Chapter 11: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Daniel stood frozen, the torn pieces of Edward's letter still in his hand.
Patricia covered her mouth.
I stared at her.
"What do you mean he's alive?""
She shook her head.
"I wasn't supposed to tell you.""
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel suddenly turned toward his mother.
"Stop talking.""
Patricia flinched.
But something had changed in her expression.
For years, she had allowed Daniel to speak for her.
Not anymore.
"No," she said.
"I'm finished protecting you.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Mother.""
"Your father is alive, Daniel. And you know it.""
Madeline looked between them.
"Then why did everyone believe he was dead?""
Patricia sank into a chair.
"Because Daniel arranged it.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"How?""
"Six years ago, Edward disappeared after a business dispute. Daniel told everyone his father had died overseas. He arranged a memorial service. He showed us a death certificate.""
Mr. Bennett stepped forward.
"Was the certificate authentic?""
Patricia shook her head.
"I don't know. Daniel handled everything.""
I looked at my husband.
"Why would you fake your father's death?""
Daniel laughed without humor.
"Because he was dangerous.""
"To whom?""
"Everyone.""
He looked at me.
"Edward wasn't the man you think he was. He stole money, threatened people, and destroyed anyone who stood in his way.""
"Then why are you protecting him?""
"I'm not protecting him!""
His voice cracked.
"I'm trying to keep him away from us.""
I stared at him.
"You just admitted you've been looking for his ledger.""
Daniel looked away.
Patricia reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a small photograph.
"Edward gave me this the last time I saw him.""
The picture showed an older man sitting at a café.
His hair was gray.
His face was thinner.
But I recognized him immediately.
The man in the photograph was my biological father.
On the back was an address.
A small coastal town called Briar Cove.
And a date.
Three weeks earlier.
"He was there?"" I asked.
Patricia nodded.
"Daniel said Edward was dead. But I saw him with my own eyes.""
I looked at Daniel.
He said nothing.
Mr. Bennett took the photograph.
"We need to find him.""
Daniel stepped toward the door.
"Nobody is going anywhere.""
I looked at him.
"You don't get to give orders.""
He pointed at the letter.
"That document contains information that could destroy this family.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You destroyed this family when you married me under false pretenses.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"You're still my wife.""
"Not anymore.""
He stared at me.
Then he looked at Madeline.
"You think she cares about you? She'll turn on you the moment there's money involved.""
Madeline stepped forward.
"I don't need your money.""
"You need the inheritance.""
"I need my family.""
For a moment, Daniel seemed unable to respond.
Then Patricia stood.
"Give me the keys to the car.""
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"The keys.""
"Mother, sit down.""
She walked toward him.
"No.""
He stared at her.
She held out her hand.
"I've spent six years believing I was protecting my son. I won't spend another day helping him destroy his sister.""
Daniel looked at me.
Then he threw the car keys onto the floor.
"Fine. Go wherever you want.""
He walked out.
The front door slammed.
Nobody moved until we heard his car start.
Mr. Bennett immediately checked the window.
"He knows we're going to Briar Cove.""
"Then we leave now," I said.
Patricia picked up her handbag.
"I'll come with you.""
I looked at her.
"Why should I trust you?""
She swallowed.
"You shouldn't. Not yet.""
For some reason, that answer felt more honest than anything she had said in years.
Briar Cove was nearly three hours away.
We drove through narrow country roads, past small farms and quiet villages.
The photograph led us to a modest house overlooking the water.
A weathered wooden fence surrounded the property.
There were lights in the windows.
And a car parked outside.
Mr. Bennett knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
A man's voice came from inside.
"Go away.""
I stepped forward.
"Edward?""
Silence.
Then the door opened slightly.
An older man stood behind it.
His face was thinner than in the photographs.
His hair was almost completely white.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
My eyes.
He looked at me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered:
"Nia.""
I felt tears rise.
"You're alive.""
He lowered his head.
"Yes.""
I stepped closer.
"Why?""
Edward opened the door.
"Come inside.""
I didn't move.
"Why did you let me believe you were dead?""
His eyes filled.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of what I had done.""
Madeline came forward.
"And what did you do?""
Edward looked at her.
Then he looked at Patricia.
His expression changed.
"Patricia?""
She nodded.
"Hello, Edward.""
He stepped backward.
"How did you find me?""
"Your son.""
Edward closed his eyes.
"Of course.""
We entered the house.
The living room was small and neatly arranged. A stack of newspapers sat beside an old armchair. On the wall hung several photographs.
One showed Edward with Daniel as a little boy.
Another showed my mother.
I approached it.
My mother looked young.
She was holding a baby.
Me.
Edward stood behind her.
His hand rested on her shoulder.
"Did you love her?"" I asked.
He nodded.
"Very much.""
"Then why did you give me away?""
His face crumpled.
"Because I was a coward.""
He sat down.
"I was involved in a financial scheme with my business partners. I thought I could make enough money to provide for Eleanor and you. Instead, I lost control of everything.""
"Thomas?""
Edward nodded.
"I betrayed him.""
"Did you try to kill him?""
Edward looked up sharply.
"No.""
"Did you change his medication?""
"No.""
His answer was immediate.
I studied his face.
"Then who did?""
Edward rubbed his forehead.
"My son.""
The room went silent.
Daniel.
My husband.
My half-brother.
The man who had slept beside me for eight years.
Edward continued.
"Daniel was working with me. He believed Thomas was responsible for destroying our family. He went to the hospital that night to retrieve the ledger.""
"Did he change the medication?""
Edward nodded.
"He told me he only wanted to frighten Thomas into signing the transfer documents. He didn't understand how dangerous the dosage would be.""
I covered my mouth.
"Did Thomas die because of him?""
Edward's eyes filled.
"Yes.""
Patricia began sobbing.
I felt my knees weaken.
Madeline reached for my hand.
"Why didn't you report him?"" I asked.
Edward looked down.
"Because I helped cover it up.""
My chest tightened.
"You knew?""
"I discovered the truth the following morning. Daniel begged me not to tell anyone. He said he would confess if I gave him time.""
"And you believed him?""
"I was his father.""
I laughed through my tears.
"That's what I told myself about Daniel.""
Edward looked at me.
"I know.""
He stood and walked toward a cabinet.
From inside, he removed a small metal case.
"I kept the original ledger. And I kept the recording Daniel made that night.""
Mr. Bennett stepped forward.
"Where is it?""
Edward placed the case on the table.
"Inside.""
I stared at it.
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
"Because the recording contains more than Daniel's confession.""
He unlocked the case.
Inside were several documents and a small digital recorder.
Edward picked it up.
"Thomas recorded a conversation with Eleanor before he died. He told her the truth about my financial crimes.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with my mother?""
Edward looked at me.
"Your mother knew I was your father. But Thomas had discovered something else.""
"What?""
Edward pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
Thomas.
Weak, but unmistakable.
"Eleanor, if anything happens to me, tell Nia the truth. Edward isn't the only man who has betrayed this family.""
Then came my mother's voice.
"Who else?""
Thomas whispered a name.
And when I heard it, I stopped breathing.
"Richard Cole.""
I looked at Mr. Bennett.
He was staring at the recorder.
Then Edward said:
"Richard didn't just help Daniel hide what happened to Thomas.""
May you like
He paused.
"He was the person who arranged the original hospital cover-up.""
