at her.
“You tell me.””
She froze.
“What?””
“You knew my father.””
Her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
“You knew him.””
She sat down.
Slowly.
“Yes.””
The word felt like a door opening.
“How?””
“He knew my parents.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She rubbed her hands together.
“Your father and my father were business partners.””
I stared.
“My father owned a construction company.””
“Yes.””
“And?””
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“They had problems.””
“What kind of problems?””
She didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
She looked at me.
“Money.””
I waited.
“Your father was accused of stealing from the company.””
I laughed.
A bitter sound escaped me.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
Her question bothered me.
Because she sounded like she knew something I didn’t.
“My father died before I knew any of this.””
Vanessa nodded.
“That’s why nobody told you.””
“Who is nobody?””
She looked away.
“Your mother.””
The mention of my mother changed everything.
I stepped back.
“Don’t involve her.””
“I’m not.””
“You just did.””
Vanessa stood.
“Ethan, your mother knew more than she admitted.””
I wanted to deny it.
I wanted to believe Vanessa was manipulating me.
But fifteen years ago, my mother had suddenly refused to talk about my father.
Whenever I asked questions, she would simply say:
“Some things are better left buried.””
At the time, I thought she was protecting me.
Now I wasn’t sure.
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Michael.
This time, there was a photo attached.
I opened it.
My breath disappeared.
It was a photograph of my father.
Standing beside Michael.
And beside them was someone I recognized immediately.
Vanessa’s father.
But that wasn’t what shocked me.
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It was the date.
The photo was taken eight years after my father’s death.
