Chapter 6: The Man Behind The Lies
The sound of the doorbell echoed through the house.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
Nobody moved.
Claire stood frozen near the window, staring at the front door like she was looking at a ghost.
“You said he’s here,” I whispered.
She nodded.
Her face had lost all color.
“Marcus doesn’t knock unless he wants you to know he’s not afraid.””
I looked at the door.
Every instinct told me to call the police.
But another part of me needed answers.
My entire life had been turned upside down in less than a week.
My father’s death.
The hidden will.
The video.
The lies.
I was tired of being the person everyone protected from the truth.
I walked toward the door.
“Ethan, don’t.””
Claire grabbed my arm.
The fear in her eyes stopped me.
Not because she was afraid for herself.
Because she was afraid for me.
A moment later, a voice came from outside.
“Ethan.””
Marcus.
Calm.
Almost friendly.
“I know you’re inside.””
I looked at Claire.
She shook her head.
“Don’t answer.””
But I did.
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then a laugh.
“You sound exactly like your father.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“You killed him.””
“No.””
The answer came instantly.
Too instantly.
“I didn’t kill Daniel.””
“Then why were you chasing him that night?””
Silence.
Long silence.
Then Marcus said:
“Because he was about to destroy everything.””
The words made my stomach turn.
“You mean expose you.””
“I mean make a mistake.””
I opened the door slightly but kept the chain locked.
Marcus stood on the porch.
He looked nothing like the monster I imagined.
That made him worse.
He wore a gray coat.
A polite smile.
The kind of person strangers trusted immediately.
“Ethan,” he said softly, “your father was stubborn.””
“You don’t get to talk about him.””
Marcus sighed.
“Your father was my best friend.””
“Friends don’t steal from each other.””
His smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
Then it returned.
“Did Claire tell you everything?””
I looked back at her.
Marcus noticed.
“That’s what I thought.””
“What does that mean?””
He stepped closer.
“Claire has always been good at telling half the truth.””
The accusation hit harder because it sounded familiar.
Everyone had a version of the story.
Everyone except my father.
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
Marcus reached into his pocket.
Claire immediately stepped forward.
“Ethan, move away.””
Marcus slowly pulled out a small envelope.
He held it up.
“Your father gave me this.””
I stared.
“What?””
“Before he died.””
I laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to look inside.””
I didn’t move.
Marcus placed the envelope on the porch.
Then he stepped back.
“Your father knew people were turning against him.””
“People like you?””
His eyes narrowed.
“People like Claire.””
The moment he said her name, Claire grabbed my shoulder.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Marcus smiled.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The panic.””
I looked between them.
For years, I thought Claire was simply cold.
Now I wondered if I had misunderstood everything.
Marcus walked backward.
“You have twenty-four hours.””
“For what?””
“To decide who you believe.””
He turned around.
Then stopped.
“One more thing.””
I waited.
“Your father didn’t die because of the crash.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
“He died because someone made sure help arrived too late.””
Then he walked away.
I waited until his car disappeared.
Only then did I open the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
My father’s handwriting.
The first line made my knees weak.
*Ethan, if you are reading this, I failed to protect you.*
I sat down.
I couldn’t breathe.
The letter continued.
*There are two people you cannot trust. One is the person who wants my money. The other is the person who wants my secrets.*
I looked at Claire.
She was staring at the letter.
“What does it say?””
I didn’t answer.
Because underneath my father’s signature was something else.
A name.
May you like
A name that changed everything.
*Claire Hayes.*