Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Lie
The older man smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
Like someone who had just walked into a room he already owned.
“Hello, Vanessa.””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“Dad…”
Marcus moved in front of Maya.
Sarah stepped backward.
Thomas Reed tapped his cane against the hardwood floor.
“Marcus.””
Marcus's fists tightened.
“You're supposed to be dead.””
Thomas chuckled.
“That was the idea.””
Maya stared at him.
“Who are you?””
Thomas looked at her.
For the first time, his smile disappeared.
“Your grandfather.””
Maya's stomach twisted.
“My grandfather?””
Sarah moved toward her.
“Don't go near him.””
Thomas laughed.
“Still protecting her after all these years.””
Marcus pointed toward the door.
“Get out.””
Thomas looked amused.
“This is my daughter's house.””
“No.””
Marcus's voice was firm.
“This is my house.””
Thomas's eyes narrowed.
“Everything you have came from me.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“I built my life.””
“With my money.””
“No.””
“With my connections.””
“No.””
“With my daughter.””
Marcus stopped.
Thomas looked toward Sarah.
“You took what belonged to my family.””
Sarah's voice shook.
“Maya isn't property.””
Thomas tapped his cane again.
“She is blood.””
“She is a child.””
“She was a child.””
Maya stepped around Marcus.
“I can speak for myself.””
Marcus turned.
“Maya, stay behind me.””
“No.””
She looked directly at Thomas.
“You ruined my family.””
Thomas's expression softened.
“No, Maya.””
He smiled.
“Your family was ruined long before I arrived.””
Sarah whispered,
“Don't listen to him.””
Thomas looked at her.
“You're still lying.””
Sarah's face tightened.
“What?””
Thomas nodded toward the laptop.
“Ask your mother why she never told you about the night you were born.””
Maya turned to Sarah.
“What happened?””
Sarah shook her head.
“Nothing.””
Thomas laughed.
“There it is.””
Marcus looked at Sarah.
“You said the birth records were changed.””
“They were.””
“Why?””
Sarah hesitated.
Thomas answered for her.
“Because Maya wasn't supposed to survive.””
The kitchen went silent.
Maya's face drained.
Marcus stepped toward Thomas.
“What did you say?””
Thomas looked at him.
“Your daughter was born with a medical condition.””
Sarah's eyes closed.
“She was sick,” Thomas continued.
“The doctors said she needed immediate treatment.””
Marcus looked at Sarah.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I tried.””
Thomas smiled.
“Vanessa was the one who stopped you.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
She was crying silently.
“Is that true?””
Vanessa nodded.
“I was told Maya wouldn't survive.””
“By who?””
Vanessa looked at Thomas.
Marcus understood.
“You.””
Thomas shrugged.
“I made sure the doctors did what they were paid to do.””
Sarah stepped forward.
“You almost killed her.””
Thomas's voice became cold.
“I saved her.””
“You separated her from her mother.””
“I gave her a life.””
“You gave me nothing!”” Maya shouted.
Everyone froze.
Maya's tears were falling now.
“You took my mother away.””
Thomas stared at her.
“You had everything.””
“I had a lie.””
Thomas's expression hardened.
“You had a home.””
Maya shook her head.
“I had a woman who lied to me.””
She pointed at Vanessa.
“A father who didn't know the truth.””
Then she pointed at Thomas.
“And a grandfather who apparently tried to decide whether I deserved to live.””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“You're emotional.””
“No.””
Maya wiped her face.
“I'm angry.””
Marcus stepped beside her.
Thomas looked at him.
“You should control your daughter.””
Marcus answered immediately.
“No.””
He put a hand on Maya's shoulder.
“I should protect her.””
Sarah stared at them.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Then her phone buzzed.
She looked down.
Her face changed.
Marcus noticed.
“What?””
Sarah didn't answer.
Maya took the phone.
A message was open.
*YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.*
Under it was an attached photograph.
Maya opened it.
The photograph showed the front of their house.
Taken moments ago.
A black vehicle was parked across the street.
Another message appeared.
*OR THE NEXT SECRET GOES PUBLIC.*
Marcus looked at Sarah.
“Who sent that?””
Sarah shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Thomas suddenly smiled.
“Neither do I.””
Daniel stared at him.
“That's not true.””
Thomas turned.
“Excuse me?””
Daniel's voice shook.
“You know exactly who sent it.””
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“Stop.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“I've kept quiet for fifteen years.””
Thomas's smile vanished.
“Daniel.””
“No.””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“I owe you the truth.””
Thomas raised his cane.
“You don't owe anyone anything.””
Daniel ignored him.
He pointed toward Vanessa.
“She wasn't the person who changed Maya's records.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
Daniel pointed toward Thomas.
“He was.””
Thomas's eyes narrowed.
Daniel continued.
“And Vanessa wasn't the one who threatened Sarah.””
Sarah stared at him.
“Then who was?””
Daniel looked at Maya.
“The person who threatened your mother was…”
His voice stopped.
A crash exploded from upstairs.
Everyone looked toward the ceiling.
Something heavy had fallen.
Marcus immediately moved toward the stairs.
“Stay here.””
Maya grabbed his arm.
“Dad.””
Another sound.
A drawer opening.
Then footsteps.
Someone was upstairs.
Thomas looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa whispered,
“He found it.””
Marcus turned.
“Found what?””
Vanessa's face went white.
“The second box.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What second box?””
Before she could answer, footsteps began descending the stairs.
Slow.
Measured.
One step.
Then another.
Maya held her breath.
A shadow appeared across the wall.
And a man's voice called down from the staircase.
“Marcus?””
Marcus's face went pale.
It was his own voice.
May you like
Then the man stepped into view.
And Maya realized she was looking at her father twice.
