Chapter 9: The Funeral Lie
The gun pointed directly at me.
Nobody moved.
Not even Ethan.
The man holding it was Robert Hayes.
My mother’s lawyer.
My father’s oldest friend.
The person who gave the speech at my mother’s funeral.
The person who stood beside me and said, “Your mother would want you to keep living.””
I remembered believing him.
I remembered thanking him.
Now I wondered if every word had been a lie.
“Robert,” Michael said quietly.
Robert looked at him.
“Don’t.””
There was something different in his voice.
Not confidence.
Desperation.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.””
Robert smiled.
“No, Michael. I know exactly what I’ve done.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Were you working with him?””
Her face broke.
“No.””
“Then why are you here?””
She looked at Robert.
Then at me.
“Because he threatened Lily.””
My eyes moved toward the little girl.
She stood behind Vanessa, crying silently.
Robert’s expression remained cold.
“She was useful.””
My stomach turned.
“You used a child?””
“I used what I had.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“You always were a coward.””
Robert laughed.
“And you always thought you were the hero.””
The two men stared at each other.
“You helped her escape,” Robert said.
Ethan didn’t answer.
“You helped Daniel find the pendant.””
Still nothing.
Robert smiled.
“That was your mistake.””
I looked between them.
“What is happening?””
Robert looked at me.
“Your mother discovered a secret about your father’s company.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
He lowered the gun slightly.
“Your father wasn’t broke when he died.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He was rich.””
The room went silent.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did we lose everything?””
Robert looked at Michael.
“Because someone stole it.””
My uncle looked away.
I felt sick.
All my life, I believed my father failed.
That he left my mother with debt.
That we struggled because of his mistakes.
But Robert was saying something else.
“Who?””
Robert smiled.
“Your uncle.””
I looked at Michael.
“No.””
Michael’s eyes closed.
“Daniel…”
“No.””
I backed away.
“Tell me he’s lying.””
Michael didn’t speak.
That hurt more.
Robert continued.
“Your father discovered the theft. He was going to expose him.””
My breathing stopped.
“You’re saying my father was murdered?””
Nobody answered.
But I knew.
I looked at Michael.
“Is that why?””
My uncle’s face collapsed.
“No.””
“Then why?””
Michael whispered:
“Because I was afraid.””
Those words were worse than any confession.
Robert stepped closer.
“Your mother found out years later.””
I looked at him.
“And you helped cover it up.””
His smile disappeared.
“I tried to contain the damage.””
“You destroyed my family.””
“No.””
Robert’s eyes became cold.
“Your mother destroyed it when she refused to stay quiet.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“You’re sick.””
Robert turned toward her.
“You should have listened when I warned you.””
She froze.
I noticed.
“Warned her about what?””
Vanessa looked at me.
Then away.
Robert smiled.
“She knows.””
My heart sank.
“Knows what?””
Vanessa whispered:
“The reason your mother disappeared.””
I stepped toward her.
“Tell me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“She wasn’t taken.””
The room went silent.
“She left.””
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“What?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“She chose to disappear because she was trying to protect someone.””
“Who?””
She looked at Lily.
Then at me.
And whispered:
“Your sister.””
A sudden sound came from the hallway.
A phone ringing.
Everyone froze.
The ringtone was familiar.
It was the same one my mother used when she called me as a child.
Ethan looked toward the door.
“No.””
I turned.
The phone kept ringing.
Robert’s face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Because he knew who was calling.
I slowly walked toward the sound.
I picked up the phone.
A voice spoke.
A voice I had spent three years believing I would never hear again.
“Daniel.””
I closed my eyes.
“Mom?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Don’t trust Michael.””
I looked back at my uncle.
Then my mother said:
“And don’t trust Vanessa either.””
The line went silent.
But before it disconnected, I heard one final thing.
A child’s voice in the background.
May you like
A little girl saying:
“Mom, is that Daniel?””
