Chapter 8: The Night Our Father Died
“You told me you knew who killed Dad.””
Nathan stared at Ethan.
“I know who arranged it.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
Nora stepped away from them.
Claire stood near the kitchen entrance, silent.
Ethan held his father’s letter in one hand.
“Where were you the night he died?””
Nathan’s jaw tightened.
“At the house.””
Ethan felt his pulse hammering.
“You told everyone you were in Boston.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
“Because Dad called me.””
“What did he say?””
Nathan looked toward the windows.
“He said he finally had proof.””
“Proof against Nora?””
“No.””
“Against who?””
Nathan rubbed his face.
“He wouldn’t say on the phone.””
Ethan remembered that night.
Rain against the windows.
His father calling at 10:17 p.m.
Ethan had ignored it because he was in a business dinner.
By midnight, his father was dead.
For three years, Ethan had hated himself for missing that call.
“What happened when you arrived?””
Nathan spoke slowly.
“Dad was in his study.””
“Alive?””
“Yes.””
“Was anyone else there?””
Nathan hesitated.
“Nora.””
Ethan looked at her.
She shook her head immediately.
“That’s not true.””
“I saw you.””
“You saw someone leaving.””
“I saw you.””
Nora stepped forward.
“I arrived after your father called me.””
“Why would he call you?””
“Because he knew I was being used.””
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“He knew you were stealing from him.””
“No. He knew who was forcing me.””
Ethan raised his voice.
“Then say the name!””
Nora flinched.
Silence returned.
Ethan looked at both of them.
“I’m done with half-truths.””
He placed the letter on the table.
“My daughter is hiding because someone photographed her sleeping. Someone prepared fake medical records about me. Someone instructed Nora to put something in my tea. And now I’m learning my father may not have died naturally.””
His voice dropped.
“So the next person who lies to me walks out that door.””
Nora stared at him.
Then she whispered:
“Your mother.””
Nathan closed his eyes.
Ethan didn’t move.
“What?””
“Your mother was controlling the accounts.””
“No.””
“She recruited me.””
“No.””
“Ethan—”
“My mother hated you.””
“Eventually.””
“She begged me not to marry you.””
“Because I stopped following orders.””
Ethan shook his head.
“That makes no sense.””
Nathan spoke quietly.
“It does.””
Ethan turned.
Nathan continued.
“Mom controlled the family trust before Dad changed it.””
“She managed charitable accounts.””
“She managed more than that.””
Nathan picked up the second phone.
“She was moving money for years.””
Ethan stared at him.
“Why?””
“We never found out.””
Nora answered.
“I did.””
Everyone looked at her.
She walked toward the dining table and opened her handbag.
Slowly this time.
She removed a small brass key.
“I kept insurance.””
Nathan frowned.
“What does that open?””
“A deposit box.””
“Where?””
Nora looked at Ethan.
“Your father gave it to me the night he died.””
Nathan’s expression changed.
“You said you never spoke to him.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
“Because he made me promise.””
Ethan stared at the key.
“What’s inside?””
“Records. Transfers. Names.””
“And you never showed me?””
“I was afraid.””
“You married me.””
“I married you because I loved you.””
Nathan scoffed.
Nora spun toward him.
“That part was real.””
“Was the tea real too?””
Nora’s face twisted.
“I spent three years trying to keep them satisfied without destroying Ethan.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You forged my medical history.””
“Yes.””
“You helped change my trust.””
“Yes.””
“You put something in my drink.””
Tears rolled down her face.
“Yes.””
“Don’t call that protecting me.””
“I know.””
For once, she didn’t defend herself.
Ethan took the key.
“Where’s the box?””
“First Federal.””
Nathan looked at his watch.
“We need to move.””
“Why?””
“Because if Mom knows we’re together, she knows Nora talked.””
Ethan’s phone buzzed.
A message from Mrs. Alvarez.
*Someone is outside.*
His heart stopped.
Another message appeared.
*Two cars. I locked the doors. Lily is with me.*
Ethan grabbed his coat.
“Where is she?””
Nathan immediately moved toward him.
“Wait.””
“You said Lily was safe.””
“She was.””
“Address.””
Nathan gave it to him.
Ethan headed toward the door.
Then Nora said:
“Ethan.””
He stopped.
She held out the brass key.
“There’s something you need to know before you open that box.””
“What?””
“The records aren’t the most important thing inside.””
Nathan frowned.
“What else is there?””
Nora looked at Ethan.
“A video your father recorded the night he died.””
Nobody spoke.
Ethan took the key.
Then the front windows suddenly filled with headlights.
The black SUV from the driveway had pulled directly toward the house.
A second vehicle stopped behind it.
Car doors opened outside.
Nathan looked through the curtain.
His face changed.
“They’re here.””
Ethan’s phone rang again.
This time the caller ID showed his mother’s actual number.
He answered.
Her voice was calm.
Almost affectionate.
“Ethan, I need you to listen carefully.””
His hand tightened around the key.
“Where is Lily?””
A pause.
Then his mother said:
“That depends on which brother you choose to trust.””
Ethan looked at Nathan.
His mother continued.
“Because Nathan hasn’t told you what he did to your father that night.””
Nathan whispered:
“Hang up.””
Ethan didn’t.
“What did he do?””
May you like
His mother answered with five words.
“He was holding the medication.””
