Chapter 3 - THE SECRET MICHAEL NEVER KNEW
Michael stared at the note.
His own handwriting.
His own words.
But he had no memory of writing it.
“What is this?”
His voice echoed through the empty office.
He searched through drawers.
Cabinets.
Old files.
Nothing.
The folder was gone.
But the warning remained.
Don’t trust Sophia.
For years, everyone had told Michael one thing:
Sophia was family.
Family protects you.
Family stays loyal.
Family doesn’t hurt you.
But now…
Michael wasn’t sure anymore.
The next morning, he went back to the hospital.
Emily was awake.
She looked exhausted.
But when Michael entered the room, she turned away.
“Emily…”
“Why are you here?”
The question hurt.
“I’m your husband.”
She looked at him.
“Are you?”
Michael stopped.
Because he knew exactly what she meant.
Yesterday, he hadn’t acted like her husband.
He had acted like Sophia’s brother.
“I’m sorry.”
Emily looked away.
“Sorry doesn’t erase what happened.”
“I know.”
“No, Michael.”
Her voice cracked.
“You don’t know.”
She touched her cheek.
“You believed her.”
Michael lowered his head.
“I was wrong.”
Emily looked at him.
And for a moment, she saw something.
Regret.
Real regret.
But the pain was still there.
“Tell me about the folder.”
Michael froze.
“You knew?”
Emily nodded.
“I hid it.”
“Why?”
“Because I found something.”
“What?”
Emily looked toward the door.
Then lowered her voice.
“Something about Sophia.”
Before Michael could ask more, the door opened.
Mason walked inside.
“Mom?”
Emily smiled.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
The little boy ran to her.
But Michael noticed something.
Mason was afraid.
Not sad.
Afraid.
“What happened?”
Mason looked down.
“I saw Aunt Sophia last night.”
Michael’s face changed.
“What?”
“Before she pushed Mom.”
Emily grabbed his hand.
“Mason…”
The boy looked scared.
“I didn’t want to say.”
“Say what?”
Mason looked at Michael.
“She wasn’t looking for the folder.”
A cold feeling moved through Michael.
“Then what was she looking for?”
Mason whispered:
“She was looking for something hidden behind the picture in your office.”
Michael froze.
Because behind that picture…
Was something nobody knew about.
Except him.
That evening, Michael returned home again.
He walked into his office.
The old family picture was still hanging on the wall.
His hands trembled as he removed it.
Behind it…
Was a small safe.
He had forgotten about it.
A safe he had never opened.
Because years ago, his father told him:
“Some secrets are better left buried.”
Michael entered the code.
The safe opened.
Inside was one envelope.
And one photograph.
Michael picked up the photo.
His entire body went cold.
Because the picture showed Sophia…
Standing beside someone she claimed she had never met.
May you like
And that person was the last person Michael expected.
His father.
