Chapter 9: The Truth Buried With My Father
I couldn’t move.
My father’s death had always been painful.
But simple.
That was what I believed.
He had a heart condition.
The doctors confirmed it.
The funeral happened.
The paperwork was completed.
Everyone moved on.
Except now Claire was sitting across from me telling me everything I knew was wrong.
“You’re lying.””
My voice sounded strange.
Even to me.
Claire shook her head.
“I wish I was.””
“You expect me to believe you?””
“No.””
She looked down.
“I expect you to hate me.””
That surprised me.
“Then why tell me?””
“Because I know what happens next.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked at me.
“Marcus is going to get rid of everyone who can expose him.””
I stared at her.
“Everyone?””
She nodded.
“Your father. Ethan. Me.””
I almost laughed.
“You?””
“Yes.””
“Why would Marcus hurt you?””
“Because I know too much.””
I studied her face.
I wanted to believe she was afraid.
I wanted to believe there was still something human left inside her.
But trust doesn’t return because someone cries.
It returns because someone proves they deserve it.
“Tell me everything.””
She looked away.
“When I met Marcus, he wasn’t the person I thought he was.””
I said nothing.
“He knew your family.””
“My family?””
She nodded.
“Your father worked with him years ago.””
That made no sense.
“My father hated people like Marcus.””
Claire’s eyes softened.
“That’s because he discovered what Marcus was doing.””
“What was he doing?””
“Fraud.””
I listened.
“Your father found out Marcus was stealing money from clients.””
I remembered my father.
A strict man.
A man obsessed with doing the right thing.
“He threatened to expose him.””
Claire continued.
“And Marcus made sure he never got the chance.””
The words hit me.
“How?””
She looked at me.
“By making his death look natural.””
I felt sick.
My father.
Gone.
Because someone wanted money.
But then another thought came.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?””
Claire looked down.
“Because I was scared.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You didn’t tell me because you were part of it.””
She didn’t deny it.
That hurt more.
“I met Marcus after your father died.””
“Why?””
“He approached me.””
“About what?””
“About your inheritance.””
I frowned.
“My inheritance?””
She nodded.
“He wanted access to your family assets.””
“And you helped him?””
At first, she said nothing.
Then:
“Yes.””
The honesty was almost worse than another lie.
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was selfish.””
The answer was simple.
Painfully simple.
“I thought I could control him.””
I looked away.
“You can’t control people like Marcus.””
“I know that now.””
A waiter passed by.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, Claire reached into her bag.
She placed an envelope on the table.
“What is this?””
“Something I took from Marcus.””
I didn’t touch it.
“Why?””
“Because it proves everything.””
I opened it carefully.
Inside were documents.
Old documents.
From years ago.
The first page had my father’s signature.
The second had Marcus’s.
And the third…
was a transfer of ownership.
My eyes moved down the page.
Then stopped.
Because I saw my name.
Not my father’s.
Mine.
A company share agreement.
Created before my father died.
I looked at Claire.
“What is this?””
She whispered:
“Your father knew Marcus would come after you.””
I read the document again.
“He prepared this?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Claire’s voice became quiet.
“Because he knew someone close to him was helping Marcus.””
My heart started racing.
“Who?””
She looked at me.
And for a moment, she seemed afraid to say it.
Then she whispered:
“Someone you never suspected.””
I leaned closer.
“Who?””
Before she could answer, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face immediately changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Who is it?””
She didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, she showed me.
The name on the screen made my blood freeze.
Because it wasn’t Marcus.
It wasn’t Dr. Harrison.
It wasn’t Ethan.
May you like
It was someone who had been dead for seven years.
My father.