Chapter 9: The Last Lie
I spent the next twenty-four hours refusing to accept what the video suggested.
My mother?
The woman who held me when I was sick.
The woman who cried when I graduated.
The woman who called me every Sunday.
No.
It couldn’t be her.
There had to be another explanation.
There had to be.
But every explanation I created collapsed under one fact.
She knew.
She always knew.
I went to her house that evening.
She opened the door with a smile.
Then she saw my face.
The smile disappeared.
“You watched it.””
I froze.
“You knew about the video?””
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The pain of hearing that was almost worse than the surprise.
“How?””
“Your father told me.””
“Before he died?””
She nodded.
I stepped inside.
“Mom, I need you to tell me the truth.””
She looked terrified.
“I don’t know if I can.””
“You have to.””
She sat down.
For a moment, she looked like someone who had been waiting years for this conversation.
“I didn’t kill your father.””
I stared.
“I didn’t ask that.””
“But you were thinking it.””
I didn’t answer.
She looked down.
“I was there that night.””
My stomach dropped.
“Where?””
“At the house.””
“Why?””
She wiped away a tear.
“Your father called me.””
“Everyone was there except me.””
Her face broke.
“I’m sorry.””
I laughed quietly.
“You know how many times I’ve heard that?””
She looked at me.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
I pointed around the room.
“This entire family decided I was too fragile for the truth.””
She cried.
“You were my son.””
“And that’s exactly why you should have trusted me.””
She nodded.
“I should have.””
Finally.
An admission.
No excuses.
Just regret.
“What happened that night?””
My mother took a deep breath.
“Your father wanted to tell you everything.””
“I know.””
“He also wanted to expose Michael.””
“I know.””
Her hands shook.
“But before he could…”
She stopped.
“Before he could what?””
She looked at me.
“Someone came to the house.””
“Who?””
She whispered:
“Rachel.””
My heart stopped.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“That’s impossible.””
“She came because your father asked her to.””
I stood up.
“Rachel was there too?””
My mother nodded.
“Your father wanted everyone involved to tell the truth.””
I felt dizzy.
“Then what happened?””
My mother looked toward the window.
“Your father and Rachel argued.””
“About what?””
“About Daniel.””
“Then?””
“Your father collapsed.””
My voice lowered.
“From a heart attack?””
My mother didn’t answer.
That was my answer.
“What are you saying?””
She began crying.
“Your father didn’t die immediately.””
I froze.
“He was alive.””
The room went silent.
“He looked at me.””
My mother’s voice broke.
“He tried to say something.””
“What?””
She covered her face.
“I couldn’t understand.””
“Mom.””
She looked at me.
“The last thing he said was your name.””
I felt tears forming.
“What happened next?””
She shook her head.
“I panicked.””
“Why?””
“Because Rachel was there.””
I stared.
“Because Michael was involved.””
She looked at me.
“And because I realized our entire family was about to collapse.””
My voice became a whisper.
“What did you do?””
My mother closed her eyes.
“I made a choice.””
The silence was unbearable.
“What choice?””
“I called Michael.””
I stepped back.
“You called Michael?””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
“He helped us.””
“Us?””
My mother looked at me.
And that was when I realized.
She wasn’t hiding one person’s mistake.
She was hiding everyone’s.
“What did you do?””
She cried.
“We changed the story.””
My hands went cold.
“You let me believe my father died naturally.””
“Yes.””
“You let me grieve without knowing.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Her answer destroyed me.
“Because your father’s last request was that you never hate the people you loved.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
She looked at me.
“He knew the truth would destroy you.””
“No.””
“He wanted you to have a life.””
I backed toward the door.
“You all took my choice away.””
My mother whispered:
“I know.””
I walked outside.
I couldn’t think.
I couldn’t breathe.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
A voice spoke immediately.
“Ethan Carter?””
“Yes.””
“You finally know what happened.””
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“The person your father was trying to expose.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
The voice became colder.
“Someone who has been watching you your entire life.””
I gripped the phone.
“Tell me your name.””
The answer came quietly.
And when I heard it, every secret suddenly made sense.
Because the person on the other end wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone from my own family.
“Ethan…”
May you like
The voice whispered.
“I’m your father’s other child.””
