Chapter 8: The Truth Hidden in the Darkness
The lights disappeared.
One second, I was standing in the middle of my wedding reception surrounded by hundreds of people.
The next second, I was surrounded by darkness.
The screams came immediately.
Chairs scraped across the floor.
Glasses shattered.
Someone knocked over a table.
The beautiful ballroom that had been filled with flowers and music became a place of panic.
“Everyone stay calm!”” my father shouted.
But nobody listened.
Nobody knew who to trust.
And neither did I.
Because the last thing I heard before the darkness swallowed us was my biological father admitting he had played a role in destroying my family.
I stood frozen.
Unable to move.
Unable to think.
Marcus’s voice echoed in my mind.
*I gave Thomas the location.*
My father.
The man I had spent my entire life imagining.
The man I had just found.
The man who was supposed to explain where I came from.
Was part of the reason I lost everything.
“Daniel!””
My mother’s voice cut through the darkness.
I felt a hand grab my arm.
“Mom?””
“It’s me.””
I held onto her.
For the first time that night, I didn’t know whether I wanted to push her away or never let go again.
Because she had lied to me.
But she had also saved me.
She had raised me.
She had loved me.
The truth was becoming impossible to separate into good and bad.
“Where’s Marcus?”” I asked.
No answer.
“Mom?””
Then another voice spoke.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
Marcus.
I couldn’t see him.
But I heard him.
My anger returned instantly.
“Don’t.””
Silence.
“I don’t want an explanation right now.””
“Daniel, you need to hear me.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“I spent thirty-two years believing I had one father.””
I swallowed.
“Then tonight I find out I have another one.””
A pause.
“And both of you lied to me.””
Nobody spoke.
Because nobody could argue.
Then a small light appeared.
A phone flashlight.
Robert.
He stood near the center of the ballroom.
His face looked exhausted.
“Everyone remain where you are.””
The emergency lights slowly flickered on.
The ballroom returned in pieces.
Dim.
Cold.
Different.
Like the wedding decorations belonged to another lifetime.
I immediately looked toward Thomas.
He was gone.
The spot where he had been standing was empty.
My father noticed too.
“He left.””
Marcus looked toward the doors.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus’s expression changed.
“He didn’t leave.””
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Marcus walked toward the stage.
“Thomas doesn’t run.””
He looked around.
“He prepares.””
My father grabbed his shoulder.
“What did you mean earlier?””
Marcus looked at him.
“About what?””
“About giving him the location.””
The entire ballroom went quiet.
Marcus closed his eyes.
“I was working with Thomas.””
My mother gasped.
“No.””
“I was.””
Marcus’s voice was heavy.
“Not because I wanted to hurt Elena.””
“Then why?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
May you like
“Because I thought I could use him.””
I stared.
