Chapter 11 - THE FAMILY THAT BETRAYED ME

Nathan drove to his mother’s house the next morning.

He didn’t call.

He didn’t announce himself.

He needed to see her reaction.

His mother, Margaret, opened the door with a surprised smile.

“Nathan?”

Then she saw his face.

The smile disappeared.

“What happened?”

Nathan stepped inside.

“I found Emily’s letter.”

Margaret froze.

Only for a second.

But it was enough.

Nathan noticed.

“You knew.”

She looked away.

“Nathan…”

“No.”

His voice became firm.

“I spent five years believing my wife died because of an accident.”

Margaret sat down slowly.

“Please.”

“Please what?”

Nathan’s anger finally broke through.

“Please tell me why everyone knew except me?”

Margaret started crying.

“I was trying to protect you.”

Nathan laughed bitterly.

“Everyone says that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Then why did nobody protect Emily?”

Silence.

That question hurt her.

Nathan saw it.

“You loved her.”

Margaret nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then tell me.”

Margaret covered her face.

“I made a mistake.”

Nathan waited.

“Your father was drowning.”

“In debt?”

“Yes.”

“And you helped him?”

Margaret looked ashamed.

“I thought I was saving our family.”

Nathan shook his head.

“You destroyed mine.”

“I didn’t know it would go this far.”

“What happened that night?”

Margaret looked at him.

“The night Emily died…”

Her voice cracked.

“I called her.”

Nathan froze.

“You called her?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to convince her to stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Going to the police.”

Nathan felt sick.

Emily was trying to expose them.

Margaret continued.

“She said she was going to tell you everything.”

Nathan closed his eyes.

“Everything about Claire?”

“Yes.”

“Everything about the money?”

“Yes.”

“Everything about Michael?”

Margaret nodded.

Nathan turned away.

“Then what happened?”

Margaret whispered:

“Your father followed her.”

Nathan’s heart dropped.

“But he died years later.”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you write his name?”

Margaret started crying.

“Because he wasn’t the person who caused the crash.”

Nathan turned back.

“Who was?”

Margaret looked terrified.

And then she said:

“Michael.”

Nathan felt like the room moved.

“No.”

“I saw him.”

“Where?”

“That night.”

Margaret grabbed Nathan’s hand.

“I saw Michael arguing with Emily beside her car.”

Nathan pulled away.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because Michael threatened us.”

“Us?”

“He said if I talked, you would lose everything.”

Nathan looked toward the window.

The same threat.

The same pattern.

Everyone protecting the same secret.

Then Nathan’s phone rang.

It was Daniel Brooks.

The attorney.

Nathan answered.

“Nathan.”

His voice sounded urgent.

“You need to leave your mother’s house.”

“Why?”

A pause.

“Because someone just broke into my office.”

Nathan’s expression changed.

“What did they take?”

Daniel whispered:

“Emily’s original evidence.”

Nathan tightened his grip.

“Who took it?”

Daniel answered:

“The same person who has been cleaning up this mess for five years.”

Nathan waited.

“Who?”

Daniel said:

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