Chapter 6: Lily’s Memory
I didn’t sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Dad’s voice.
“She saw who really made me leave.””
Lily.
My little sister.
The same girl who secretly gave me chicken.
The same girl who cried when Amanda took it away.
What could she possibly know?
The next morning, I found her sitting on the stairs.
She looked tired.
“You didn’t sleep either,” I said.
She shook her head.
“Mom was crying last night.””
I froze.
“Amanda was crying?””
Lily nodded.
“She was talking to someone.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
I sat beside her.
“Lily, do you remember the night Dad left?””
Her face changed.
Like I had opened a door she had kept locked.
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
She looked down.
“Mom and Dad were fighting.””
I waited.
“Dad said he knew what she did.””
My heart beat faster.
“What did she do?””
“I don’t know.””
“Lily.””
She looked at me.
“I was hiding.””
“Where?””
“In the closet.””
The words came slowly.
“I heard Dad say, ‘You can’t keep lying forever.’”
I swallowed.
“What did Amanda say?””
Lily’s eyes filled with fear.
“She said if he told anyone, she would make sure he lost everything.””
I felt cold.
“What happened after?””
“Dad came into my room.””
She wiped her eyes.
“He hugged me.””
“What did he say?””
Lily whispered:
“He said, ‘Take care of Ethan for me.’”
I looked away.
For years, I thought Dad left because he wanted to.
But maybe he left because he had no choice.
That afternoon, Daniel returned.
He brought more documents.
Amanda was gone.
“She went shopping,” Lily said.
Daniel looked concerned.
“She left the house after I called.””
“Why?””
“Because she knows the investigation has started.””
I looked at him.
“Investigation?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father’s disappearance wasn’t random.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“What happened to him?””
Daniel hesitated.
That scared me.
“Tell me.””
“Your father was supposed to meet someone the night he left.””
“Who?””
“A person who had information about Amanda.””
“Did he meet them?””
Daniel looked down.
“We don’t know.””
The room became quiet.
Then Lily spoke.
“I know.””
Everyone turned.
“What?””
Lily stood.
“I know who Dad met.””
Daniel knelt beside her.
“Lily, this is important. Are you sure?””
She nodded.
“He came to our house.””
“Who?””
Lily looked toward the window.
Then whispered a name.
“Amanda’s brother.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
I had never heard of him.
“Why would he meet Amanda’s brother?””
Lily shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Then she remembered something.
“He gave Dad a box.””
“What box?””
“A small black box.””
My hand moved toward the device in my pocket.
Daniel noticed.
“Ethan?””
I looked at him.
“Dad gave me this.””
Daniel stared.
“Where did you get that?””
“My father.””
He slowly sat down.
“Ethan…”
“What?””
“That device wasn’t just for recording.””
“Then what was it?””
Daniel looked terrified.
“It was designed to store evidence.””
Before I could ask another question, the front door opened.
Amanda walked inside.
But she wasn’t alone.
A man stood behind her.
A man with the same cold eyes.
Amanda smiled.
“Ethan.””
May you like
She pointed at the device.
“It’s time you met the person who knows the truth about your father.””
