Chapter 7: The Person They Protected
I went back to the house that evening.
Not because I wanted to.
Because I needed answers.
My father opened the door.
This time, he didn’t look angry.
He looked scared.
“You found something.””
Not a question.
A statement.
I held up the papers.
“What is this company?””
His face changed.
Karen appeared behind him.
“What happened?””
I looked at both of them.
“You tell me.””
Nobody moved.
Finally, my father stepped outside.
“Nathan.””
“No.””
I held the papers tighter.
“You don’t get to control this conversation anymore.””
His eyes dropped.
“You found the transfers.””
“Yes.””
He nodded slowly.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t.””
That sentence made my blood run cold.
“You were hoping I wouldn’t find out?””
“I was hoping you wouldn’t have to carry this.””
I laughed.
“You already made me carry it.””
He had no answer.
I pointed at the papers.
“What was this money for?””
My father stayed silent.
Karen stepped forward.
“It was complicated.””
I looked at her.
“Everything with you two is always complicated.””
“Nathan—”
“No.””
My voice rose.
“You took my mother’s money. You hid it from me. You threw me out.””
Karen’s face hardened.
“You don’t understand what happened.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at my father.
And that hesitation told me everything.
They were still protecting someone.
“Who?””
Neither answered.
I looked between them.
“Who are you protecting?””
My father finally spoke.
“Your uncle.””
I froze.
“My uncle?””
My mother’s brother.
The man I barely remembered.
“What does he have to do with this?””
My father sat down.
“When your mother got sick, she discovered your uncle had financial problems.””
I frowned.
“And?””
“He asked for help.””
“How much?””
My father looked away.
“A lot.””
I stared at him.
“You gave him my money.””
“No.””
“Then what?””
My father’s voice became quiet.
“I borrowed from it.””
I laughed.
“You borrowed?””
“Yes.””
“Did you pay it back?””
Silence.
That was the answer.
I stepped back.
“So you destroyed everything my mother built because you wanted to save someone else?””
His eyes filled.
“I thought I was doing the right thing.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
I pointed at him.
“You made a choice.””
He looked down.
“You’re right.””
The admission surprised me.
“I made a choice.””
For a second, I saw the father I remembered.
The one who used to teach me how to ride a bike.
The one who stayed up late helping with science projects.
The one who disappeared after my mother died.
“I thought if I fixed everything, nobody would have to know.””
I looked at Karen.
“And she knew.””
Karen nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would hate us.””
I stared at her.
“You were afraid I’d hate you after you betrayed me?””
She looked away.
“Yes.””
The honesty almost made it worse.
My father stood.
“Nathan, I know sorry doesn’t fix this.””
“No.””
“It doesn’t.””
“I need you to understand something.””
I waited.
“I didn’t throw you out because I stopped loving you.””
I looked at him.
“You threw me out because you already had.””
He flinched.
The words landed.
And I hated that part of me still cared.
Because anger was easier than grief.
My phone buzzed.
Claire.
I looked at the screen.
A message.
Nathan, I found something else. You need to come here immediately.
I looked back at my father.
“What else?””
He noticed my expression.
“What?””
I didn’t answer.
Because deep down, I already knew.
This story wasn’t over.
May you like
There was still something my mother had hidden.
Something important enough that Claire sounded afraid.
