Chapter 7: My Brother's Biggest Lie
“Please don't trust your brother. He knows what really happened to your mother.””
The call ended before I could ask another question.
I stood in Richard's living room, holding my phone against my ear.
Across from me, my brother hadn't moved.
“Who was that?”” he asked.
I lowered the phone.
“Sarah.””
His face changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You know her,” I whispered.
Richard looked away.
“Emily, sit down.””
“No.””
“Please.””
“You've known about our father for twenty-six years. You've had a letter from Mom for eleven years. And now a woman claiming to be my sister says you know what happened to Mom?””
Richard rubbed his face.
“There's a lot you don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
He glanced at the photograph on the table.
“Sarah is your half-sister. Thomas had another relationship before he married your mother. She was raised by her mother in Wisconsin.””
“Why didn't Mom tell me?””
“She tried.””
“When?””
“Before she died.””
I shook my head.
“You mean that letter in the blue folder?””
Richard nodded.
“Mom wanted to introduce you to Sarah. But Daniel found out.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he do?””
“He threatened to expose something about her.””
“What?””
Richard sat down.
“Sarah's mother had been involved in the original company. She had documents showing that Thomas transferred shares to her before he married Mom. Daniel believed those shares could give him access to the controlling ownership.””
I stared at him.
“So Sarah knows about the company?””
“Yes.””
“And you knew where she was?””
Richard nodded.
I felt something break inside me.
“Why did you let me think I had no family?””
Richard's eyes filled.
“Because Mom believed Daniel would use you to get to her.””
“He already did!””
“I know.””
“No, Richard. You don't know what it feels like to discover that your husband built another family while stealing your money. You don't know what it feels like to find out your father is alive and your mother left you a secret that everyone else seems to understand.””
Richard stood.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“By lying to me?””
He didn't answer.
I grabbed my handbag.
“I'm going to find Sarah.””
“Emily, wait.””
“Don't follow me.””
I walked out.
Sarah sent me an address twenty minutes later.
It was a small apartment building in Evanston, about thirty minutes from Richard's office.
I arrived shortly after sunset.
A woman was waiting outside.
She was in her late thirties, with shoulder-length brown hair and a silver necklace.
The same necklace from the photograph.
When she saw me, her eyes filled.
“Emily?””
I nodded.
She approached slowly.
“You look just like her.””
“Like Mom?””
Sarah nodded.
I looked at her face.
There were similarities I couldn't ignore. The same shape of the eyes. The same small crease beside the mouth.
“Why did you call me?””
She looked toward the street.
“Because I think Daniel is about to do something terrible.””
“What?””
“Transfer the company again. But this time, he won't be using a shell company.””
She unlocked the building entrance.
“Come upstairs. I have something to show you.””
Her apartment was small but immaculate.
There were photographs on the walls, books arranged by color, and a framed picture of my mother on the mantel.
I stopped in front of it.
It showed Mom holding a baby.
Sarah.
“She visited you?”” I asked.
“Twice.””
“Richard said she tried to introduce us.””
“She did. But Daniel intercepted the letters.””
I turned toward her.
“How do you know?””
Sarah opened a drawer and removed a bundle of envelopes.
They were all addressed to me.
Some were dated ten years earlier.
Others were dated eight years earlier.
The most recent was dated three months before my wedding.
I picked it up.
My mother's handwriting.
My name.
My wedding address.
“Why didn't I receive these?””
Sarah's expression hardened.
“Because Daniel collected your mail while you were working. He told Mom you didn't want contact.””
I opened the first letter.
My darling Emily,
I know you are happy with Daniel, and I don't want to interfere. But please remember that love should never require you to surrender your identity, your inheritance, or your right to ask questions.
I pressed the paper against my chest.
My mother had tried to warn me.
For years.
I had never received a single letter.
“Sarah,” I whispered, “did Daniel know Mom?””
She nodded.
“He met her before your wedding.””
“What?””
“He visited her in the hospital during her final months. He told her he wanted to marry you.””
I felt dizzy.
“What did she say?””
Sarah looked toward the window.
“She told him she knew who he was.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who he was?””
Sarah opened another folder.
Inside were photographs of Daniel with Thomas.
One showed them standing outside a restaurant.
Another showed them shaking hands at a company event.
The last photograph was different.
Daniel stood beside my mother in her kitchen.
She was holding a folder.
He was smiling.
But my mother wasn't.
On the back, someone had written:
The day Margaret discovered the second set of books.
“What second set of books?””
Sarah sat down.
“The original company accounts. Thomas had been moving money out of the business for years. Mom discovered it and threatened to expose him.””
“And Daniel?””
“He helped him.””
I stared at the photograph.
“So Daniel knew my mother before he married me.””
“Yes.””
“Did he marry me to get the company?””
Sarah didn't answer immediately.
Then she opened a document.
It was a copy of a private agreement between Thomas and Daniel.
The date was seven months before my wedding.
The document stated that Daniel would gain access to the Carter Construction ownership structure through marriage to Emily Carter.
I felt my knees weaken.
The final paragraph contained one sentence.
Upon successful acquisition of the beneficiary's controlling interest, Daniel Carter shall receive full operational authority over the legacy business.
I looked at Sarah.
“He planned this before we got married.””
She nodded.
“And he wasn't working alone.””
“Who was helping him?””
Sarah hesitated.
“Someone who has been close to you for years.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from Richard.
Emily, please call me. It's urgent.
I ignored it.
Sarah continued.
“Your mother discovered that Daniel had forged documents relating to the trust. She was going to report him.””
“What happened?””
Sarah's voice cracked.
“The night she died, Daniel was at the house.””
I gripped the table.
“Are you saying he killed her?””
“I'm saying I saw his car outside.””
“Why didn't you tell the police?””
“I was seventeen. Daniel came to my house the next morning and told me that if I spoke, Richard would go to prison.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
Sarah pulled out another photograph.
It showed Richard standing beside Daniel outside the hospital where my mother had died.
The photograph was dated the morning after her death.
On the back, someone had written:
Richard agreed to keep quiet.
My heart pounded.
I looked at my phone again.
Richard's message was still there.
This time, I called him.
He answered immediately.
“Emily, where are you?””
“With Sarah.””
A long silence.
Then he said, “Don't let her give you anything.””
“Why?””
“Because she doesn't know the whole story.””
I looked at Sarah.
She was watching me.
“Richard, what happened the night Mom died?””
His voice broke.
“Emily, I was there.””
My blood ran cold.
“Then tell me the truth.””
He took a breath.
May you like
And finally said:
“I was the one who found her.””
