Chapter 8: The Father Who Chose the Wrong Side
I wanted to believe Marcus was wrong.
I wanted one last reason to defend my father.
Because no matter what he had done, he was still my father.
He was the man who taught me how to shake hands.
The man who told me my word mattered.
The man who told me family was everything.
But family means nothing if the people inside it keep choosing lies.
I found him in his office.
The same office where he built his company.
The same place where I spent my childhood watching him make decisions that affected hundreds of lives.
He looked exhausted.
Not like a criminal.
Like a man who knew he had finally run out of places to hide.
“You knew,” I said.
He didn’t ask what I meant.
He already knew.
“Yes.””
I closed the door behind me.
“How long?””
“Since before Nia died.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
Before Nia died.
Not after.
Not because of fear.
Before.
“You knew Evelyn was dangerous.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was manipulating hospital records.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was targeting our family.””
“Yes.””
I walked closer.
“And you still worked with her.””
His eyes closed.
“I was trying to control the damage.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You were protecting yourself.””
He looked away.
That was the answer.
I didn’t need him to say it.
“I found out about the money,” he said quietly.
I stared at him.
“What money?””
“The foundation.””
He sat down.
“Evelyn had been moving funds through fake medical programs. She was using the hospital connections to create false claims.””
“And you covered it up?””
“I tried to stop her.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
The honesty almost made it worse.
My father was finally telling the truth.
Just years too late.
“Nia found out.””
He nodded.
“She confronted me.””
I froze.
“You talked to Nia?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“The week before she died.””
My heart dropped.
“What did she say?””
He looked at his desk.
“She told me she knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That someone inside the family was helping Evelyn.””
I stared at him.
“And you thought she meant you?””
His silence answered.
“Did you kill her?””
My father looked up.
Pain filled his eyes.
“No.””
I believed him.
And somehow that hurt too.
Because there were still too many questions.
“If you didn’t kill her, why hide everything?””
He whispered:
“Because I was afraid.””
I had heard that word too many times.
Afraid.
Everyone was afraid.
Nia was afraid.
Elijah was afraid.
Rebecca was afraid.
My father was afraid.
But fear didn’t excuse what happened.
“You let me hate my brother.””
“I know.””
“You let me lose six years.””
“I know.””
“You let Ava grow up without knowing her uncle.””
His eyes filled.
“I know.””
I turned away.
Because I didn’t want him to see how much it hurt.
A knock interrupted us.
Marcus entered.
“We have a problem.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Evelyn knows we found the records.””
“How?””
Marcus looked at my father.
Nobody spoke.
Then I understood.
Someone had told her.
Someone close.
My father looked sick.
“No.””
Marcus’s expression was hard.
“Clarence, tell him.””
My father stood.
“I didn’t tell her about the records.””
“Then who did?””
Nobody answered.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I picked up.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice.
Calm.
Cold.
Evelyn.
“You really should stop digging, Malik.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“You killed my wife.””
“No.””
“You ruined my family.””
“No.””
Her voice became softer.
“The truth is, your family was already broken.””
I looked at my father.
At Marcus.
At everything I had lost.
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then:
“I want what was always supposed to be mine.””
“What?””
“Bennett Holdings.””
I laughed.
“You think you can steal my family’s company?””
“No.””
Her voice lowered.
“I think I can prove it was never yours.””
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Marcus looked at me.
“What did she say?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because deep down, I knew.
This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.
It was about ownership.
Power.
Legacy.
Evelyn wasn’t trying to destroy my family.
She was trying to replace it.
And she had one final weapon.
May you like
A secret about Bennett Holdings that even my father had hidden from me.
A secret Nia died trying to uncover.
