Chapter 5: The Uncle I Was Never Allowed to Know
I had spent my entire life believing I knew my family.
My mother.
Me.
That was it.
A small apartment.
A small kitchen.
A small life.
My mother used to tell me that some people were born with huge families, and others were lucky enough to have one person who loved them enough to feel like ten.
I believed her.
Because I had no reason not to.
Now I was sitting in my car outside my apartment, staring at a name I had never heard before.
Daniel Carter.
My uncle.
The man who changed the hospital records.
The man my mother never mentioned.
The man who might have known everything.
My phone rang again.
Gabriel.
I answered.
“Did you find him?””
“No.””
His voice sounded exhausted.
“But I found where he worked.””
“Where?””
“A private medical company.””
I frowned.
“Medical?””
“Yes.””
The word felt wrong.
“Why would my uncle have access to hospital records?””
“I don’t know.””
There was silence.
Then Gabriel said:
“I’m coming to your apartment.””
“You don’t have to.””
“I know.””
“But you’re coming anyway?””
“Yes.””
I almost smiled.
It was the first normal conversation we’d had.
A father and daughter arguing over something small.
Except we weren’t normal.
We were two strangers trying to rebuild twenty-three years overnight.
When Gabriel arrived, he looked nothing like the man from the restaurant.
No expensive suit.
No confident businessman.
Just a tired man holding a folder.
He handed it to me.
“I copied everything.””
Inside were hospital documents.
Names.
Dates.
Signatures.
My mother’s name.
My name.
And at the bottom of one page:
Daniel Carter.
I traced the signature.
“He’s my uncle.””
Gabriel nodded.
“Yes.””
“Did you know him?””
“No.””
“Never?””
“Sarah told me she had a brother once.””
I looked up.
“But she said he was dead.””
Gabriel went silent.
“What?””
He sat down.
“That’s what she told me.””
I felt a chill.
“My mother lied too?””
“Maybe.””
I hated hearing that.
Because my mother was the only person in the world I trusted completely.
But suddenly, even her memories had shadows.
Gabriel noticed my expression.
“Emily.””
“What?””
“Your mother may have lied because she was trying to keep you alive.””
I looked away.
“I don’t know what’s real anymore.””
He didn’t answer.
Because maybe he didn’t either.
A knock came at the door.
We both froze.
Nobody knew where I lived except my coworkers.
And Gabriel.
I walked slowly toward the door.
“Don’t.””
Gabriel stood.
His voice was serious.
“Stay behind me.””
Another knock.
Then a voice.
“Emily?””
My blood turned cold.
I knew that voice.
Daniel.
My uncle.
The man I had never met.
Gabriel looked at me.
“How did he find you?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I had no idea.
The knocking continued.
“Emily, I know you’re inside.””
I stepped closer.
“How does he know my name?””
Gabriel moved toward the door.
“Don’t open it.””
But Daniel spoke again.
“I know about the photograph.””
My heart stopped.
The photograph.
The one only Gabriel, Vivian, and I knew about.
Gabriel looked at me.
Then back at the door.
“Who else did you tell?””
“Nobody.””
Daniel knocked again.
“Emily, please.””
His voice changed.
Less threatening.
More desperate.
“I need to explain.””
Gabriel whispered:
“People who need to explain usually don’t show up at your door.””
I agreed.
But something about Daniel’s voice bothered me.
It wasn’t anger.
It was fear.
I stepped closer to the door.
“Why did you hide my mother’s family from me?””
Silence.
Then Daniel answered.
“Because your mother asked me to.””
I froze.
Gabriel’s expression changed.
“What?””
Daniel continued.
“She knew what would happen if you learned the truth.””
I gripped the edge of the door.
“What truth?””
A long pause.
May you like
Then my uncle said:
“The truth about who your real enemy is.””
