Chapter 8: The Family Member Who Lied
I called my aunt before I even realized I was holding my phone.
She answered on the third ring.
“Emma?””
Her voice sounded worried.
Not surprised.
Worried.
That bothered me.
“How did you know it was me?””
A pause.
“I saw what happened at the wedding.””
Of course she had.
Everyone had.
“I need to ask you something.””
“What?””
I looked at Mark.
Then at the document.
“Why is your name connected to my mother’s trust?””
Silence.
A long silence.
Too long.
“Emma…”
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Answer me.””
She sighed.
“Where did you get that?””
That was not an answer.
And I knew it.
“You knew.””
“Emma, listen.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“I’m tired of listening.””
The words came out before I could stop them.
“I spent my entire life thinking my father abandoned me. Then I found out Mark knew about my inheritance. Then I found out my mother left messages because she expected this.””
I swallowed.
“And now I find out you were involved?””
My aunt was quiet.
Then she said:
“Your mother wanted me to keep the secret.””
I closed my eyes.
Another secret.
Another person making choices for me.
“Why?””
“Because she was scared.””
“Of Daniel?””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
I looked at Mark.
He was listening.
“Then why did you help him access the trust?””
“I didn’t.””
“The document has your signature.””
My aunt went silent.
Then I heard her whisper:
“He forged my approval.””
The room changed.
“What?””
“Emma, Daniel knew my position as your mother’s lawyer. He knew people would trust my name.””
I looked at the paper again.
A fake signature.
A fake request.
A fake story.
All designed to make Mark look guilty.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
My aunt’s voice broke.
“Because Mark asked me not to.””
I stared at him.
Of course.
Another secret.
I ended the call.
Slowly.
Then I looked at Mark.
“Why?””
He didn’t pretend not to understand.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.””
He looked down.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
I stood.
“You all think protection means control.””
My voice rose.
“You took away my choices.””
Mark looked like he wanted to speak.
But I continued.
“I chose Daniel to walk me down the aisle because I thought I had finally found my father.””
A tear slipped down my face.
“I pushed you away because I thought you were the person hiding the truth.””
Mark’s eyes filled.
“And I let you.””
The honesty hurt.
“Why?””
“Because if I told you everything, I was afraid you would see me as someone who only stayed because of your inheritance.””
I froze.
“What?””
He shook his head.
“That money never mattered to me.””
“Then what mattered?””
His voice broke.
“You.””
The room went silent.
“You were six years old when I met you. You were angry. You wouldn’t talk to me. You hated that I wasn’t your real father.””
I looked away.
“I remember.””
Mark smiled sadly.
“You threw a plate of spaghetti at me.””
Despite everything, a small laugh escaped.
“I was six.””
“I know.””
He wiped his eyes.
“And then two weeks later, you called me Dad for the first time.””
My chest tightened.
I remembered.
A little girl.
A man sitting beside her.
A bedtime story.
A promise.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new message.
This time, from Daniel.
One sentence.
*You finally know the truth about the money. Now ask Mark why he never told you who your biological father really was.*
I stared at the message.
My blood ran cold.
Slowly, I looked up at Mark.
“Who my biological father really was?””
His face went completely pale.
And that was when I knew.
There was one more secret.
May you like
The biggest one.
The one everyone had been protecting me from.
