Chapter 14: The Secret My Father Took to His Grave
I stared at the photograph.
My father.
A woman beside him.
Both smiling.
Both looking happy.
My entire life had been built on missing pieces.
And every time I found one answer, another question appeared.
“Who is she?””
Martha didn’t answer.
She walked toward the table and placed the folder down.
“You wanted the truth.””
I looked at her.
“Then tell me.””
Nick stepped beside me.
“Careful, Emma.””
I nodded.
Because I knew Martha.
Even now.
Even after everything.
She never gave information away.
She traded it.
Martha opened the folder.
“Your father wasn’t the perfect man everyone wants to remember.””
Laura looked hurt.
“Don’t do this.””
Martha looked at her.
“You don’t get to protect him anymore.””
I looked between them.
“What happened?””
Martha pulled out another document.
“Daniel had another family.””
The words hit the room.
Nobody moved.
Nick looked at me.
“Emma…”
I couldn’t speak.
Another family?
My father?
The man I had spent years believing abandoned me?
Martha continued.
“He had another daughter.””
Laura closed her eyes.
“No.””
“Yes.””
I looked at my mother.
“Did you know?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
My heart broke.
“You knew?””
Laura whispered:
“I knew about the woman.””
The room went quiet.
“But not the child.””
I stepped back.
I didn’t know who to believe anymore.
“My whole life…”
My voice cracked.
“My whole life, everyone knew things except me.””
Nobody argued.
Because it was true.
Martha watched me.
“This is why I tried to keep you away from everything.””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“This is why you controlled me.””
She looked away.
“You were too young.””
“I’m not a child anymore.””
Martha’s face softened.
Only slightly.
“That’s what scares me.””
The honesty surprised me.
“You’re scared of me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked at the photograph.
“Because you’re more like Daniel than you realize.””
Nick picked up the document.
“What is this?””
Martha ignored him.
“Your father always believed he could fix everything.””
She laughed quietly.
“He thought money could solve betrayal.””
Laura’s voice became sharp.
“He was trying to protect Emma.””
“By hiding the truth?””
Martha looked at her.
“By lying.””
The room became silent.
Because that was the one thing everyone had done.
Everyone had lied.
Even the people who loved me.
A loud knock interrupted us.
Everyone froze.
Nick looked toward the door.
“Who knows we’re here?””
Nobody answered.
The knock came again.
Harder.
Then a voice.
“Emma Reed?””
My blood turned cold.
I knew that voice.
Richard.
But he was supposed to be in custody.
Nick moved toward the door.
“No.””
Richard’s voice came again.
“I know you’re inside.””
Martha looked terrified.
Not angry.
Terrified.
“That’s impossible.””
Nick looked at her.
“You know he escaped?””
She didn’t answer.
The silence was enough.
The door shook.
Richard shouted:
“You want the truth about Daniel?””
Everyone froze.
Then he said:
“Ask Martha why your father’s last phone call was to her.””
I looked at Martha.
Her face went white.
“My father called you?””
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
May you like
And then Richard added:
“Ask her what she told him before he died.””
