Chapter 6: The Man Everyone Trusted
Richard didn’t run.
That scared me more than if he had.
A guilty person should panic.
A guilty person should make excuses.
But Richard simply stood there.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like he had already prepared for this moment.
“Where did you get that?”” he asked.
My father stared at him.
“That’s your first question?””
Richard looked around.
“Marcus, whatever Denise told you—”
“Emily is alive.””
The sentence stopped him.
For the first time, Uncle Richard looked afraid.
My father stepped closer.
“She called Maya.””
Richard’s eyes moved to me.
Not with concern.
With calculation.
And I noticed.
The same look Denise had given me for years.
Like I was a problem to solve.
Like I was something in his way.
“You spoke to her?”” Richard asked.
My father’s jaw tightened.
“Why do you care?””
Richard didn’t answer.
That was the answer.
Jordan moved beside me.
For once, he wasn’t hiding.
“She told us you knew.””
Richard looked at him.
“Jordan.””
His voice became softer.
Almost kind.
That was what made it worse.
“Don't get involved.””
Jordan shook his head.
“No.””
Richard blinked.
“No?””
Jordan swallowed.
“I should have said something years ago.””
Denise looked at her son.
“Jordan.””
“I saw things.””
His voice cracked.
“I knew Maya was scared.””
I looked at him.
He looked ashamed.
“I knew Mom was lying.””
The room stayed silent.
Richard sighed.
“Everyone is being emotional.””
Dad laughed.
“Emotional?””
“Yes.””
Richard adjusted his jacket.
“This is exactly why I worried about you, Marcus.””
My father stared.
“Worried about me?””
“You let grief control you.””
The audacity of it almost made me angry enough to forget fear.
Almost.
Richard continued.
“You built an empire, but you never learned how to protect it.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Protect it from my own brother?””
Richard smiled slightly.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The anger.””
Dad stared.
Richard shook his head.
“You always were predictable.””
My father’s face hardened.
“Tell me where Emily is.””
Richard looked away.
“I don't know.””
My mother’s voice suddenly came from the phone.
“Richard.””
Everyone froze.
He heard her.
And his expression collapsed.
For the first time, his mask cracked.
“Emily…”
My mother whispered:
“You told me Marcus abandoned me.””
Richard said nothing.
“You told me he chose Denise.””
Still nothing.
“You told me Maya hated me.””
His face changed.
I felt sick.
Because those were the exact fears I had carried.
That my mother left.
That my father moved on.
That nobody wanted me.
Richard had built my pain.
Piece by piece.
Dad’s voice was barely controlled.
“You lied to my wife.””
Richard looked at him.
“I was protecting you.””
“No.””
Dad shook his head.
“You were destroying me.””
Richard stepped closer.
“You don't understand.””
“No.””
My father pointed toward the door.
“You don't understand.””
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Not because my father wanted revenge.
Because there were documents.
Financial records.
Evidence.
Years of manipulation.
Richard sat in the back of the police car without saying another word.
But before they closed the door, he looked at me.
And he smiled.
A small smile.
A warning.
I felt my blood turn cold.
Because he wasn't acting like someone who lost.
He looked like someone who still had a move left.
That night, I slept in my own room for the first time in months.
Dad sat outside my door.
Like he was afraid if he left, I would disappear.
At midnight, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
But something made me answer.
A message appeared.
One sentence.
*You think you know what happened to your mother. You don't.*
My hands went cold.
Another message came.
*Ask your father why he never told you about the night she disappeared.*
I stared at the screen.
Because there was one thing I knew.
My father had never lied to me.
May you like
At least…
I thought he hadn't.
