Chapter 18: The Last Lie Nathan Told
I couldn’t hear anything after Daniel said the name.
Nathan.
Again.
My brother.
The man who had been beside me through every tragedy.
The man who claimed he protected me.
“No.””
Daniel smiled.
“You still defend him.””
“Because you’re a liar.””
“Maybe.””
Daniel shrugged.
“But ask yourself something.””
He stepped closer.
“Why did Nathan always know where the evidence was?””
I said nothing.
“Why was he always there after someone disappeared?””
Silence.
“Why did he push you away from Emma?””
My mind replayed every memory.
Every conversation.
Every warning.
Every moment Nathan told me to let go.
I looked at Emma.
“Is it true?””
She looked at me.
And I saw the answer before she spoke.
“I don’t know everything.””
That was worse.
“You don’t know?””
“I know Nathan helped Daniel.””
My chest tightened.
“But I don’t know if he knew how far Daniel would go.””
Daniel laughed.
“He always knew.””
Then the warehouse doors suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
Nathan walked in.
For a moment, nobody moved.
He looked older.
Broken.
Not like the confident man who always had answers.
Like someone who had finally run out of places to hide.
“Stop.””
His voice was quiet.
Daniel smiled.
“Perfect timing.””
Nathan looked at me.
“Michael.””
I couldn’t speak.
“How could you?””
His face changed.
“I tried to fix it.””
“Fix it?””
My voice shook.
“You destroyed my life.””
“No.””
He stepped forward.
“I saved your life.””
I laughed.
“That’s what everyone says.””
Nathan looked at Daniel.
“You were never supposed to involve Lily.””
Daniel shrugged.
“You lost control of your piece.””
Piece.
That word made me sick.
Nathan looked ashamed.
“I made mistakes.””
“You helped him.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
Nathan continued.
“I helped him hide the fraud.””
Emma closed her eyes.
“But I never wanted anyone hurt.””
I stared at him.
“Emma disappeared because of you.””
Nathan looked away.
“Yes.””
The answer destroyed something inside me.
“She trusted me,” Nathan whispered.
“She asked me to protect you.””
“And you didn’t.””
“I tried.””
“You lied.””
“I was afraid.””
The anger disappeared for a second.
Because I saw it.
Nathan wasn’t proud.
He was drowning.
“What were you afraid of?””
Nathan looked at Daniel.
“He had something on me.””
“What?””
Nathan swallowed.
“He knew I caused the accident.””
The room went silent.
Emma stepped forward.
“What accident?””
Nathan looked at her.
“The night Emma disappeared.””
My heart stopped.
Nathan continued.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt her.””
I felt sick.
“What did you do?””
He closed his eyes.
“I followed her.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew she was going to expose Daniel.””
The truth came out slowly.
“I wanted to convince her to wait.””
“And?””
“She refused.””
Nathan’s voice broke.
“Then the car crashed.””
Nobody moved.
“I called Daniel instead of the police.””
Emma covered her mouth.
“Why?””
Nathan looked at me.
“Because I thought he would help.””
A bitter laugh escaped him.
“I was wrong.””
Daniel smiled.
“You were always weak.””
Nathan looked at him.
“No.””
For the first time, my brother sounded certain.
“You were always evil.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
Nathan reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small recording device.
“I recorded everything.””
Daniel froze.
Nathan looked at me.
“Everything I knew.””
My heart pounded.
“Why now?””
Nathan looked at Lily’s photo.
“Because I realized I was protecting the wrong person.””
Then the lights flickered.
A loud crash came from outside.
Everyone turned.
A fire alarm started screaming.
Smoke began filling the warehouse.
Daniel smiled.
And I knew immediately.
This wasn’t over.
Because Daniel wasn’t running.
May you like
He was trying to erase everything.
Including us.
