Chapter 9 - THE PRICE OF THE TRUTH

Nathan immediately grabbed his keys.

Claire stood up.

“What happened?”

He showed her the phone.

The color disappeared from her face.

“They found us.”

Nathan looked at her.

“Who?”

Claire didn’t answer.

“Claire.”

Her voice shook.

“The people who helped cover everything.”

Nathan stared.

“You knew they were still watching?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you stay?”

Claire started crying.

“Because I thought I could protect you.”

Nathan stepped closer.

“You almost destroyed my family.”

“I know.”

“You lied about Emily.”

“I know.”

“You let me hate myself for years.”

Claire closed her eyes.

“I know.”

Her honesty surprised him.

For the first time, she wasn’t defending herself.

She wasn’t making excuses.

She was admitting everything.

“Tell me the whole truth.”

Claire wiped her tears.

“After Emily died, I tried to expose them.”

“Why?”

“Because I realized what they were capable of.”

Nathan looked confused.

“Then why didn’t you come to me?”

Claire laughed sadly.

“Because they told me if I spoke, they would make sure you lost your children.”

Nathan felt cold.

“They threatened you?”

“They threatened Lily.”

Silence.

Nathan looked toward the stairs.

Where his children were sleeping.

Claire continued.

“I stayed close because I needed to know what they were planning.”

Nathan looked at her.

“And you married me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Claire’s voice became quiet.

“Because I fell in love with you.”

Nathan didn’t know what to feel.

Anger.

Pain.

Confusion.

All mixed together.

Then suddenly—

The glass window shattered.

Nathan pushed Claire down.

The sound echoed through the house.

A bullet had hit the wall behind them.

Lily screamed upstairs.

Nathan ran.

“Kids!”

He reached the bedroom.

Both children were hiding under the bed.

Nathan grabbed them.

“It’s okay.”

But it wasn’t.

Nothing was okay.

Because someone had just fired into his home.

Someone wanted them silent.

The police arrived twenty minutes later.

But Nathan noticed something strange.

The officer leading the investigation looked familiar.

Too familiar.

Then Claire whispered behind him.

“Nathan…”

“What?”

“That’s him.”

Nathan turned.

“What?”

Claire pointed at the officer.

“The man who was there the night Emily died.”

Nathan stared.

The officer smiled politely.

“Mr. Carter.”

Nathan felt his blood run cold.

Because the man standing in his living room wasn’t there to protect them.

He was there to make sure the truth stayed buried.

And before leaving, the officer leaned close and whispered:

“You should have listened to your brother.”

Nathan watched him walk away.

Then he looked at Claire.

And realized something terrifying.

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