Chapter 8: The Price of a Lie
I couldn't speak.
My father's betrayal had always felt emotional.
Personal.
Painful.
But this was different.
This was something with documents.
Numbers.
Proof.
A lie that had been carefully maintained because someone benefited from it.
"How much?"" I asked.
Silas didn't answer immediately.
"Jenna—"
"How much?""
His expression softened.
"Enough to change your life.""
I looked away.
The answer hurt more than the number would have.
Because money was never the thing I wanted.
I wanted my father to see me.
I wanted my sister to admit I mattered.
I wanted someone to say:
You did something incredible.
We are proud of you.
Instead, they built a world where I was the background character in my own life.
Ethan walked into the room.
He had heard the last sentence.
"Felicity knew about this too?""
Nobody answered.
He looked at Silas.
"Did she?""
Silas sighed.
"I don't know.""
But the uncertainty was enough.
Ethan sat down.
His face looked broken.
"I married someone I don't know.""
I looked at him.
"She loved you.""
He laughed sadly.
"Maybe.""
That word was painful.
Because love shouldn't require someone to ignore the truth.
That evening, I went back to my father's house.
This time, I didn't knock.
He was sitting in the living room.
Waiting.
"You know," he said.
I placed the documents on the table.
"Yes.""
He closed his eyes.
"Jenna...""
"No excuses.""
He looked at me.
"Please.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
The word felt strange.
Powerful.
Because I had spent my whole life saying yes.
Yes, I understand.
Yes, it's okay.
Yes, I'll stay quiet.
Not anymore.
"You took something from me.""
My father looked down.
"I know.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"You don't.""
My voice shook.
"You took credit for something I did. Then you took money meant for me. Then you let me believe I wasn't important.""
Tears filled his eyes.
"I was trying to keep the family together.""
I stared at him.
"By destroying me?""
He had no answer.
For once.
No explanation.
No defense.
Just silence.
And maybe that was the most honest thing he had ever given me.
Then the front door opened.
Felicity walked in.
She looked exhausted.
No makeup.
No perfect wedding smile.
Just Felicity.
"I need to talk to you.""
I turned.
"About what?""
She looked at the documents.
"You found out.""
I laughed softly.
"Everyone keeps saying that like I discovered a secret.""
She looked hurt.
"It was complicated.""
I almost couldn't believe it.
"Is that all you have?""
She swallowed.
"I was jealous.""
I waited.
She continued.
"Do you know what it was like growing up next to you?""
I stared.
"Growing up next to me?""
She nodded.
"You were always the good one.""
I shook my head.
"No, I wasn't.""
"Yes, you were.""
Her voice cracked.
"Teachers loved you. Mom trusted you. People believed you.""
I looked at her.
"And you thought taking that away would make you feel better?""
She cried quietly.
"I thought if I had one thing that was mine...""
"You stole it.""
The words were quiet.
But they hit.
Felicity looked down.
"I know.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"You don't.""
She wiped her face.
"I was a kid.""
"You were.""
I nodded.
"But then you grew up.""
Silence.
"Every year, you had a choice.""
She looked at me.
"Every birthday. Every family gathering. Every time someone called you brave.""
My voice broke.
"You could have told the truth.""
She whispered:
"I was afraid.""
I looked at her.
"Of what?""
Her answer was barely audible.
"Of becoming nobody.""
I felt something strange.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
Something else.
Understanding.
Because Felicity had spent her whole life chasing a feeling I had spent my whole life lacking.
Worth.
The difference was...
I never had to steal someone else's to have my own.
My phone rang.
I looked down.
Marcus.
I answered.
"Hello?""
His voice sounded urgent.
"Jenna, I found something else.""
I stepped away.
"What?""
A pause.
Then:
"The accident report wasn't the only document your father changed.""
My heart stopped.
"What else?""
Marcus lowered his voice.
"There was another name on the original paperwork.""
I waited.
"Whose?""
His answer froze me.
"Your mother's.""
I gripped the phone.
"What about her?""
Marcus took a breath.
"Jenna... the night of the accident, your mother wasn't just a witness.""
Silence.
"She was the reason Silas survived.""
I looked toward Felicity.
Toward my father.
Toward the family that had spent years rewriting my story.
And I realized the truth was still not finished.
May you like
Because the biggest lie hadn't been about me.
It had been about my mother.
