Chapter 8: The Night My Father Died
Marcus stared at the photograph.
His hands felt numb.
The image was clear.
Too clear.
Hannah stood outside his father's old house.
The same night Richard Bennett died.
The same night everyone said had been a tragic accident.
His eyes moved over the picture again.
The street.
The house.
The timestamp in the corner.
Everything looked real.
Impossible.
But real.
Slowly, Marcus looked at his wife.
Hannah's face had gone pale.
"Marcus...""
He held up the photograph.
"Tell me this isn't what it looks like.""
Her lips parted.
No words came out.
That silence hurt more than the picture.
"Tell me.""
She looked down.
"I can explain.""
Marcus felt something break inside him.
Those four words.
Again.
Everyone had an explanation.
Everyone had a reason.
Everyone had hidden something.
"Then explain.""
His voice was quiet.
Almost calm.
Hannah wiped away a tear.
"I was there.""
The room became silent.
Marcus looked at her.
"You were there?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
Evelyn's eyes narrowed.
"I knew it.""
Marcus ignored her.
He only looked at Hannah.
"Why?""
Hannah took a shaky breath.
"Because I went to see your father.""
"That night?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
She looked at the floor.
"Because he asked me to come.""
Marcus froze.
"My father asked you?""
Hannah nodded.
"He sent me a message.""
"Show me.""
"I deleted it.""
His expression changed.
"You deleted it?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because after what happened, I was scared.""
Marcus stared at her.
"You were scared?""
She nodded.
"Not of your father.""
Her voice became smaller.
"Of what would happen if anyone knew I had been there.""
Marcus looked at the photograph.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Hannah closed her eyes.
"Because I thought you would hate me.""
The words landed heavily.
Marcus looked away.
He wanted to be angry.
He wanted to demand answers.
But he also remembered the woman he loved.
The woman who had spent years putting everyone else first.
"Tell me everything.""
Hannah nodded.
"I will.""
She sat down slowly.
"I met your father six years ago, two weeks before our wedding.""
Marcus frowned.
"Six years ago?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Hannah looked at Evelyn.
Then back at him.
"Because he knew about my father.""
Marcus said nothing.
"He knew Daniel had made mistakes. He knew I was trying to expose him. He also knew your mother was involved.""
Evelyn interrupted.
"Careful.""
Marcus turned.
"No.""
His voice stopped her.
"She finishes.""
Hannah continued.
"Your father wanted to help me.""
Marcus looked confused.
"Help you?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Hannah looked at the photograph.
"Because he knew what it felt like to have someone use family against you.""
Marcus felt a painful realization.
His father had understood.
"He told me he made one mistake.""
"What mistake?""
Hannah hesitated.
"He trusted the wrong people.""
Marcus looked at Helen.
Then Evelyn.
"Who?""
Hannah shook her head.
"He didn't tell me.""
"Why?""
"Because he said knowing too much would put me in danger.""
Marcus looked at the picture again.
"What happened that night?""
Hannah's hands trembled.
"I went to your father's house around nine.""
"Nine?""
"Yes.""
"What happened when you arrived?""
She swallowed.
"Your father was already arguing with someone.""
Marcus felt cold.
"Who?""
Hannah looked toward Evelyn.
"I didn't see their face.""
Evelyn immediately spoke.
"Liar.""
Marcus turned.
"Why would she lie?""
"Because she knows exactly who it was.""
Hannah shook her head.
"No.""
Her voice became firmer.
"I only heard voices.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Whose voices?""
She closed her eyes.
"Your father.""
A pause.
"And another person.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
Marcus watched her carefully.
"Then what did you hear?""
Hannah's face changed.
Like she was remembering something she had tried to forget.
"I heard your father say...""
She stopped.
"What?""
She whispered:
"‘I trusted you with my son.’"
Marcus felt a chill.
Those words.
The same idea his father's notes kept repeating.
Trust.
Betrayal.
Family.
"What happened next?""
Hannah continued.
"I heard something break.""
"Then?""
"I went inside.""
Marcus leaned forward.
"What did you see?""
Hannah's eyes filled with tears.
"Your father was on the floor.""
The room went completely still.
Marcus swallowed.
"He was alive?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
Hannah looked at him.
"He said your name.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
For years, he had wondered about his father's final moments.
Now he knew.
"He said, 'Marcus.''"
Hannah nodded.
"Then he grabbed my hand.""
She looked down.
"He gave me something.""
"What?""
"A flash drive.""
Marcus's eyes widened.
"A flash drive?""
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
Hannah's face changed.
"I don't have it anymore.""
Marcus stood.
"What?""
"I gave it to someone.""
"Who?""
She looked toward Evelyn.
Marcus turned.
His mother looked away.
And that was enough.
"You gave it to my mother?""
Hannah nodded.
"Yes.""
Marcus stared.
"Why?""
"Because she arrived before the police.""
The room went silent.
Evelyn finally spoke.
"You see?""
Marcus looked at her.
"See what?""
"She had access to your father's secrets.""
Hannah shook her head.
"I was trying to protect Marcus.""
Evelyn laughed softly.
"By hiding everything?""
Marcus looked at his mother.
"Why did you take the flash drive?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
"Mom.""
Her face changed.
"I didn't know what was on it.""
Marcus stared.
"You took it anyway.""
"I was scared.""
"Of what?""
Evelyn looked at him.
"Of losing you.""
The answer sounded familiar.
Too familiar.
Hannah had said the same thing.
But the difference was obvious.
One had protected him through silence.
The other had controlled him through it.
Marcus stepped back.
"Where is the flash drive?""
Evelyn remained silent.
"Where?""
Finally, she whispered:
"I destroyed it.""
Everyone froze.
Marcus felt his heart drop.
"You destroyed my father's final evidence?""
"I thought I was protecting our family.""
"No.""
His voice shook.
"You were protecting yourself.""
Evelyn looked hurt.
But she didn't deny it.
Then Helen spoke.
"She's lying.""
Everyone turned.
Helen looked at Evelyn.
"You didn't destroy it.""
Evelyn's face tightened.
Helen continued:
"Because I saw it.""
Marcus looked at her.
"You saw it?""
Helen nodded.
"After Richard died.""
"Where?""
Helen looked at the floor.
"In the one place nobody thought to search.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Where?""
Helen looked toward the old study.
"Your father's safe.""
Marcus frowned.
"The safe was empty.""
Helen shook her head.
"No.""
A pause.
"Someone changed the combination.""
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
His mother said nothing.
"Do you know the combination?""
Evelyn's silence answered.
Marcus walked toward the study.
Behind him, nobody followed.
He opened the old safe.
The metal door had been untouched for years.
But when he looked closely...
There were scratches around the lock.
Someone had opened it recently.
His heart pounded.
He entered the combination.
The one only he and his father knew.
The safe clicked.
Inside was not money.
Not jewelry.
Not documents.
Only one thing.
A small black flash drive.
Marcus picked it up.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
*Play the video before you trust your wife.*
Attached.
One video file.
Marcus looked at Hannah.
Then at the flash drive.
Then at the screen.
His finger hovered over the file.
And when he pressed play...
The first image appeared.
A security camera recording.
The date:
*The night his father died.*
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And standing beside Richard Bennett...
Was Hannah.
