Chapter 10: The Secret Between Brothers
“My brother knew about our daughter’s vacation.””
My father’s words made the room feel smaller.
I looked at him.
Then at Vanessa.
Then back at the phone.
His brother.
My uncle.
The person whose name had appeared on Vanessa’s screen.
I had known my uncle for as long as I could remember. He was the one who brought ridiculous gifts on birthdays. The one who always joked that I was too serious for my age. The one who called me “little lawyer” because I argued every point at dinner.
The idea that he knew something about this made my chest tighten.
“Dad…”
Marcus didn’t look away from Vanessa.
“When did you talk to him?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Marcus—”
“When?””
Her silence answered before she did.
Brielle stood near the staircase, watching her mother carefully.
“You talked to Uncle Daniel?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Brielle, go upstairs.””
“No.””
The answer shocked everyone.
Vanessa stared.
“What did you say?””
Brielle shook her head.
“I’m tired of leaving every time something happens.””
That sentence felt bigger than the moment.
Because Brielle wasn’t just talking about the room.
She was talking about years.
Marcus looked at his stepdaughter with surprise.
“Stay.””
Brielle nodded.
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“This is a family matter.””
Marcus replied quietly:
“Maya is family.””
The words were simple.
But I needed to hear them.
Because after everything that happened, I felt like I had been fighting to prove I belonged.
Marcus turned the phone toward Vanessa.
“Why did Daniel message you?””
Vanessa looked down.
“He was helping me.””
“With what?””
She hesitated.
“Marcus…”
“No.””
His voice hardened.
“You don’t get to protect everyone except the person you hurt.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“I was scared.””
That was the first honest thing she had said all day.
My father paused.
“Scared of what?””
She looked at me.
Then away.
“Of losing everything.””
I frowned.
“Why would you lose everything?””
Vanessa sat down.
The confidence was gone.
“I made mistakes.””
Marcus waited.
She took a breath.
“Before we got married, I promised myself I would never let Brielle feel like she was second.””
Brielle looked down.
Vanessa continued.
“When I became part of this family, I saw how close you and Maya were.””
My father’s face tightened.
“And?””
“And I started noticing every little thing.””
“That I loved my daughter?””
“That you always chose her.””
I felt hurt.
Because she said it like love was an accusation.
Marcus shook his head.
“You never told me you felt this way.””
“Because I knew what you would say.””
“What?””
“That Maya comes first.””
Silence.
Then my father answered.
“She does.””
Vanessa looked up.
“But that doesn’t mean Brielle comes last.””
Brielle’s eyes filled.
I looked at her.
She looked hurt too.
Because this wasn’t the future she wanted either.
Marcus sat down across from Vanessa.
“Tell me about Daniel.””
Vanessa rubbed her hands together.
“He called me a few weeks ago.””
“Why?””
“He said he noticed things.””
“What things?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“That Maya was getting older.””
I felt confused.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
My father did.
“It means nothing.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“Keep going.””
Vanessa took a breath.
“He said teenagers change. He said families become complicated when children get older.””
I stared.
“That’s it?””
“No.””
The word was quiet.
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“He suggested that maybe Maya needed a different environment.””
My heart dropped.
“A different environment?””
Marcus stood.
“You mean the school.””
Vanessa nodded.
“And the trip?””
She didn’t answer.
My father’s voice became colder.
“Daniel convinced you.””
“No.””
“Then who?””
Vanessa looked toward the phone.
At the message.
At the name.
“I made my own choices.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Did you?””
The question hurt because she didn’t respond.
I looked at the folder on the table.
The fake signature.
The reservation changes.
The secret plan.
None of it felt like one person anymore.
It felt organized.
My father picked up the phone again.
“I’m calling Daniel.””
Vanessa immediately stood.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
“Why?””
She froze.
Because she knew she had revealed something.
Then my father’s phone rang.
Not Daniel.
Someone else.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Maya.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then he stood completely still.
The call lasted less than a minute.
When he ended it, he looked at all of us.
“That was the school.””
My stomach dropped.
“The school?””
Marcus nodded.
“They received an enrollment request.””
My breathing stopped.
“For me?””
He looked at Vanessa.
“No.””
A pause.
“Not for you.””
I felt confused.
“Then who?””
My father looked down at the phone.
May you like
And quietly said:
“For Brielle.””
