Chapter 7: My Brother’s Confession
I didn’t open the door.
Not immediately.
I stood there listening to my brother’s voice on the other side, trying to separate the man I knew from the man I feared.
“Renee,” Ethan said softly, “please.””
I almost laughed.
Please.
Such a small word for someone who had just shattered my entire world.
“You need to leave,” I called.
A long silence followed.
Then Ethan sighed.
“I understand why you don’t believe me.””
“You lied to me.””
“I protected you.””
The anger inside me burned.
“You don’t get to decide what protection looks like.””
Maya stepped closer to me.
Her hand held mine tightly.
Ethan heard movement.
“Maya?””
She froze.
His voice changed.
For one second, he sounded like my brother again.
“Are you okay?””
Maya didn’t answer.
“Sweetheart, I need you to listen to me.””
My jaw tightened.
He still used the same gentle voice he used when she was little.
The same voice that made her trust him.
“Don’t call her sweetheart,” I said.
Silence.
Then Ethan spoke quietly.
“Renee, I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
“I was trapped.””
I looked at Mrs. Patterson.
She shook her head.
A warning.
I unlocked the door but kept the chain attached.
Ethan stood outside.
He looked older than he had a week ago.
Tired.
Broken.
But I couldn’t let that fool me.
“Explain.””
He looked at Maya.
Then back at me.
“Thomas found out Daniel was stealing money.””
“I know.””
His expression changed.
“You know?””
“The recording.””
Ethan swallowed.
“So he left it.””
“Yes.””
He looked down.
“Then we’re already too late.””
“What does that mean?””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Daniel wasn’t looking for the evidence.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He was looking for the person who had the evidence.””
My stomach dropped.
“Maya.””
Ethan nodded.
“Thomas trusted her because nobody would suspect a child.””
Maya’s face went pale.
“He used me.””
“No,” Ethan said quickly.
“He protected you.””
I studied my brother.
“You expect me to believe you?””
“No.””
The answer surprised me.
Ethan looked at the floor.
“I wouldn’t believe me either.””
For the first time, he looked genuinely ashamed.
“I helped Daniel.””
The words landed like a punch.
Maya gasped.
I stared.
“You admit it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was drowning.””
He rubbed his face.
“I owed money. Daniel offered to help. At first, I thought it was just moving paperwork.
Hiding losses. Nothing serious.””
“And then?””
“And then Thomas found out.””
My voice became quiet.
“What happened the night he died?””
Ethan looked at me.
“I was there.””
The world went silent.
Maya grabbed my arm.
“You were there?””
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to hit him.
Instead, I whispered:
“Tell me.””
His voice broke.
“Thomas called me. He knew what I had done.””
“Did you kill him?””
Ethan looked horrified.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
He looked toward the road.
Like he was afraid someone was listening.
“Someone who knew Thomas’s plans.””
“Who?””
Ethan hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
“Ethan.””
He looked at me.
“The person who killed my husband.””
His lips parted.
Then he said:
“Renee, it was someone who attended his funeral.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
Ethan looked behind him.
May you like
And whispered:
“Your divorce attorney.””
