Chapter 3: The Boy Who Was Forced to Lie
The voice on the phone belonged to a man who sounded exhausted.
Not threatening.
Not angry.
Just scared.
“Sabrina, my name is Daniel Reeves.””
I stood up from the kitchen table.
“Should I know you?””
“No. But your son does.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Before I explain, I need to ask you something. Did Noah give you a black card?””
I looked at the card sitting on the table.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
“Yes.””
A long silence followed.
Then Daniel whispered:
“Then he trusted you more than anyone else.””
I closed my eyes.
My son.
The boy who had looked me in the eye and chosen his father.
The boy who had broken my heart in court.
He had trusted me.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
Daniel exhaled.
“Three months ago, I worked as a financial auditor for Ellis Carter’s company.””
My stomach tightened.
“And?””
“And I discovered that Ellis wasn’t just hiding money from you during the divorce.””
The kitchen suddenly felt freezing.
“He was hiding money from everyone.””
I walked toward the window.
Rain tapped against the glass.
“How does Noah fit into this?””
Daniel hesitated.
“That’s the part you won’t believe.””
“Try me.””
Daniel spoke slowly.
“Your son found documents in his father’s office.””
I frowned.
“Noah?””
“Yes. Ellis thought Noah was just a kid playing video games. He didn’t realize Noah was paying attention.””
I remembered all those nights Noah sat quietly while Ellis worked.
I remembered him watching.
Listening.
Learning.
“What documents?””
“Proof of illegal transfers. Hidden accounts. Money moved through different companies.””
My hand covered my mouth.
“No.””
“I wish it wasn’t true.””
I looked at the black card.
“Why give me six million dollars?””
Daniel answered immediately.
“Because it belongs to you.””
The words made no sense.
“What?””
“That money was transferred into a protected account years ago.””
“By who?””
Another silence.
Then Daniel said:
“Your father.””
I froze.
My father had died when I was twenty-five.
He had left me almost nothing.
At least, that was what I believed.
“What does my father have to do with Ellis?””
Daniel’s voice became quieter.
“Your father knew Ellis before you married him.””
My knees weakened.
I sat back down.
“No. That’s impossible.””
“Your father was an investor. He helped Ellis build his company.””
I stared at the wall.
Memories rushed through my mind.
My father warning me.
The night before my wedding.
The serious expression on his face.
“Sabrina, success changes people. Be careful who you build a life with.””
I thought he was being overly protective.
I thought Ellis was different.
Daniel continued.
“Your father discovered Ellis was planning to take control of everything. Before he died, he created a trust account.””
“And he put six million dollars there?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
“Because the account could only be activated under one condition.””
I swallowed.
“What condition?””
Daniel paused.
“Your marriage had to end.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I felt like my entire life had been a puzzle where someone had hidden the final pieces from me.
“My father knew Ellis would leave me?””
“He knew Ellis would eventually choose money over loyalty.””
I looked down at the black card.
Then I remembered Noah’s face at the airport.
His shaking hands.
His whispered words.
Don’t cry, Mom. Wait for me.
My son wasn’t abandoning me.
He was protecting me.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time from Noah.
*Mom, I’m sorry I hurt you.*
My eyes filled with tears.
The next message appeared.
*Dad made me choose him in court. He said if I didn’t, you would lose everything.*
My hands trembled.
A third message came.
*I lied because I found something Dad is hiding. Something that can destroy him.*
I barely had time to process the words.
The front door of my apartment rattled.
Someone was trying to open it.
I stood completely still.
Daniel’s voice came through the phone.
“Sabrina?””
I couldn’t answer.
The door handle moved again.
Harder this time.
Then a voice came from the hallway.
“Sabrina Carter?””
My blood turned cold.
Because I recognized that voice.
May you like
It belonged to Ellis’s lawyer.
And he wasn’t supposed to know where I lived.
