Chapter 5: The Name on the Envelope
The door opened.
No one stood there.
Ethan stared into the empty hallway.
Sophia covered her mouth.
Gloria remained perfectly still.
Then something slid across the floor.
A thick white envelope came to rest against Ethan’s shoe.
He looked down.
There was no name on the front.
Only a handwritten sentence.
*For the son who was never supposed to see it.*
Ethan bent down.
“Don't open that,” Sophia said.
He straightened.
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying again.””
Sophia's voice cracked.
“Ethan, please.””
He tore open the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
He pulled it out.
His face went pale.
The photograph showed Ethan standing beside his father years earlier.
But that wasn't what frightened him.
His father was holding the same folder.
The same folder from the security footage.
Gloria reached for the photograph.
“Where did you get that?””
Ethan turned it over.
There was a date written on the back.
Six months before his father died.
Gloria's fingers trembled.
“I've never seen that.””
Sophia moved closer.
“Give it to me.””
Ethan stepped away.
“No.””
Sophia stopped.
“Ethan…”
“You knew my father had this.””
“I knew he kept papers.””
“You knew about the folder.””
“I saw it once.””
“When?””
Sophia didn't answer.
Gloria's voice became cold.
“Tell him.””
Sophia looked at her.
“You don't understand.””
“Then make us understand.””
Sophia's eyes moved to the security monitor.
“It was supposed to stay buried.””
Ethan froze.
“What was?””
Sophia closed her eyes.
“My father was involved.””
Gloria frowned.
“Your father?””
Sophia nodded.
“He worked with Ethan's father.””
“Doing what?”” Ethan asked.
Sophia looked at him.
“Handling his private business.””
“That means nothing.””
“It means everything.””
Ethan threw the photograph onto the coffee table.
“My father was a respected man.””
“I know.””
“He wouldn't have needed someone like your father.””
Sophia flinched.
“You never knew him.””
“And you did?””
“Yes.””
The answer came too quickly.
Ethan stared at her.
“How?””
Sophia's lips trembled.
“He knew me before I met you.””
Gloria's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
Sophia looked down.
“I needed money.””
Ethan laughed once, without humor.
“So that's what this is about?””
“No.””
“You married me for money?””
“No!””
“Then what?””
Sophia stepped toward him.
“I married you because I loved you.””
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Don't say that while we're standing over a forged signature.””
Sophia looked away.
Gloria picked up the photograph again.
There was something written near the edge.
A series of numbers.
She squinted.
“Ethan.””
He turned.
“What?””
“These numbers.””
Sophia suddenly rushed forward.
She grabbed the photograph.
Ethan caught her wrist.
“Let go.””
“Give it to me!””
“Why?””
“Because you don't know what it means!””
“Then tell me!””
Sophia pulled free.
The photograph slipped from her fingers and landed face-up on the floor.
A small rectangular mark was visible in the corner.
Gloria stared at it.
“That isn't a photograph.””
Ethan looked confused.
“What?””
“It’s a copy.””
She pointed.
“Look at the edge.””
Ethan crouched down.
There was a faint printing code.
“This came from a document file.””
Sophia's face drained of color.
Gloria whispered, “There were copies.””
Ethan stood.
“How many?””
Sophia backed away.
“I don't know.””
“You do.””
“No.””
“You do!””
Sophia turned toward the door.
Ethan stepped in front of her.
“Where are the originals?””
She shook her head.
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if I tell you, you'll never forgive me.””
Ethan stared at her.
“You already gave me plenty of reasons.””
Sophia's eyes filled.
“There is one thing you don't know.””
“What?””
She looked at Gloria.
Then back at Ethan.
“Your father didn't die owing anyone money.””
Ethan went still.
“What are you talking about?””
Sophia whispered, “He left something behind.””
Gloria stepped closer.
“What?””
Sophia's phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression collapsed.
Ethan saw the caller ID.
It displayed a name he recognized.
His father's name.
Ethan grabbed the phone.
The call was still connected.
A man's voice came through the speaker.
“Ethan?””
Ethan couldn't breathe.
May you like
The voice continued.
“You shouldn't have opened the envelope.””
