Chapter 7: The Truth Behind My Father’s Final Days
I read the message three times.
Each time, the same anger burned through me.
Not fear.
Not anymore.
Whoever had been controlling my family for months had made one mistake.
They thought I was still the same person who ignored warning signs.
The person who believed every comforting explanation.
The person who trusted people simply because they shared my last name.
They were wrong.
I turned to Ethan.
“Where is Mom?””
His expression changed.
“You can’t confront her.””
“Why?””
“Because if she knows we have proof, she’ll destroy it.””
I held up my phone.
“They already know.””
Ethan looked at the picture again.
His face became pale.
“They followed Toby.””
“Yes.””
For the first time, Ethan looked genuinely angry.
Not defensive.
Not afraid.
Angry.
“They don’t get near him again.””
That was the moment I realized something.
Ethan might have made mistakes.
He might have hidden things from me.
But he was still my brother.
And right now, we had the same enemy.
I picked up the folder.
“Tell me everything.””
Ethan sat down.
“After Dad got sick, Vanessa started spending more time around him. At first, everyone thought she was being supportive.””
“She was.””
“That’s what she wanted us to think.””
I looked through the documents.
“She convinced Dad to update some financial information.””
“She told him it was just organization. But she was slowly collecting access.””
“And Mom helped?””
Ethan nodded.
“Mom knew Vanessa was trying to gain control. But she didn’t care.””
I looked away.
“Why?””
Ethan hesitated.
“Because she was in debt.””
The answer felt like another betrayal.
“How much?””
“Enough that she was desperate.””
I closed the folder.
“So she helped Vanessa for money.””
“Yes.””
I thought about my father.
He spent his entire life building something for his family.
And the people closest to him were planning how to take it.
“What about his illness?””
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
“That’s the part I still can’t prove.””
My heart stopped.
“What do you mean?””
“Dad’s condition got worse after Vanessa started managing his medication schedule.””
I stood.
“Are you saying—”
“I’m saying we need proof before accusing anyone.””
The same words my father would have said.
Evidence first.
Truth second.
Emotion last.
I hated that he was right.
My phone rang.
This time, it wasn’t unknown.
It was Mom.
I looked at Ethan.
“She knows.””
He nodded.
I answered.
“Hello?””
There was silence.
Then my mother spoke.
“Mark, please come home.””
Her voice sounded broken.
Almost like the mother I remembered.
“I have nothing to say to you.””
“You need to listen.””
“I listened for years.””
A pause.
“I know you found the files.””
My grip tightened.
“How?””
“Because Ethan was never good at hiding things.””
I looked at Ethan.
His face changed.
“Where are you?””
My mother ignored the question.
“Your father made mistakes too, Mark.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He wasn’t the perfect man you think he was.””
I felt a wave of anger.
“Don’t talk about him like that.””
“You don’t know the whole truth.””
Everyone kept saying those words.
The whole truth.
The hidden truth.
The secret truth.
I was tired of secrets.
“What did Dad do?””
My mother became quiet.
Then she said:
“He knew about Vanessa.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Her voice dropped.
“He knew she was dangerous before you ever met her.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“He didn’t accidentally let her into our lives.””
I looked at Ethan.
Neither of us spoke.
My mother continued.
“Your father hired Vanessa.””
The room went silent.
“What are you talking about?””
“She wasn’t just your girlfriend, Mark.””
A strange feeling moved through me.
“What was she?””
My mother whispered:
“She was supposed to expose someone else.””
I stared at the wall.
Everything had changed again.
“Who?””
My mother didn’t answer immediately.
Then she said:
“Your father believed someone in the family was stealing from him.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Who?””
My mother’s voice trembled.
“Mark…”
The call suddenly cut off.
I called back.
No answer.
Then Ethan’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face drained of color.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What happened?””
He slowly lowered the phone.
“That was the hospital.””
My stomach dropped.
“What hospital?””
He looked at me.
“Mom was brought in.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“What happened?””
May you like
Ethan stared at me.
“They said she collapsed after meeting someone.””
