Chapter 10: The Brother I Trusted
The video kept playing in my mind long after the screen went black.
James.
My brother.
The person who had stood beside me at my wedding.
The person who helped me search for Emily.
The person who told me, “We’ll find her, Daniel. I promise.””
Every memory I had of him suddenly felt different.
The officer replayed the footage.
The hallway appeared again.
Emily walking toward the exit.
Vanessa following.
Then James entering the frame.
My stomach turned.
“No.””
The word escaped my mouth.
Emily looked at me.
“Daniel…”
I shook my head.
“No. That can’t be him.””
The officer paused the video.
“We need you to confirm.””
I stared at the screen.
The height.
The posture.
The way he walked.
It was James.
I knew it.
But accepting it felt impossible.
“He helped me look for her,” I whispered.
The officer nodded.
“Which is why we need to understand his involvement.””
I left the room without answering.
I needed air.
The estate courtyard was cold and silent.
The party decorations outside looked ridiculous now.
Balloons.
Flowers.
A sign that said congratulations.
A celebration built on a nightmare.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
Emily stood behind me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she said the words I had been waiting to hear.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked away.
“For what?””
“For everything.””
Her voice broke.
“For hiding Lily’s past. For not telling you about Michael. For letting you believe I abandoned you.””
I closed my eyes.
“I spent six years thinking you chose to leave.””
“I know.””
“I hated you.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
“And now I find out you were trapped.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I tried to come back.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
She looked toward the estate.
“Because every time I got close, someone stopped me.””
My jaw tightened.
“James?””
Emily nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
I felt like I had been punched.
“What did he do?””
Emily sat on a stone bench.
“The night I escaped from Vanessa, I thought I was finally free.””
She took a shaky breath.
“I reached the highway. I found a phone. I tried calling you.””
“But?””
“James answered.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Emily looked at me.
“He said you didn’t want to speak to me.””
I stared at her.
“That’s impossible.””
“I know now.””
She wiped her tears.
“But back then, I believed him.””
I sat down slowly.
“My own brother told you I didn’t want you.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Emily looked at me.
“Because he wanted you to hate me.””
The silence was unbearable.
Behind us, the estate doors opened.
An officer stepped outside.
“Mr. Bennett.””
I stood.
“Yes?””
“We found your brother.””
My chest tightened.
“Where?””
“He’s waiting inside.””
I walked back into the estate.
Every step felt like walking toward a stranger.
James was sitting in the same ballroom where my engagement party had begun.
The same place where my entire life had fallen apart.
When he saw me, he looked tired.
Not guilty.
Not afraid.
Tired.
“Daniel.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
He looked down.
“I knew this day would come.””
“Answer me.””
He sighed.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I almost laughed.
“Protect me?””
My voice rose.
“You helped destroy my family.””
James shook his head.
“No. I saved you from something worse.””
Emily stepped into the room.
“Don’t.””
James looked at her.
“You still don’t understand.””
“No,” I said.
“I understand that you lied to me.””
He looked at me.
“You think Emily is innocent?””
I froze.
Not because I believed him.
Because I was tired of hearing the same excuse.
Everyone who betrayed me claimed they were protecting me.
James continued.
“She never told you the full truth about Lily.””
I clenched my fists.
“Enough.””
But James wasn’t finished.
“You think Michael is the only reason she ran?””
Emily looked nervous.
“What are you talking about?””
James looked at her.
“You never told him what happened before Lily was born.””
Emily went pale.
My heart sank.
Another secret.
James leaned forward.
“Daniel, ask your wife why she was really hiding from Michael.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Emily.
May you like
And for the first time that night…
She looked afraid of the question.
