Chapter 13: The Truth Derrick Never Spoke
Aaliyah couldn’t look away from Derrick.
The man who raised her.
The man who packed her lunches.
The man who sat beside her at every school ceremony.
The man she once believed was the only person who would never leave.
Now he stood in silence while her real father accused him of keeping her away.
Her heart felt like it was being pulled in two directions.
“No.””
The word escaped before she even realized she said it.
Marcus looked at her.
“Aaliyah…”
“No.””
She shook her head.
“You don’t get to stand there and tell me my whole life was stolen by the people who claimed to love me.””
Derrick’s face broke.
“I never wanted this.””
Aaliyah turned toward him.
“But you let it happen.””
Derrick looked down.
The silence was unbearable.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You see?””
Everyone looked at her.
Vanessa continued.
“He’s not the innocent person you think he is.””
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“Don’t pretend you care about her.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I raised her.””
Aaliyah immediately answered.
“And you hurt me.””
The words stopped Vanessa.
For the first time, she had no quick response.
Aaliyah looked between all of them.
“I need the truth.””
Her voice trembled.
“Not pieces.””
She looked at Marcus.
“Not just your side.””
Then Derrick.
“Not just your excuses.””
Then Vanessa.
“And not your lies.””
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Derrick sat down on the porch steps.
His shoulders looked heavier than ever.
“I need to tell you what happened.””
Aaliyah stood still.
Derrick took a deep breath.
“The night Marcus disappeared, he came to me.””
Marcus looked away.
“I was scared.””
Derrick continued.
“He had proof against Vanessa.””
Aaliyah looked at Vanessa.
“She knew?””
Derrick nodded.
“Yes.””
Vanessa’s expression changed.
“Derrick.””
He ignored her.
“Marcus wanted to go to the police.””
Marcus nodded.
“I did.””
Derrick looked at him.
“But before he could…”
He stopped.
Aaliyah waited.
“What?””
Derrick closed his eyes.
“I made the wrong choice.””
The words were quiet.
But they carried everything.
Aaliyah felt sick.
“What choice?””
Derrick looked at Marcus.
“I told Vanessa.””
The world went silent.
Aaliyah stared.
“You told her?””
Derrick nodded.
“One phone call.””
His voice cracked.
“One mistake.””
Marcus looked away.
“That mistake almost killed me.””
Aaliyah stepped back.
She felt like she couldn’t breathe.
“Why?””
Derrick wiped his face.
“Because Vanessa convinced me she was in danger.””
Aaliyah looked at him.
“You believed her?””
“I thought she was being threatened.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“She was the threat.””
Derrick lowered his head.
“I didn’t know.””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“You didn’t know.””
She repeated the words.
“You didn’t know.””
Her eyes filled.
“But you knew enough to betray him.””
Derrick didn’t defend himself.
Because he couldn’t.
“I followed Vanessa that night.””
Marcus looked at him.
“And when you realized what she was doing?””
Derrick closed his eyes.
“I was too late.””
Aaliyah looked at Marcus.
“What happened?””
Marcus was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
“She took my evidence.””
Aaliyah listened.
“She told me if I exposed her, she would make sure I never saw my daughter again.””
Aaliyah’s chest tightened.
“She used me.””
Marcus nodded.
“She knew exactly where to hurt me.””
Derrick whispered:
“I thought she would just scare him.””
Everyone looked at him.
“I thought she would take the documents and stop.””
Aaliyah stared.
“But she didn’t.””
Derrick shook his head.
“No.””
Marcus looked toward the road.
“She arranged everything to make it look like I left.””
Aaliyah whispered:
“And you let me believe that.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I tried to come back.””
“But you didn’t.””
His eyes filled.
“No.””
The honesty hurt.
“I failed you.””
Aaliyah looked away.
For eighteen years, she wanted an explanation.
Now she had one.
And somehow it still hurt.
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
Everyone looked at her.
“You all want to act like I’m the monster.””
Marcus turned.
“You are.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at Aaliyah.
“I did what I had to do.””
Aaliyah stared.
“For money?””
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“For survival.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Vanessa stepped closer.
“You have no idea what Marcus was involved in.””
Marcus looked confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa smiled slightly.
And that frightened Aaliyah.
Because it was the first genuine smile she had seen from her.
“You really thought you knew everything?””
Marcus’s expression changed.
“What did you do?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.””
Everyone turned.
Aaliyah looked at Derrick.
Derrick went pale.
“What?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Tell her.””
Derrick froze.
Aaliyah’s heart sank.
“There’s more?””
Derrick didn’t answer.
And that was when Aaliyah realized something.
The truth wasn’t a single door.
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It was a hallway.
And every door opened into another secret.
