Chapter 6: The Man Who Wanted Everything
I found Derrick waiting outside my old office.
The building looked smaller than I remembered.
Three years ago, it had been a place where I thought my future was guaranteed.
Now the sign above the door belonged to someone else.
The company I built was gone.
The friendships I trusted were gone.
And the man responsible was standing in the parking lot like he had been expecting me.
Derrick leaned against his car.
Older.
Gray in his beard.
But still wearing the same confident smile.
The kind of smile that made people believe him before they questioned him.
“Marcus.””
I stopped several feet away.
“You stay away from my family.””
His smile faded slightly.
“So that’s what she told you.””
“What did you do?””
He laughed quietly.
“Still the same.””
“What does that mean?””
“You always assume you’re the victim.””
I stepped forward.
“You sent me that message.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about Jada.””
“Yes.””
The calmness in his voice made me furious.
“You knew she was my daughter?””
He looked at me.
“No.””
That surprised me.
“What?””
“I knew she was mine.””
My fists tightened.
“Don’t say it like that.””
“Why?””
“Because you weren’t there.””
For the first time, his expression changed.
A small crack.
“You think I didn’t want to be?””
I stared at him.
“You disappeared.””
“Camille made sure I couldn’t come back.””
“That’s a lie.””
“Is it?””
He pulled out his phone.
Then showed me a message.
From Camille.
Years ago.
The message was simple:
“Do not contact us again.””
My stomach tightened.
I looked away.
“Why?””
“Because she chose you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“She chose Jada.””
Derrick’s jaw tightened.
For a moment, he looked almost human.
Almost hurt.
Then it disappeared.
“I want what belongs to me.””
I stepped back.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The real reason.””
He shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
“No, I do.””
I pointed at him.
“You don’t want your daughter.””
His eyes narrowed.
“You don’t know anything.””
“You want control.””
Silence.
Then he smiled.
“You always were good at pretending you knew people.””
I looked around.
“Why did you come back?””
He reached into his jacket.
And pulled out a folder.
“Because your daughter has a right to know.””
I didn’t take it.
“What is it?””
“Proof.””
“Of what?””
“Why your company collapsed.””
I stared at him.
“That has nothing to do with Jada.””
“Everything has something to do with Jada.””
My phone buzzed.
A message from Camille.
“Marcus, come home. We need to talk.””
I looked back at Derrick.
“You caused the accident.””
His smile disappeared.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
He looked at me carefully.
And lowered his voice.
“Your brother.””
My entire body froze.
“What?””
“Ask Andre why he was really there that morning.””
I shook my head.
“You’re lying.””
“Maybe.””
He stepped closer.
“But you should ask him anyway.””
I wanted to leave.
I wanted to believe he was manipulating me.
Because the alternative was impossible.
Andre was my brother.
The person who came when everyone else disappeared.
The person who helped me rebuild.
But doubt had already entered.
And doubt was dangerous.
Derrick handed me the folder.
“Open it when you’re ready.””
I didn’t take it.
“I don’t want anything from you.””
His expression hardened.
“You already have something from me.””
“What?””
He looked past me.
Toward the road.
“Eighteen years ago, I lost a daughter.””
Then back at me.
“You spent eighteen years raising mine.””
My phone buzzed again.
This time it wasn’t Camille.
It was Andre.
One sentence.
“Marcus, don’t listen to him.””
I stared at the message.
Then another one arrived.
“Because I never told you what really happened the day you crashed.””
I looked at Derrick.
Then at my brother’s message.
And suddenly I understood.
The missing hour before Jada’s graduation wasn’t the only thing hidden from me.
May you like
There was another truth waiting.
One that could destroy the family I had spent my entire life protecting.