Chapter 8: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Gone
I didn’t tell anyone about the journal.
Not Vanessa.
Not Ethan.
Not even Emily.
Some secrets were too heavy to place on someone else’s shoulders.
But I couldn’t ignore it.
For the first time in my life, I questioned everything.
The memories I trusted.
The stories I was told.
The people who raised me.
The people who left.
The next morning, I called Mrs. Bennett.
“I need the name.””
She knew exactly what I meant.
“James…”
“Please.””
Silence.
Then she said:
“Daniel Carter.””
My heart stopped.
Carter.
The same last name.
“The same as mine?””
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
She looked away when we met.
“He was your father.””
I swallowed.
“And where is he?””
Mrs. Bennett hesitated.
“Alive.””
The word felt impossible.
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
“Someone does.””
She looked uncomfortable.
“Sarah did.””
That night, I confronted Vanessa.
She was sitting in the living room when I walked in.
“We need to talk.””
She looked at my face.
“What happened?””
I placed the journal on the table.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you find that?””
“You knew about this.””
She went pale.
“James…”
“You knew.””
She stood.
“I knew Sarah was looking into it.””
“But you knew about me?””
“No.””
Her answer came too quickly.
I studied her.
“Vanessa.””
She closed her eyes.
“I knew there was a man from Sarah’s past.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
She sat down.
“James, I swear I didn’t know he was your father.””
“Then why hide anything?””
“Because Sarah begged me.””
That shocked me.
“Sarah?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She found out the truth shortly before she died.””
“What truth?””
Vanessa looked at the journal.
“She believed Daniel Carter was dangerous.””
I felt a chill.
“Dangerous how?””
“He had been searching for you.””
“Why?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That scared me.
“Why?””
She whispered:
“Because he believed you had something that belonged to him.””
“What?””
Before she could respond, Ethan walked through the door.
He looked serious.
“What’s going on?””
I turned toward him.
“Did you know about Daniel Carter?””
The color drained from his face.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“You told him?””
“I had to.””
I stepped closer.
“How long?””
Ethan swallowed.
“Since Sarah died.””
My anger exploded.
“You all knew?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Not everything.””
“You let me live my entire life without answers.””
“I was trying to protect Emily.””
I laughed.
“Everyone uses that excuse.””
Ethan looked hurt.
“Because it’s true.””
“No. Because it’s easier than admitting you were scared.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Ethan said something I never expected.
“Daniel Carter came back.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“He contacted me two weeks ago.””
My heart raced.
“Why?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Because he wants to meet his son.””
I felt frozen.
A man I never knew existed.
A man who abandoned me.
Was looking for me.
“Where is he?””
Ethan reached into his pocket.
He handed me a card.
An address.
I stared at it.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice came through.
“James?””
I couldn’t speak.
“I know you’re holding the card Ethan gave you.””
My blood ran cold.
“How?””
The man laughed softly.
“Because Ethan was never the only one watching your family.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who are you?””
The voice became colder.
May you like
“I’m the father you were told was dead.””
The call ended.
