Chapter 5: The Secret Behind The Smile
I didn’t move.
I couldn’t.
The sentence replayed in my mind.
Maya left because she was trying to expose what Marcus did.
Not disappeared.
Not lost.
Left.
My sister was alive when everyone told me she was gone.
I looked at Marcus.
He didn’t deny it.
That was the worst part.
For twelve years, I had searched for answers.
I had blamed myself.
I had wondered if I should have called more.
Visited more.
Noticed something.
And all this time, my husband had known there was more.
“You knew.””
My voice was quiet.
Marcus looked at me.
“Nia.””
“You knew she was alive.””
“I didn’t know everything.””
“You knew enough.””
He looked down.
That was my answer.
Ethan stepped away from me.
Not far.
Just enough to look at his father differently.
“Dad…”
Marcus looked at him.
“I was trying to keep you safe.””
Ethan shook his head.
“You keep saying that.””
His voice trembled.
“But you’re the one hurting Mom.””
The words landed.
Even Marcus felt them.
I watched my husband’s face change.
Not because he was angry.
Because his son had finally seen him clearly.
Vanessa moved closer.
“I didn’t want this to happen.””
I turned toward her.
“Then why did you come here?””
She looked confused.
“What?””
“Why tonight?””
My voice sharpened.
“You knew I would be here.””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
Again.
That look.
That silent conversation between them.
And I understood something.
The divorce papers weren’t the reason she came.
The necklace wasn’t an accident.
Tonight was planned.
“What were you trying to do?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I was supposed to take something.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
She didn’t answer.
Marcus did.
“The photograph.””
I looked at him.
“You knew about the photograph?””
He rubbed his face.
“This is getting worse.””
“Worse?””
I almost laughed.
“My husband brought the woman wearing my missing sister’s necklace to a family gala, handed me divorce papers, and now I find out everyone knows secrets about my sister except me.””
My voice shook.
“Tell me how this gets worse.””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
The sound cut through the silence.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
My first instinct was to ignore it.
Then something stopped me.
A feeling.
A strange certainty.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Only breathing.
Then a woman’s voice whispered:
“Nia.””
My hand froze.
I knew that voice.
I knew it before my brain could accept it.
My knees almost gave out.
“Maya?””
Ethan grabbed my arm.
“Mom?””
The voice on the phone trembled.
“You shouldn’t be with Marcus.””
Tears filled my eyes.
“Where are you?””
Silence.
Then:
“I can’t stay on long.””
“Maya, please.””
I walked away from the table.
The ballroom lights blurred.
The music became distant.
“Are you okay?””
A small breath.
A broken laugh.
“I should ask you that.””
I closed my eyes.
For twelve years, I imagined this moment.
I imagined anger.
I imagined questions.
I imagined screaming.
But when I finally heard my sister’s voice, all I could say was:
“I missed you.””
The silence afterward hurt.
Then Maya whispered:
“I missed you too.””
Behind me, I heard footsteps.
Marcus.
“Nia, who is it?””
The line went silent.
Maya heard him.
And everything changed.
“Is Marcus there?””
I turned around.
He was standing several feet away.
Watching me.
“Yes.””
Maya’s breathing became faster.
“Nia, listen to me.””
I pressed the phone tighter.
“What?””
“You cannot trust him.””
Marcus’s face changed.
“Maya?””
The moment he said her name, the call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
No signal.
No call.
Nothing.
Just my reflection.
And behind it, Marcus standing frozen.
Vanessa looked terrified.
Ethan looked confused.
And I realized the truth was much bigger than a broken marriage.
My sister was alive.
And she was afraid of my husband.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message appeared from the same unknown number.
One sentence.
May you like
One warning.
*Ask Marcus what happened the night I disappeared.*
