Chapter 10: The Secret Olivia Was Afraid to Tell
"Why are you looking at my sister like that?""
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
He was staring at Olivia, his jaw tight, his hands buried inside his jacket pockets.
Olivia took a step backward.
"Marcus, please.""
I looked between them.
"What is going on?""
Ethan finally spoke.
"Have you ever wondered why your father appointed Olivia as trustee instead of someone older or more experienced?""
"Yes. But I trusted his judgment.""
"So did I.""
He turned toward Olivia.
"That's why I need to ask you something.""
Olivia shook her head.
"Not here.""
"Where, then?""
"Please, Ethan.""
He looked at me.
"Your sister and I met before today.""
I stared at him.
"When?""
"Four years ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"Four years ago?""
Ethan nodded.
"After my mother died, I found a box of letters from your father. One of them contained Olivia's name and a phone number.""
I turned toward my sister.
"You knew about him?""
She lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Since four years ago?""
"Yes.""
I stepped away from the table.
"How many people in this family have been keeping secrets from me?""
Olivia began crying.
"I wanted to tell you.""
"But you didn't.""
"Because Dad asked me not to.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently, everyone has been using Dad's instructions to justify lying to me.""
Ethan moved closer.
"Marcus, let her explain.""
I turned toward him.
"Don't defend her. I want the truth.""
Olivia took a shaky breath.
"Four years ago, Ethan contacted me. He wanted to know whether Dad had really intended to acknowledge him.""
"What did you tell him?""
"That Dad had left something for him.""
"Did you give him the trust documents?""
"No. I gave him a copy of Dad's letter.""
Ethan nodded.
"She did.""
I frowned.
"Then what happened?""
Olivia looked at him.
"Tell him.""
Ethan hesitated.
"Your father had another request. He wanted us to meet.""
I stared at him.
"Both of you?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because he believed that if we met before the estate was finalized, we might eventually become brothers instead of strangers.""
Olivia wiped her cheeks.
"We met at a restaurant outside the city. Ethan told me about his mother. I told him about Dad.""
"And?""
"We became friends.""
I looked at Ethan.
"How close?""
He hesitated.
"Close enough that I considered him family.""
I turned back to Olivia.
"Then why did you act like you had never heard his name when I asked you about him?""
"Because Nia was already asking questions.""
My blood ran cold.
"She knew?""
Olivia nodded.
"Four months ago, Nia found an old message on my phone. She saw Ethan's name and started asking who he was.""
Ethan's expression darkened.
"She contacted me shortly afterward.""
"Why didn't you warn me?""
Olivia lowered her head.
"Because she threatened to expose the trust arrangement. She said she had copies of the documents and could make it look like I had stolen money from you.""
I looked at her.
"Did you believe her?""
"I didn't know what to believe anymore.""
I turned toward Ethan.
"Why did you never contact me?""
He looked away.
"Because I thought you knew.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Four years ago, I sent you a letter. I told you who I was. I explained everything.""
"I never received it.""
"I know that now.""
He pulled a folded envelope from his jacket.
The paper was old and slightly yellowed.
My name was written across the front.
Marcus Carter.
My father's address.
The postmark was dated four years earlier.
I opened it.
Marcus,
My name is Ethan Cole. I believe we share the same father.
I don't know what your father told you about me, but I want you to know that I'm not contacting you for money. I have spent most of my life wondering whether he ever thought about me.
I don't expect you to accept me immediately. I only hope that one day we can sit across from each other and talk.
Your brother,
Ethan.
I lowered the letter.
"I never saw this.""
Ethan nodded.
"That's why I stopped trying.""
Olivia looked at me.
"Edward intercepted it. I discovered the envelope in Dad's old study after Nia began asking about the trust.""
I turned sharply.
"You knew Edward was intercepting our correspondence?""
"I suspected it. I didn't have proof.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because by then, I was afraid someone would destroy the original documents.""
I rubbed my face.
The secrets were becoming unbearable.
Then Daniel interrupted.
"There's something we need to deal with before this becomes a family therapy session.""
He placed his phone on the table.
"The photograph of the open safe was taken last night at 11:42 p.m.""
I looked at Olivia.
"Where were you last night?""
She closed her eyes.
"At Dad's house.""
My chest tightened.
"Why?""
"Because I received a message from Edward.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"What did he say?""
Olivia showed us her phone.
The message read:
*I have information about the original trust. Meet me at your father's house. Come alone.*
I stared at the screen.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because I thought I could get the documents back.""
"Did you open the safe?""
"No. It was already open when I arrived.""
"What did you see?""
"Edward was standing in Dad's study. He had a suitcase beside him.""
Ethan stepped closer.
"Was anyone else there?""
Olivia nodded.
"Nia.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"She was there?""
"Yes.""
"Did she take the documents?""
"I don't know. They were arguing when I entered.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"What happened after that?""
"Edward told me to leave. He said I had no right to interfere with the estate.""
"And you left?""
Olivia began crying again.
"I was scared. Nia told me she would report the forty thousand dollars if I went to the police.""
I closed my eyes.
She had been manipulated.
But the fear in her voice made me wonder whether there was something worse.
"What happened to the documents?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at Ethan.
"Do you believe her?""
He nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Then he added:
"Because I saw Nia leave with something.""
"What?""
"A small black case.""
I looked at Olivia.
"Why didn't you mention that?""
"Because I didn't know what was inside.""
Daniel immediately called the police liaison our attorney had contacted earlier.
While he spoke, I walked toward the window.
My father's safe was empty.
His letters were missing.
The original trust might already be in Edward's hands.
And someone had been using my sister's fear to keep us divided.
My phone rang.
Nia.
I answered.
"Where are you?"" she asked.
"Why?""
"Because we need to talk.""
"We've talked enough.""
"Marcus, please. I know what's happening.""
I looked at Ethan.
"Then tell me where the original trust is.""
Silence.
Then Nia whispered:
"Come to the house.""
"Which house?""
"Your father's.""
"Why?""
"Because there's something I need to show you.""
"Send it to my lawyer.""
"I can't.""
Her voice cracked.
"Marcus, if you don't come, someone is going to destroy the only evidence that can prove your father was murdered.""
I stopped breathing.
"What did you just say?""
Nia began crying.
"Your father didn't die naturally.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Behind me, Ethan whispered:
"That's impossible.""
But Olivia was shaking her head.
"No," she said quietly.
"Marcus, Dad knew someone was trying to kill him.""
May you like
And before I could ask how she knew, she added:
"He told me the night before he died.""
