Chapter 8: The Letter My Father Left Behind
I drove to Ava’s house without remembering the drive.
The entire way, my hands stayed tight around the steering wheel.
Danger.
That was the word I couldn’t forget.
Not betrayal.
Not cheating.
Danger.
When I arrived, Ava was standing outside holding a yellow envelope.
She looked scared.
Not worried.
Scared.
I had known my sister my entire life.
I had seen her angry.
I had seen her heartbroken.
I had never seen fear on her face.
“What does it say?””
She handed me the envelope.
“I haven’t read all of it.””
“You found it.””
“I opened it because your name was on the front.””
I looked down.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My father’s.
The man who taught me how to ride a bike.
The man who made pancakes every Sunday morning.
The man I thought had left me nothing but memories.
My hands shook as I opened it.
The letter was short.
But every sentence felt heavier than the last.
*Nia,*
*If you are reading this, something happened that I was afraid of.*
I stopped.
Ava watched my face.
I kept reading.
*There are people who will tell you they are protecting you. Be careful. Sometimes the person standing closest to you is the person who knows how to hurt you the most.*
My eyes moved to Marcus.
He stood near the doorway.
Silent.
Watching.
*Marcus Bennett’s family destroyed everything we built. But Marcus is different. Or at least, I hope he is.*
I looked up.
Marcus looked shocked.
I continued.
*If Marcus finds you, he will know the truth about your inheritance. He will know what your father left behind.*
My heart raced.
Inheritance.
I looked at Ava.
“What inheritance?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
I kept reading.
*The company shares are not gone. They are hidden. They belong to you.*
My breath caught.
Company shares.
Not money.
Not a house.
Something much bigger.
*I hid them because I knew they would come looking. I trusted only one person to protect you if I failed.*
The next line made me freeze.
*That person was Marcus’s father.*
I looked at Marcus.
“What?””
He walked closer.
“What does it say?””
I didn’t answer.
Because suddenly everything was more complicated.
My father blamed Marcus’s family.
But he also trusted someone from that family.
The letter continued.
*If Marcus ever truly loves you, he will tell you the truth. If he lies, run.*
My hands went numb.
Because I already knew the answer.
He had lied.
Ava sat down.
“So what does this mean?””
I looked at Marcus.
He looked devastated.
“I didn’t know about the shares.””
I believed him.
And I hated that.
Because after everything, some part of me still knew when he was lying.
And right now…
He looked genuinely shocked.
Daniel, who had arrived a few minutes earlier, stared at the letter.
“Your father knew.””
“Knew what?””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“That Marcus’s father wasn’t the one who betrayed him.””
Everyone became silent.
I looked at Daniel.
“Then who was?””
Daniel swallowed.
“The person who controlled everything.””
“Who?””
He looked at the letter.
Then at me.
“Your mother.””
I felt like the world tilted.
“My mother?””
“No.””
Ava immediately shook her head.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel looked apologetic.
“I wish it was.””
“My mother loved my father.””
“Maybe she did.””
“Then why would she betray him?””
Daniel reached into his bag.
He placed another document on the table.
A bank transfer record.
A name was visible.
The account holder.
My mother.
The amount.
A million dollars.
The date.
Two weeks before my father died.
I stared at it.
“No.””
Nobody spoke.
“No.””
I pushed the paper away.
“My mother would never.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Nia…”
I looked at him.
“Don’t.””
Because suddenly I realized something.
Everyone had secrets.
My husband.
Daniel.
My family.
Everyone except me.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
Cold.
Calm.
“Nia.””
My blood froze.
I knew that voice.
“Mom?””
There was a long pause.
Then she said:
“I was hoping you would never find that letter.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“Why?””
Her voice softened.
“Because your father was wrong about one thing.””
“What?””
The answer came quietly.
“He thought Marcus was the danger.””
I gripped the phone.
“Then who is?””
May you like
My mother whispered:
“The person standing beside you.””
