Chapter 14: The Father Who Stayed Away
Nobody moved.
The photograph rested on the floor.
A picture of a man who was supposed to be gone.
A man who had somehow been alive all these years.
Nia stared at it.
Her mind couldn’t understand.
Her father.
Alive.
The word felt impossible.
“You knew?””
She looked at Bear.
The question came out quietly.
Bear shook his head.
“No.””
“Did you?””
She looked at her mother.
Her mother’s tears answered before her voice did.
“No.””
Nia stepped back.
“Then who knew?””
Nobody answered.
Victoria looked at the photograph.
“I think I know.””
Everyone turned.
Victoria sighed.
“Your father wasn’t hiding from Daniel.””
Nia frowned.
“Then who?””
Victoria looked at Bear.
“He was hiding from himself.””
Bear looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria walked toward the photograph.
“Your father discovered something after he disappeared.””
“What?””
“That the evidence against Daniel was only part of the story.””
Daniel laughed.
“You still don’t understand.””
Nia looked at him.
“Understand what?””
Daniel stared at the photograph.
“Your father found out the truth about his own family.””
The room became silent.
Bear’s expression changed.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel smiled.
“Ask your brother.””
Everyone looked at Bear.
Nia froze.
“Brother?””
Daniel pointed at Bear.
“He never told you.””
Bear looked sick.
Nia whispered:
“What?””
Bear looked away.
“My father…”
He stopped.
Nia waited.
“My father and Daniel’s father were partners.””
She stared.
“Again with the secrets?””
Bear closed his eyes.
“But there’s more.””
“Of course there is.””
“My father knew about Daniel’s crimes.””
Silence.
“And he helped cover them.””
Nia looked at the box.
At the evidence.
At the decades of lies.
“So everyone was connected.””
“Yes.””
“Everyone?””
Bear nodded.
“Everyone.””
Her anger faded into exhaustion.
She was tired of being shocked.
Tired of discovering that every answer opened another door.
Then her phone rang.
Everyone looked.
Unknown number.
Nia answered.
“Hello?””
Static.
Then a voice.
Older.
Familiar.
Her heart stopped.
“Nia?””
She couldn’t breathe.
“Dad?””
Everyone froze.
The voice trembled.
“Yes.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“I’ve been close.””
“Why?””
The silence hurt.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of what would happen if I came back.””
Nia looked at Bear.
Then her mother.
“Do you know what happened to me?””
Her father sighed.
“I know.””
“You watched me?””
“Yes.””
The answer broke her.
“You watched me grow up?””
“I did.””
“Why didn’t you come?””
A long silence.
Then:
“Because every time I tried, someone reminded me what would happen if I did.””
Nia looked at Daniel.
Then Victoria.
Then Bear.
“Who?””
Her father didn’t answer.
Instead, he said:
“Listen to me carefully.””
His voice became urgent.
“The person you trust most is the person you need to question.””
Nia looked around.
Everyone was watching her.
“Dad, who?””
The line crackled.
Then he whispered:
“It was never Daniel.””
Her eyes widened.
“What?””
“It was someone closer.””
The call cut.
Nia stared at the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Then Bear slowly turned.
Not toward Daniel.
Toward someone else.
Nia followed his gaze.
May you like
Her heart dropped.
Because Bear was looking at her mother.
