Chapter 9: The Last Lie of the Reed Family
The door stood between Marcus and the final piece of his past.
Every secret.
Every betrayal.
Every unanswered question from the last twenty years.
It was all waiting on the other side.
The voice outside called his name again.
“Marcus.””
There was something strange about it.
Not anger.
Not power.
Not the confidence of someone who came to threaten them.
It sounded like someone who had been waiting a lifetime for this moment.
Richard stood near the door, his face pale.
Marcus noticed.
His father had faced angry investors.
Hostile takeovers.
Public scandals.
Nothing had ever made him look like this.
“What are you afraid of?”” Marcus asked.
Richard didn’t answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who is he?””
Thomas looked at Richard.
Then at Elena.
Finally, he said:
“His name is Daniel.””
Marcus frowned.
“My mother’s brother?””
Thomas nodded.
“But he wasn’t just Elena’s brother.””
A pause.
“He was the first person who discovered the truth about your birth.””
The knocking came again.
This time, the entire house shook.
Daniel’s voice followed.
“Richard, I know you’re there.””
Richard closed his eyes.
Marcus looked at him.
“You know him.””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“How?””
Richard didn’t answer.
Elena did.
“He was the person who helped me escape.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then why does everyone act like he’s dangerous?””
Thomas’s expression darkened.
“Because Daniel knows everything.””
A cold feeling moved through Marcus.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas looked toward the door.
“It means he knows what happened before you were born.””
Another knock.
Then Daniel spoke.
“And I know you’re finally ready to hear it.””
Marcus froze.
The man outside could hear them.
Thomas immediately turned off the lights.
Everyone became silent.
Richard whispered:
“He found us too quickly.””
Victor looked at him.
“You knew he would come.””
Richard looked away.
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“You knew.””
Nobody responded.
Marcus felt anger rising again.
“Seriously?””
His voice echoed.
“Another secret?””
Everyone looked at him.
“I am standing in a house full of people who claim they protected me, but every single one of you has been hiding something.””
He pointed toward the door.
“So open it.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
Marcus stared.
“You don’t get to decide anymore.””
The words hit Richard.
Marcus walked toward the door.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“Marcus, please.””
He looked at her.
“Mom.””
The word softened her expression.
“I need to know.””
She slowly released him.
Marcus unlocked the door.
Richard stepped forward.
“Don’t.””
Marcus opened it anyway.
A man stood outside.
He looked nothing like Marcus expected.
Daniel was not intimidating.
He was older, wearing a simple jacket, his hair gray around the edges.
His face showed exhaustion.
Like he had spent decades running from something.
His eyes immediately found Marcus.
And he stopped.
For several seconds, he just stared.
Then he whispered:
“You look exactly like her.””
Marcus felt something strange.
The way Daniel looked at him wasn’t like a stranger.
It was like someone seeing a memory come alive.
“Come inside.””
Richard’s voice was cold.
Daniel looked at him.
“You’re the last person who should invite me anywhere.””
Richard’s expression hardened.
But Daniel walked in.
The room became even more crowded.
More complicated.
Marcus closed the door.
“Start talking.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Your grandfather was right.””
Marcus frowned.
“About what?””
“That you would ask for the truth before you asked for forgiveness.””
Marcus didn’t understand.
Daniel looked around.
“At least some things never change.””
He looked at Elena.
She looked older.
Tired.
But the love between them was obvious.
“You survived.””
Elena nodded.
“Because of you.””
Daniel smiled sadly.
“I almost didn’t make it.””
Marcus looked between them.
“What happened?””
Daniel sat down.
“I was the first person Elena called after she found out about you.””
Marcus listened.
“I was the first person who knew Victor was your biological father.””
Victor looked away.
Daniel continued.
“But I was also the first person who discovered something else.””
“What?””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“Your birth was not an accident.””
Silence.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel took a deep breath.
“It means someone was looking for a child with your genetic profile.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the documents on the table.
“Because of what your grandfather discovered.””
Marcus looked at Thomas.
Thomas said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“Years before you were born, Thomas discovered research being funded through hidden companies.””
Victor’s expression changed.
Marcus noticed.
“You know about this.””
Victor nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Marcus stared.
“Explain.””
Victor looked at the floor.
“My family had medical research divisions.””
“What kind?””
“Genetic research.””
Marcus’s voice became colder.
“And I was part of that?””
Victor immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Daniel interrupted.
“That’s where everyone got confused.””
Marcus looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“You were never created for the research.””
“Then why me?””
“Because you proved something.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
Daniel looked at Elena.
“Your mother and Victor’s genetic compatibility created something rare.””
Marcus stared.
“You’re saying I’m special?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
The answer surprised him.
“You’re human.””
A pause.
“But powerful people wanted to believe you were something more.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“And my father?””
Daniel’s expression became complicated.
“Your father wanted to protect you.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“I know.””
Daniel looked at him.
“But Richard made a terrible mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Daniel looked at Richard.
“He thought controlling the truth was the same as protecting you.””
Richard looked down.
Marcus felt a strange sadness.
Because that was exactly who his father was.
Someone who loved him.
Someone who hurt him.
Someone who believed he knew better.
Daniel continued.
“Twenty years ago, when Elena disappeared, Richard told the world she abandoned you.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because he needed everyone to stop searching.””
“For what?””
Daniel looked at Thomas.
“For you.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
Daniel continued.
“Someone was hunting you.””
The room went silent.
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then answered:
“The people behind Victor’s old network.””
Victor’s face darkened.
“They were supposed to be gone.””
Daniel looked at him.
“They were never gone.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Who are they?””
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He pulled out an old photograph.
He placed it on the table.
Marcus picked it up.
It showed several people standing together.
Richard.
Victor.
Thomas.
Elena.
And another man.
A man Marcus had never seen before.
But there was something familiar about him.
“Who is that?””
Daniel looked at the picture.
“That’s the man who started everything.””
Marcus stared.
“Who?””
Daniel answered:
“Your grandfather’s brother.””
Thomas looked away.
Marcus noticed.
“You knew him?””
Thomas nodded.
“He was my brother.””
Daniel continued.
“His name was Alexander Reed.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“Why haven’t I heard of him?””
Thomas’s voice was quiet.
“Because we erased him.””
Marcus looked up.
“What?””
“He was the reason the Reed family almost collapsed.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“He believed power belonged only to those willing to do anything to keep it.””
Marcus stared.
“And he’s still alive?””
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
Marcus looked at Richard.
“You knew.””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
“No.””
Marcus stepped back.
“Why?””
Richard’s eyes filled with regret.
“Because he was looking for you.””
A silence followed.
Then Daniel spoke.
“And now he knows where you are.””
Marcus felt cold.
“How?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
Outside, the black vehicles were still parked.
“He has been watching for years.””
Marcus looked at the cars.
“Why come now?””
Daniel answered:
“Because Thomas came back.””
Everyone went silent.
Thomas looked confused.
Daniel continued.
“Alexander believed Thomas was the only person who could expose him.””
Marcus stared.
“So this entire time…”
He looked around.
“All of this…”
Daniel nodded.
“Was because someone wanted the truth buried.””
Suddenly, a phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It was Richard’s phone.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
Marcus noticed.
“Who is it?””
Richard didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, Marcus walked closer.
“Give it to me.””
Richard hesitated.
Then handed it over.
The caller ID showed a name.
A name Marcus had never seen.
But everyone else recognized.
Thomas whispered:
“No.””
Marcus answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then an old man’s voice spoke.
Calm.
Confident.
Familiar.
“Marcus Reed.””
Marcus felt his heart stop.
The voice continued:
“I’ve waited a very long time to speak to you.””
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Who are you?””
The man laughed softly.
“You already know.””
A pause.
“I’m the person your family spent twenty years trying to hide.””
Marcus looked at Thomas.
At Richard.
At Elena.
Then the voice said:
“And I’m also the person who knows the truth about why your mother really disappeared.””
The room went silent.
Marcus whispered:
“Alexander.””
The man on the phone smiled.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“And Marcus…”
His voice became softer.
“Your family told you I was the villain.””
Another pause.
“But they never told you what they did to me first.””
The call ended.
Marcus stared at the phone.
Then Daniel looked at him and said the words that changed everything.
“Now you finally understand.””
Marcus looked up.
“Understand what?””
Daniel’s face was filled with fear.
“That every person in this room…”
He pointed around the house.
“Has been lying to you.””
A pause.
“But the biggest lie…”
May you like
He looked at Marcus.
“Is the one you have believed about yourself.””
