Chapter 5: The Second Secret
Andre met Daniel Carter at a small coffee shop across town.
He almost didn't go.
Part of him was tired.
Tired of secrets.
Tired of discovering that every answer only created three more questions.
But curiosity won.
Daniel was already sitting in the corner when Andre arrived.
He looked like a man who had spent years carrying something heavy.
"You came.""
Andre sat down.
"You said my father had another secret.""
Daniel nodded.
"He does.""
Andre stared.
"Start talking.""
Daniel pulled out a folder.
"I worked with your father for fifteen years.""
"Doing what?""
"Real estate investments.""
Andre frowned.
"My father owns a construction company.""
"He did.""
The way Daniel said it made Andre uncomfortable.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
"I need you to understand something. Your father wasn't always dishonest because he wanted to hurt people.""
Andre looked at him.
"That sounds like something someone says before defending a person.""
Daniel nodded.
"You're right.""
He pushed the papers forward.
"But I'm not defending him.""
Andre looked down.
The documents showed financial transfers.
Names.
Dates.
Large amounts of money.
"What is this?""
"Payments.""
"To who?""
Daniel took a breath.
"Marcus' mother.""
Andre stared.
"What?""
"Your father didn't abandon Marcus completely.""
Andre shook his head.
"That's not possible.""
"It is.""
Daniel pointed at the papers.
"He paid for their house. Their medical bills. Everything.""
Andre looked confused.
"Then why hide him?""
"Because he was afraid.""
"Of what?""
Daniel looked at him.
"That Marcus would find out the money came with a condition.""
Andre's voice lowered.
"What condition?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Your father wanted Marcus' mother to sign away legal rights.""
Andre went silent.
The room seemed louder.
People talking.
Cups hitting tables.
Coffee machines running.
But all Andre heard was his own heartbeat.
"He tried to buy his way out?""
Daniel looked down.
"Yes.""
Andre stood up.
"I can't do this.""
Daniel stopped him.
"There's more.""
Andre looked back.
"What more?""
Daniel opened the folder again.
At the bottom was another document.
A legal agreement.
With Andre's name on it.
His blood turned cold.
"Why is my name there?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
"Your father planned to leave everything to you.""
Andre stared.
"Everything?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Daniel looked at him sadly.
"Because he believed you were the only person who could forgive him.""
Andre laughed bitterly.
"He doesn't even know me.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Maybe not.""
Andre grabbed the document.
But before he could leave, his phone rang.
It was his mother.
He answered immediately.
"Mom?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Andre, where are you?""
"What's wrong?""
A long silence followed.
Then she whispered:
"Your father collapsed.""
Andre froze.
"Is he okay?""
"I don't know.""
The panic in her voice scared him.
Then she said something that made him forget everything else.
"The hospital called me.""
Andre gripped the phone.
"What did they say?""
His mother took a shaky breath.
"They found something in his jacket.""
"What?""
A pause.
Then:
"A letter.""
Andre looked at the documents in his hand.
"What kind of letter?""
May you like
His mother started crying.
"The kind your father wrote because he thought he might not get another chance to tell you the truth.""