Chapter 4: The Man Holding the Past
Marcus stood in the doorway with a calm smile.
The kind of smile that belonged to someone who believed they had already won.
Vanessa immediately stood.
“Marcus, no.””
He ignored her.
His eyes stayed on me.
“You always were curious, Daniel.””
I stepped forward.
“Give me the letter.””
He laughed softly.
“You don’t even know what you’re asking for.””
“It belonged to my father.””
“Exactly.””
He walked farther into the room.
“And your father was a very interesting man.””
My fists tightened.
“Don’t talk about him.””
Marcus tilted his head.
“Why? Because you only know the version everyone wanted you to know?””
Vanessa moved between us.
“Marcus, please leave.””
He looked at her with disappointment.
“You’re really going to pretend you’re innocent now?””
Her expression changed.
“I made mistakes.””
“You made choices.””
I looked between them.
“What happened between you two?””
Marcus smiled.
“Ask your wife.””
Vanessa looked away.
I felt something break inside me.
“Tell me.””
She whispered.
“I met Marcus because he promised he could help me.””
“Help you do what?””
“Find out what really happened to your father.””
I stared at her.
“You went looking for answers behind my back?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
Marcus laughed.
“Still using that excuse?””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“You manipulated me.””
“No.””
His smile disappeared.
“I reminded you of what you were willing to do.””
The words hung in the air.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What does he mean?””
She didn’t answer.
That scared me more than anything.
Marcus placed the envelope on the table.
“You want the truth?””
I stepped closer.
“Yes.””
He pushed the letter toward me.
“Then read it.””
I reached for it.
But before my fingers touched the paper, Marcus spoke.
“There’s something you should know first.””
I stopped.
“What?””
He leaned closer.
“Your father didn’t die because of an accident.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“Marcus…”
He continued.
“He was trying to expose someone.””
My eyes moved to the letter.
“Who?””
Marcus looked directly at me.
“Someone who is still alive.””
The room became completely silent.
My father’s death had never been an accident.
Someone had taken him away.
And that person had been watching me for years.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single page.
The first line made my entire body go cold.
Because my father hadn’t written my name.
He had written Vanessa’s.
I looked up slowly.
“Why would my father write your name?””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
Marcus stepped back.
May you like
And then he said the one thing I never expected to hear.
“Because your wife was the last person to see him alive.””
