Chapter 5: The Secret Inside The Drive
“Because Dad’s death wasn’t an accident.””
Ethan’s words stayed in the air long after the call ended.
I didn’t answer.
I couldn’t.
For years, I had believed my father’s death was the cruel result of age, illness, and bad luck.
I had stood beside his hospital bed.
I had watched doctors explain that his condition had become too complicated.
I had held his hand when he took his final breath.
And now my own brother was telling me everything I believed was wrong.
“Toby,” I said quietly, “go wait in the car.””
He looked at me.
“Dad—”
“Please.””
He saw something in my face and nodded.
As soon as he left the room, I called Ethan back.
He answered immediately.
“Did Clara tell you?””
I froze.
“How do you know about Clara?””
A long silence followed.
Then Ethan sighed.
“Because I’ve been trying to fix this for months.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Fix what?””
“Everything.””
I looked at the USB drive sitting on the table.
“You were working with Vanessa.””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
Almost like he had been waiting to defend himself.
“I was investigating her.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Investigating her? You were sitting with her in a restaurant the day before my wedding.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew something.””
I closed my eyes.
Every conversation.
Every suspicious moment.
Everything felt like pieces of a puzzle I had refused to put together.
“Start talking.””
Ethan exhaled.
“Dad found out Vanessa was trying to manipulate his will. But when he confronted her, he realized she wasn’t acting alone.””
“Clara said you were involved.””
“I was.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
“I was involved in the investigation.””
I said nothing.
“I knew Dad was suspicious. He asked me to watch Vanessa because he didn’t want to hurt you without proof.””
My father had trusted Ethan with something he never told me.
That hurt.
Even if Ethan had been helping.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Dad made me promise.””
I stared at the wall.
“Of course he did.””
Ethan’s voice softened.
“He was afraid if Vanessa knew you suspected her, she would destroy the evidence.””
I looked at the USB drive.
“What’s on this?””
“Videos. Financial records. Messages.””
“And you had it this whole time?””
“No.””
“Then where were you?””
Another pause.
“Trying to get the last piece.””
My anger started turning into confusion.
“What last piece?””
“The person who helped Vanessa access Dad’s accounts.””
My stomach tightened.
“You said it wasn’t you.””
“It wasn’t.””
“Then who?””
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Open the drive.””
The call ended.
I stared at the small device.
For a moment, I didn’t want to know.
Because every answer I found seemed to create another question.
But my father had left this behind for me.
So I plugged it into my laptop.
Three folders appeared.
“Vanessa.””
“Estate.””
“Family.””
My hands went cold when I saw the third folder.
Family.
I opened it.
Inside were recordings.
The first video showed Vanessa meeting someone in a private office.
The quality was poor.
The camera angle was hidden.
But the voice was clear.
Vanessa.
“You said he would sign.””
Another voice answered.
A man.
“Relax. Mark trusts me.””
I stopped breathing.
Because I knew that voice.
It belonged to someone I had known my entire life.
My father.
No.
Not my father.
Someone else.
Someone younger.
Someone I had defended countless times.
Ethan.
I watched the video again.
Then again.
My hands started shaking.
The door opened.
Toby stepped inside.
“Dad?””
I quickly closed the laptop.
But he saw my face.
“What happened?””
I looked at my son.
For the first time, I didn’t know if the truth would protect us or destroy us.
“I don’t know yet.””
My phone rang.
It was Ethan.
I answered.
Before I could speak, he said:
“Mark, whatever you saw…”
I waited.
“Don’t believe it.””
My eyes moved back to the laptop.
“Why?””
May you like
His voice became desperate.
“Because that video is exactly what they wanted you to find.””
