Chapter 14: The Brother Nobody Mentioned
The name stayed in the room.
Thomas.
My father’s brother.
Someone I had never heard mentioned.
Not once.
Not at family gatherings.
Not during childhood stories.
Not even after my mother died.
It was like he had been erased.
I turned toward my father.
“Who is Thomas?””
My father didn’t answer.
That scared me more than anything.
“Dad.””
He looked at the floor.
“Thomas was my older brother.””
“Was?””
He swallowed.
“We haven’t spoken in years.””
“Why?””
His silence was unbearable.
Marcus smiled.
“Because your father knows exactly what Thomas did.””
My father suddenly turned toward him.
“Shut up.””
Marcus laughed.
“You spent years pretending he didn’t exist.””
I looked between them.
“What happened?””
My father sat down.
“I thought he was gone.””
“Gone?””
He nodded slowly.
“After my mother died, Thomas changed.””
“How?””
“He became obsessed with money.””
The pieces started connecting.
Marcus.
The estate.
The hidden documents.
The betrayal.
My father continued.
“He believed everything our family had should have belonged to him.””
Evelyn frowned.
“But why would he work with Marcus?””
Marcus answered.
“Because Thomas introduced me to Richard.””
My stomach dropped.
“You knew him before?””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at my father.
“Your uncle was the first person who saw the value of this property.””
I looked at the house around me.
“My mother’s house.””
Marcus nodded.
“He knew the land would become valuable.””
Diane crossed her arms.
“So Thomas was behind everything?””
Marcus smiled.
“Not everything.””
That answer bothered me.
“What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, Evelyn’s phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“What?””
She answered.
Nobody spoke.
Then she said:
“No, that’s impossible.””
She walked away from us.
I watched her carefully.
Another secret.
Another person hiding something.
My father noticed too.
“Nia.””
I looked at him.
“I need to tell you something.””
I almost laughed.
“Another secret?””
He looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
I waited.
“Your mother didn’t die believing Marcus was responsible.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She suspected Thomas.””
I stared.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because she asked me not to.””
“Why?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“She wanted you to grow up without hatred.””
I looked away.
My mother had protected everyone.
Even the people who failed her.
A loud crash interrupted us.
Everyone turned.
The front door was open.
Nobody had heard it move.
Diane whispered:
“Someone came in.””
My father grabbed a fireplace tool.
Marcus smiled.
“You should leave.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because Thomas doesn’t like losing.””
The hallway remained empty.
Then footsteps sounded.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Coming from the kitchen.
My father went completely pale.
“No.””
The footsteps stopped.
A man appeared in the doorway.
Older than my father.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
He looked exactly like someone who had spent years believing the world owed him something.
My father whispered:
“Thomas.””
The man smiled.
“Hello, Richard.””
Nobody spoke.
Thomas looked around the room.
His eyes landed on me.
“So this is Evelyn’s daughter.””
I felt anger rise.
“She was my mother.””
He smiled.
“Yes.””
Then he looked at the documents.
“The little girl finally found the truth.””
I stepped forward.
“You betrayed her.””
Thomas laughed.
“No.””
He looked at Marcus.
“Marcus betrayed her.””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“What?””
Thomas smiled.
“You really thought I didn’t know what you were doing?””
The room froze.
Marcus stared.
“You’re lying.””
Thomas walked further inside.
“I gave you information.””
He paused.
“But I never gave you permission to destroy everything.””
My mind raced.
Two villains.
Two stories.
Two people blaming each other.
Thomas looked at me.
“Your mother was right about one thing.””
“What?””
He smiled.
“She was surrounded by traitors.””
Then he placed a small folder on the table.
“This is the original agreement between Marcus and Richard.””
My father stepped forward.
“Thomas.””
But Thomas ignored him.
“And it proves something your mother never discovered.””
I looked at the folder.
“What?””
May you like
Thomas smiled.
“That Richard wasn’t the only one who signed it.””
