Chapter 5: The Lie We All Lived With
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not because I couldn’t.
Because every time I closed my eyes, I saw my father’s face.
I saw the hospital room.
The machines.
My mother crying.
Olivia holding my hand.
And Marcus sitting quietly in the corner because he knew I didn’t want anyone saying anything.
My father’s death had always been the one thing in my life that made sense.
A tragedy.
A painful accident of life.
But now Daniel’s name was attached to it.
And I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
By morning, I was sitting at my kitchen table with the envelope spread out in front of me.
Documents.
Emails.
Financial records.
And one handwritten note from Olivia.
I hadn’t noticed it before.
Maybe because I was too focused on the business records.
The note only had one sentence.
*Nia, if you’re reading this, I failed to keep you safe.*
My chest tightened.
I heard footsteps behind me.
Marcus.
I didn’t turn around.
“How long have you known?””
He stopped.
“About what?””
I looked at the papers.
“My father.””
Silence.
That was all I needed.
I turned.
“How long?””
Marcus looked exhausted.
“Two months.””
I stared at him.
“Two months?””
“Nia—”
“You knew something about my father’s death for two months?””
He sat across from me.
“I didn’t know the whole story.””
“But you knew enough.””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
I stood.
“I don’t understand.””
My voice rose.
“You spent months watching me think our marriage was dying while you knew there was something connected to my dad?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
The words came out automatically.
And this time, I couldn’t control my anger.
“Stop saying that.””
Marcus went quiet.
“Everyone keeps protecting me.””
I pointed at the papers.
“But nobody trusts me.””
He looked hurt.
“I trust you.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You trust me to survive after you tell me the truth. You don’t trust me with the truth itself.””
He didn’t argue.
Because he knew I was right.
The front door opened.
We both turned.
Olivia walked in.
Her eyes were red.
She looked like she hadn’t slept either.
“Nia.””
I stared at her.
“You should have told me.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
“Why didn’t you?””
She walked closer.
“Because I was scared.””
“Of what?””
Her eyes moved to Marcus.
Then back to me.
“Of losing you.””
That answer hurt.
Because I understood it.
But understanding didn’t erase the pain.
Olivia sat down.
“Your father wasn’t supposed to die that night.””
The room went silent.
My hands went cold.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“Eight years ago, before Dad died, he discovered someone was moving money from his company.””
I frowned.
“My father’s company?””
She nodded.
“The company Daniel later took over.””
I stared at her.
“Daniel worked for Dad?””
“Yes.””
Marcus added quietly:
“Daniel was your father’s financial advisor.””
Everything inside me shifted.
Daniel.
The trusted friend.
The loyal partner.
The man everyone respected.
He had been there before Marcus.
Before Vanessa.
Before everything.
Olivia pulled out her phone.
“I found this last year.””
She placed it on the table.
A video file.
“What is it?””
“A recording from Dad’s office.””
My breath caught.
“Why didn’t I know about this?””
“Because I didn’t know if it was real.””
She pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then a man’s voice.
My father’s voice.
I hadn’t heard it in eight years.
“Nathan, I know what you’re doing.””
My heart stopped.
Another voice answered.
Daniel.
Older.
But unmistakable.
“You don’t have proof.””
My father laughed softly.
“I have enough.””
The recording continued.
“You think you’re smarter than everyone,” my father said.
Daniel replied:
“No. I just understand people better than you do.””
I covered my mouth.
Then came the sentence that destroyed me.
Daniel said:
“Your daughter will inherit everything if you don’t sign.””
My father’s voice changed.
“You stay away from my family.””
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Olivia.
“Why would he say that?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus looked at the phone.
“But now we know Daniel had a reason.””
A terrible thought entered my mind.
“What happened the night Dad died?””
Olivia looked at me.
And I knew she had been carrying this answer for years.
“He wasn’t alone.””
I whispered:
“What?””
She looked down.
“Someone was with him.””
“Who?””
She hesitated.
Then said:
“Daniel.””
My entire body went still.
The man who destroyed Marcus’s company.
The man who manipulated Vanessa.
The man who knew our family.
He had been there when my father died.
Marcus stood.
“We need to go.””
I looked at him.
“Where?””
He picked up the documents.
“To Daniel’s house.””
“Why?””
His face hardened.
“Because if he knows we have this…”
A loud crash interrupted him.
All three of us turned toward the front window.
A rock sat on the floor.
Beside it was a piece of paper.
My hands trembled as I picked it up.
Four words were written in black ink.
*Stop digging, Nia.*
I looked at Marcus.
Then Olivia.
Because underneath the warning was something worse.
A second sentence.
May you like
One that made Olivia’s face lose all color.
*Ask your sister what she did.*
