Chapter 9: The Truth Buried With Him
For several minutes after the video ended, nobody moved.
The television screen reflected our faces back at us.
Four people standing in the ruins of a life that none of us fully understood.
My mother sat frozen on the couch.
Isabella stood near the window.
Daniel stared at the blank screen like he expected Victoria to appear again.
And me?
I was trying to figure out which memories belonged to me and which ones had been built on lies.
"Mom.""
My voice sounded different.
Older.
Colder.
She looked up.
I saw the pain in her eyes.
The kind of pain someone carries when they know the truth will destroy something precious.
"I need you to tell me everything.""
She closed her eyes.
"I was afraid this day would come.""
"Why?""
"Because once I told you, I couldn't protect you anymore.""
I laughed quietly.
A bitter sound.
"Protect me?""
I looked around the room.
"Everyone keeps saying they were protecting me.""
My voice rose.
"But everyone lied to me.""
My mother lowered her head.
And she didn't argue.
That hurt more.
Daniel walked toward the table.
"There is something you need to understand about Thomas.""
I looked at him.
"Why should I trust anything you say?""
He accepted that.
"You shouldn't.""
The honesty surprised me.
"But I spent twenty-five years searching for the truth because my father died being called a criminal.""
He placed a photograph on the table.
A picture of three people.
My mother.
Thomas Reeves.
Richard Carter.
They were standing outside a small house.
They looked happy.
Like normal people.
Like people who had no idea their lives were about to collapse.
"Thomas and Richard were brothers," Daniel said.
"Not by blood.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Your grandfather adopted Thomas after finding him alone as a child. Richard was his biological son.""
I stared at the photo.
"So they weren't actually brothers.""
"No.""
Daniel shook his head.
"But they loved each other like they were.""
My mother touched the photograph.
"Richard and Thomas grew up together.""
Her voice was barely audible.
"They built Carter Industries together.""
I looked at her.
"And Victoria?""
Daniel answered.
"Victoria was obsessed with Richard.""
My mother's expression changed.
"Don't make it sound simple.""
Daniel looked at her.
"It wasn't.""
He sat down.
"Victoria believed Richard belonged to her. When he chose Evelyn, she saw it as betrayal.""
I looked at my mother.
"And Thomas?""
She swallowed.
"Thomas was my friend first.""
A pause.
"Then something changed.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"You loved him.""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
The word was quiet.
But it destroyed me.
I stepped back.
"So Richard raised another man's son.""
My mother immediately stood.
"No.""
Her voice was stronger.
"Richard raised you because he chose you.""
I looked away.
"He knew?""
She nodded.
"He knew before you were born.""
The room went silent.
"He knew Thomas was your father?""
"Yes.""
"Then why?""
My mother cried.
"Because Richard loved you.""
She walked closer.
"Your biological father was dying, Nathaniel.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Thomas discovered what Victoria was doing inside the company. He found evidence.""
My mother looked at Daniel.
"Evidence that could destroy her.""
Daniel nodded.
"He was going to expose her.""
"But he never did.""
"No.""
My mother looked down.
"Because he died before he could.""
I remembered Victoria's words.
She stole him from me.
A horrible realization formed.
"Victoria killed him.""
Nobody answered.
But nobody denied it.
Daniel finally spoke.
"My father believed that too.""
I looked at him.
"Then why did he stay silent?""
"Because he had no proof.""
The room fell quiet.
Then Isabella spoke.
"She had proof.""
Everyone turned.
She stood there with tears in her eyes.
"My mother kept everything.""
Daniel looked at her.
"What?""
"She kept records.""
Isabella walked toward the table.
"She kept them because she was afraid someone would betray her.""
She laughed sadly.
"She never trusted anyone. Not even me.""
I looked at her.
"Where are they?""
She hesitated.
Then:
"I know where she hid them.""
My first instinct was anger.
"How convenient.""
She looked down.
"I deserve that.""
For once, she didn't defend herself.
That made it harder.
"Why tell us?""
Her eyes met mine.
"Because I finally understand something.""
"What?""
"I spent years trying to punish the wrong people.""
The words hung between us.
"I thought hurting your family would make mine whole again.""
She looked toward my mother.
"But I became the same kind of person I hated.""
My mother said nothing.
Because forgiveness was not something she could give yet.
Neither could I.
The next morning, we went to Victoria's old estate.
A place she had abandoned years earlier.
The house looked frozen in time.
Dust covered everything.
Family portraits lined the walls.
A perfect image of a perfect family.
A lie.
Isabella led us to an old study.
"My mother never allowed anyone here.""
Daniel searched the shelves.
My mother stood silently.
Then Isabella stopped.
"There.""
Behind an old painting was a hidden compartment.
Inside was a metal box.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Documents.
Photographs.
Recordings.
Everything Victoria had hidden.
The truth.
Daniel grabbed the first document.
His face changed.
"What?""
I looked at him.
He handed it to me.
It was a confession.
Not written by Victoria.
By Thomas.
My biological father.
The first line made my heart stop.
*If you are reading this, then Victoria failed to erase the truth.*
I continued.
*Richard, I am sorry. I never wanted you to carry the burden of raising my son. But you are the only man I trust to love him.*
My vision blurred.
Then I read the final sentence.
*The person who betrayed us was not Victoria alone. Someone inside Evelyn's family helped her.*
I looked up.
"What?""
Daniel took the paper.
Everyone read it.
Someone inside my mother's family.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
My mother suddenly went pale.
"No.""
"What?""
She pointed at the signature.
Her hands shook.
"Thomas wrote this the night before he died.""
I looked at her.
"Mom?""
She whispered:
"Because he knew who the traitor was.""
A sound came from behind us.
A slow clap.
Everyone turned.
Victoria stood in the doorway.
May you like
Holding a gun.
"I was wondering when you would find that.""
