Chapter 9: My Father's Last Secret
I couldn't breathe.
My father had been dead for twelve years. I had spent most of my adult life believing I understood everything about him: the sacrifices he made, the business he built, the quiet pride he took in providing for my mother and me.
Now a photograph of his handwriting threatened to change everything.
I looked at my mother.
“Mom, have you ever seen that letter?””
She stared at the screen, her eyes widening.
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“I would remember those words.””
Simone stepped forward.
“I told you. Loretta found it among your father's belongings.””
My mother shook her head.
“That's not true.””
Simone's mouth tightened.
“Why would I lie about something like that?””
I gave her a hard look.
“Because you've spent the entire day lying.””
She flinched.
Marcus enlarged the photograph. The image was grainy, but the handwriting was unmistakably my father's. The paper appeared old, with a crease running down the center.
At the bottom was his signature.
Above it, the final paragraph read:
The company was never meant to belong to one person. If I cannot correct this before the end, the records will explain everything.
I read it twice.
“What company?”” I asked.
My father had operated a small construction business before he died. It had eventually become the foundation for my own career. I had assumed he'd left everything in order.
Loretta looked at the image again.
“Your father used to talk about a business partner,” she said slowly.
“A man named Robert. They started out together before you were born.””
I frowned.
“Robert who?””
She closed her eyes, searching her memory.
“Robert Hayes. I haven't heard that name in years.””
Simone's face changed.
It was subtle, but I saw it.
“You know that name,” I said.
She shook her head too quickly.
“No.””
“Simone.””
“My father knew a lot of people.””
I turned to Marcus.
“Can you trace where that message came from?””
“The security system only stores the message attachment and the account that uploaded it. The sender's identity may require further investigation.””
“Who uploaded it?””
Marcus checked the log.
“An account registered under Daniel Carter.””
I turned sharply.
Daniel looked stunned.
“What? No. I didn't upload that.””
Marcus showed him the record.
Daniel studied it, then shook his head.
“That's not my account. Someone used my name.””
Simone folded her arms.
“Convenient.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You've been using everyone around you. Don't pretend you suddenly care about honesty.””
He looked at me.
“Andre, I didn't send that file. I swear.””
I believed he might be telling the truth. But belief wasn't enough anymore.
“Then help us find out who did.””
Daniel nodded.
Marcus explained that the ballroom system had received the image through a guest-access account shortly before the wedding rehearsal. The account had used a temporary password distributed to vendors and members of the wedding party.
I looked at Simone.
“Who had access to that password?””
“The wedding planner. The photographer. The florist.
The caterers. Plenty of people.””
“And you.””
She lifted her chin.
“And me.””
I studied the photograph again.
The letter was real enough to warrant investigation, but the message surrounding it could have been planted to manipulate us.
I had nearly married a woman who forged documents and stole from my mother. I wasn't going to accept another dramatic revelation without proof.
“Marcus, save the original image and the access logs. Don't delete anything.””
“Understood.””
I turned toward my mother.
“Did Dad ever mention Robert Hayes after the company started growing?””
She nodded slowly.
“Once. I remember an argument they had. Your father came home late, went into his office, and closed the door.
I asked what happened. He said Robert had made a decision that could ruin both of them.””
“What decision?””
“He wouldn't tell me.””
“Did they stop working together?””
“I think so. Robert disappeared from our lives.””
I looked back at Simone.
“Why would that letter have anything to do with your family?””
She swallowed.
“My father is Robert Hayes.””
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“Your father's name is Robert Hayes?””
She nodded.
“You knew my father was his former business partner?””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me?””
“I didn't think it mattered.””
I let out a slow breath.
“You're telling me you knew our fathers had a business history, you knew my mother had financial records connected to my father, and you never thought to mention it?””
Simone's eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid you'd think I was using you.””
I looked at the stolen ring in my mother's hand.
“You were using me.””
She lowered her head.
Patricia, who had been standing near the entrance, turned back toward us.
“Simone, stop.””
But Simone had begun speaking as though she could no longer hold the truth inside.
“My father told me the Brooks family had something that belonged to him. He said your father had taken control of the company and left him with nothing.””
I felt a chill move through me.
“Your father told you that?””
“Yes.””
“And you believed him?””
“He showed me financial statements. He said your father promised him half the business.””
My mother looked at her in disbelief.
“Your father and mine had a disagreement,” she said.
“That doesn't mean Robert was entitled to my husband's savings.””
Simone shook her head.
“You don't understand. My father spent years trying to get those records back.””
“What records?”” I asked.
“The original partnership agreement. The company ledgers. Everything that showed what your father had promised him.””
I looked at the photograph.
The letter referred to records that could explain who really owned the business.
For the first time, I wondered whether Simone had approached me for reasons that went beyond money.
“Did you start dating me because of my father?”” I asked.
She looked at me for a long time.
“I started dating you because I liked you.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I did like you, Andre. I still do.””
“Did you know who I was before we met?””
Her silence was devastating.
I stepped back.
“How long?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“My father recognized your last name after our second date. He asked me to find out whether your family still had the old business records.””
“And you agreed?””
“At first, I only wanted to understand what happened. Then I fell in love with you.””
“Then what?””
She looked at the floor.
“Then my father's company started collapsing. He said if I could get access to the records, we might prove he was owed money. He told me the wedding would make everything easier.””
I stared at her.
“So you planned to marry me to get access to my family's documents.””
“No! Not at first.””
“But eventually.””
She began crying again.
“I thought I could help my father and still have a life with you.””
I looked toward my mother.
She had gone very still.
“Loretta,” Simone whispered, “I never wanted to hurt you.””
My mother slowly shook her head.
“You decided I was an obstacle before you ever asked me a question.””
Simone had no answer.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Andre, we need to verify that letter before anyone assumes it proves anything. It could be incomplete. There may be other records.””
I nodded.
“Agreed.””
Then I looked at Simone.
“Where is the original?””
She hesitated.
“I don't know.””
“Your father showed it to you?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“At his house.””
“Then we'll ask him.””
Patricia rushed forward.
“You will do no such thing.””
I stared at her.
“Why not?””
“Robert is unwell. He doesn't need strangers arriving at his house and accusing him of something that happened twelve years ago.””
“Then he can explain the letter to us himself.””
Patricia's face tightened.
Simone suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Please don't contact him today.””
I pulled away.
“Why?””
Her lips trembled.
“Because if my father finds out I showed you that photograph, he'll destroy the original.””
I stared at her.
“You said you didn't know where it was.””
“I don't know exactly where he keeps it.””
“Then how do you know he'll destroy it?””
She closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, “Because he already tried once.””
My mother gripped my hand.
“Simone, what are you saying?””
Simone looked at her, and for the first time all day, her expression seemed stripped of calculation.
“Your husband didn't die knowing the truth,” she said.
“He died trying to protect you from it.””
I felt my heart pound.
“What truth?””
Simone looked directly at me.
“Your father didn't build the company alone. And the person who took control of it after he died wasn't Robert Hayes.””
She pointed at my mother.
“It was Loretta.””
My mother recoiled.
“That is a lie.””
But Simone shook her head.
“Then ask her to open the blue box in her bedroom closet. The one she hasn't touched since your father died.””
I turned toward my mother.
“Mom?””
She stared at Simone.
Then, slowly, her hand moved to the ring on her finger.
“I know what's in that box,” she whispered.
I felt the entire room hold its breath.
“What is it?””
My mother looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Your father's original partnership agreement.””
May you like
She paused.
“Andre, there's something on the last page you need to see before you decide who betrayed whom.””
