Chapter 7: The Man Amanda Feared
The man stepped into the house.
He looked at me.
Not with anger.
With guilt.
That confused me.
Amanda stood beside him.
“This is my brother, Marcus.””
Daniel immediately stood.
“Marcus.””
The way he said the name told me everything.
He knew him.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“I didn’t want to come here.””
Amanda laughed.
“Really?””
“You forced me.””
Her smile disappeared.
“You owe me.””
Marcus looked away.
For the first time, I realized something.
Amanda wasn’t controlling everyone.
Some people were afraid of her.
“I want answers,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
I held the device tightly.
“My father left because of you.””
Amanda opened her mouth.
But Marcus spoke first.
“No.””
The room froze.
“No?”” I repeated.
Marcus looked at Amanda.
“Tell him.””
Amanda’s face turned angry.
“Don’t.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Your father didn’t abandon you.””
My eyes burned.
“Then why did he leave?””
Marcus looked at me.
“Because he was trying to protect you.””
Amanda shouted:
“Enough!””
Daniel moved between us.
“No more lies.””
Marcus reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
My heart stopped.
It had my father’s handwriting.
Ethan.
Amanda immediately moved toward him.
“Where did you get that?””
Marcus held it away.
“Robert gave it to me.””
“You said you destroyed it.””
Marcus looked ashamed.
“I lied.””
Amanda’s face became furious.
“You idiot.””
Lily grabbed my hand.
I could feel her shaking.
Marcus looked at us.
“Your father found out Amanda had been moving money from his accounts.””
Daniel nodded.
“We suspected.””
“But that wasn’t the worst part.””
Everyone became silent.
Marcus continued.
“She was planning to disappear.””
I stared at Amanda.
“What?””
Amanda laughed.
“You believe him?””
Marcus ignored her.
“She had documents prepared. New identity. New bank accounts.””
Daniel opened his folder.
“That matches what we found.””
Amanda stepped back.
“You don’t understand.””
“No,” I said.
“You don’t understand.””
She looked at me.
“I was your mother.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You were someone who watched me go hungry.””
For a moment, Amanda looked hurt.
Then it disappeared.
“You were never supposed to find this.””
She turned toward Marcus.
“You were supposed to keep quiet.””
Marcus looked at her.
“I should have told him years ago.””
The device in my pocket suddenly beeped.
Everyone stopped.
A new recording unlocked.
Daniel grabbed his phone.
“Another file?””
I pressed play.
Dad’s voice filled the room.
“If Marcus is there, it means Amanda’s plan failed.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
My father continued.
“Marcus, you know what happened.””
A pause.
“You know why I had to leave.””
I looked at Marcus.
“What happened?””
The recording continued.
“The night I left, I discovered someone had been watching Ethan.””
My blood ran cold.
Watching me?
Dad’s voice became serious.
“They weren’t interested in money.””
A pause.
“They were interested in my son.””
Nobody moved.
Then my father said:
“The person behind everything is not Amanda.””
I looked at Marcus.
Amanda.
Daniel.
Lily.
Dad’s final words echoed.
“The person behind this is someone Ethan trusts.””
The recording ended.
And slowly…
May you like
Everyone’s eyes moved toward the same person.
Lily.
