Chapter 6: The Grave
Rain began falling before they reached the cemetery.
Marcus drove alone.
He ignored Vanessa's calls.
Ignored Derrick's.
Ignored everyone.
His father's grave stood beneath an old oak tree at the far end of the cemetery.
The rain darkened Marcus's tuxedo.
He didn't care.
He approached the marble headstone.
*ROBERT CARTER Beloved Father. 1938–2022.*
Marcus stood there breathing hard.
“You lied to me,” he whispered.
Wind moved through the trees.
He looked around.
“Dad?””
Nothing.
Then his phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message.
*UNDER THE FLOWERS.*
Marcus looked down.
A small arrangement of artificial white lilies sat beneath the headstone.
He crouched.
There was a black plastic case hidden underneath.
His hands shook as he pulled it free.
Inside was a small USB drive.
And a handwritten note.
Marcus unfolded it.
His father's handwriting.
*Marcus—if you are reading this, trust no one who tells you Vanessa was responsible for my death. She wasn't.*
Marcus stopped.
Rain dripped from his hair onto the paper.
He read the next line.
*She was protecting you.*
His heart pounded.
“No.””
He turned the page.
*The person you need to fear is the one who has been standing closest to you.*
Marcus looked toward the cemetery entrance.
Nobody.
He plugged the USB into his phone adapter.
A video appeared.
He pressed play.
His father's face filled the screen.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
“Marcus,” Robert said, “if you're seeing this, I probably didn't get the chance to explain.””
Marcus covered his mouth.
His father's voice continued.
“I know about Vanessa. I know about Derrick. And I know about Isaiah.””
Marcus's eyes filled.
“Your mother never knew.””
Robert paused.
“I made mistakes.””
The video changed.
A document appeared.
A DNA report.
Marcus stared.
The test compared Robert Carter to Isaiah Carter.
*Probability of biological relationship: 99.99%.*
Marcus's breath caught.
“That's impossible.””
His father's voice continued.
“Isaiah is my grandson.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
“But not because he is your son.””
A second document appeared.
Another DNA test.
Robert Carter.
Isaiah Carter.
*Biological relationship confirmed.*
Then a name appeared beneath the test.
*Derrick Carter.*
Marcus stopped breathing.
Derrick was Robert's son.
His half-brother.
The realization hit like a blow.
Derrick wasn't just Vanessa's husband.
He was Marcus's brother.
Marcus staggered backward.
“No.””
The video continued.
“I had another son.””
Robert's voice cracked.
“Derrick was born before I met your mother. I thought he was gone from my life.””
Marcus stared at the screen.
“Dad…”
“Vanessa discovered the truth before you did.””
The video went silent for several seconds.
“She didn't marry Derrick for love.””
Marcus's face tightened.
“She married him because he threatened to expose our family.””
The screen changed.
A photograph appeared.
Vanessa.
Derrick.
Robert.
All standing together.
Marcus stared.
Then another photograph.
A newborn baby.
Isaiah.
His father's voice returned.
“Vanessa became trapped.””
Marcus whispered, “What did you do?””
Robert answered as if he could hear him.
“I asked Vanessa to help me keep Derrick away from you.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“That night at my house, Derrick came for the trust documents.””
The screen showed security footage.
This time, a different angle.
Derrick entered Robert's study.
Vanessa followed.
They argued.
Derrick shoved Robert.
Robert fell against the desk.
Marcus's hand flew to his mouth.
Derrick grabbed a folder.
Vanessa tried to stop him.
Robert reached for the phone.
Derrick turned.
The screen froze.
Then another clip appeared.
A timestamp.
12:17 a.m.
Vanessa was kneeling beside Robert.
Crying.
Calling 911.
Marcus stared.
“She didn't kill him.””
His father's voice continued.
“She tried to save me.””
The screen went black.
Marcus stood in the rain.
Then a final video opened automatically.
Vanessa appeared.
Not from the cemetery.
From a room Marcus didn't recognize.
Her face was bruised.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Marcus, if you're watching this, Derrick found out about the backup.””
Marcus's heart stopped.
Vanessa continued.
“I lied because he threatened Lily.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“He said if I didn't marry you, he would take Isaiah and disappear with him.””
She started crying.
“I know what I did was unforgivable.””
A sound came from somewhere behind her.
Vanessa looked over her shoulder.
Someone was entering the room.
She whispered, “He's here.””
The video shook.
Vanessa grabbed the camera.
“Marcus, listen to me. Derrick isn't working alone.””
The screen went black.
Marcus stared at his phone.
A new message appeared.
*NOW YOU KNOW WHO DERRICK IS.*
Another message followed.
*BUT YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHO HELPED HIM.*
Marcus slowly looked behind him.
A figure stood between the cemetery trees.
Holding an umbrella.
Watching him.
The figure stepped into the rain.
May you like
Marcus recognized the face immediately.
It was someone who had been sitting in the front row at his wedding.
