Chapter 14: The Secret My Father Took To His Grave
I stared at the report.
My name was printed across the top.
Marcus Carter.
For a few seconds, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
Then I looked at Evelyn.
“What is this?””
She didn’t answer.
My mother grabbed the document.
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“This is not what it looks like.””
I looked at her.
“Then tell me what it is.””
She flipped through the pages.
Her hands trembled.
“Your father was investigating money that disappeared from the company.””
I looked at the papers.
“And my name is on it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel whispered:
“Because the money was transferred into an account created when you were born.””
I felt dizzy.
“What?””
My mother immediately stepped forward.
“Marcus, listen to me.””
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Not another explanation.””
She stopped.
“I need you to understand.””
“I understand enough.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“My entire life has been surrounded by secrets.””
Then at my mother.
“And now I find out my name was connected to my father’s investigation?””
Vanessa moved closer.
“Marcus.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“Your father wasn’t investigating you.””
“Then why is my name there?””
“Because he was protecting you.””
I stared.
“How?””
She pointed at the report.
“Read the first page.””
I looked down.
There was a note written by my father.
*Marcus Carter is the key to exposing the truth. He is not involved. He is the reason I continued.*
I froze.
My breathing slowed.
I kept reading.
*Someone attempted to place evidence against my son. I believe they wanted him blamed for crimes he did not commit.*
I looked up.
My mother was crying.
“Your father knew someone would come after you.””
“Why?””
“Because you inherited everything.””
I frowned.
“Everything?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father discovered the company’s illegal operations were connected to a hidden ownership structure.””
“And?””
“You were the legal beneficiary.””
I stared.
My father had left me something.
But not money.
Not power.
Protection.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Your father created a problem.””
I looked at her.
“What problem?””
“He made you impossible to remove.””
Richard looked at her.
“Evelyn.””
She ignored him.
“Your father knew if something happened to him, people would try to control the company through you.””
My stomach tightened.
“So someone tried to frame me.””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Evelyn smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She walked closer.
“The person behind everything wasn’t trying to destroy your father.””
She paused.
“They were trying to inherit his work.””
My mother looked at Richard.
And Richard looked away.
I noticed.
“Richard.””
He didn’t respond.
“Why did you look at him?””
Silence.
Then Richard whispered:
“Because I was the one who helped your father create the evidence.””
My eyes narrowed.
“But?””
His face fell.
“But I wasn’t the one who protected it.””
The room became still.
I looked at Evelyn.
Then Richard.
Then my mother.
Everyone had a piece.
Everyone had a reason.
Then Vanessa stepped forward.
“There’s something nobody knows.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She reached into her purse.
And removed an old envelope.
Not yellow.
White.
“I found this after my father disappeared.””
My heart raced.
“What is it?””
She looked at my mother.
“I think Gloria knows.””
My mother’s face changed.
“Vanessa…”
“What is it?”” I asked.
Vanessa handed it to me.
Inside was a letter.
My father’s handwriting.
Again.
But this time, the first line was different.
*Marcus, if you are reading this letter, then the person I trusted most has already betrayed me.*
I looked at everyone.
The letter continued.
*I was wrong about one thing. The danger was never outside our family.*
My fingers tightened.
I read the next sentence.
*The person who destroyed my investigation was the person I asked to protect my son.*
My eyes moved slowly.
Because I already knew the answer.
But I didn’t want to believe it.
The final line was visible.
*Marcus, forgive your mother.*
The room went silent.
I looked up.
My mother collapsed into the chair.
May you like
And for the first time…
she didn’t deny anything.
