Chapter 9: The Last Thing Simone Knew
I listened to the recording three times.
The first time, I couldn’t understand it.
The second time, I heard every word.
The third time, I finally accepted what it meant.
Ethan had been there.
Before Simone died.
Talking to her.
About me.
About Nia.
About the insurance.
I looked at Yolanda.
“Where did you get this?””
She looked broken.
“Ethan gave it to me.””
“Why?””
“Because he wanted proof.””
“Proof of what?””
She looked down.
“That Simone wanted you to move on.””
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Instead, I played the recording again.
Simone’s voice was weak.
But clear.
“I need you to promise me something, Ethan.””
His voice answered.
“Anything.””
“Protect Nia.””
My chest tightened.
Then Simone continued.
“Dominic is going to blame himself. He always does. He needs someone around him who reminds him he’s still a good father.””
I closed my eyes.
Because that was Simone.
Even dying, she was worried about everyone else.
Then Ethan’s voice.
“What about the money?””
The room went cold.
Simone paused.
“What money?””
“The insurance.””
Silence.
Then Simone said:
“That money belongs to Nia.””
I looked at Yolanda.
She was crying.
The recording continued.
“Ethan, promise me.””
“I promise.””
Then another voice.
Yolanda.
I froze.
She wasn’t supposed to be there.
“What are you doing here?””
The recording ended.
I stared at the phone.
“They were both there.””
Yolanda nodded.
“I found the recording years later.””
“Why keep it?””
She wiped her face.
“Because I was afraid.””
I looked at her.
“Afraid of what?””
“That if I admitted everything, I would lose my family.””
I shook my head.
“You lost it the moment you hurt Nia.””
The next few weeks changed everything.
Rebecca helped me file the necessary reports.
Ethan admitted his involvement.
The insurance money was eventually recovered.
But the hardest part wasn’t the legal battle.
It was rebuilding trust.
Especially with Nia.
One night, I found her sitting on her bedroom floor.
Old photos surrounded her.
Pictures of Simone.
Pictures of happier years.
“Can I come in?””
She nodded.
I sat beside her.
“She was beautiful.””
Nia smiled.
“She was.””
“You look like her.””
“I know.””
I looked at her.
“I hope that never felt like a bad thing.””
Her eyes filled.
“Sometimes it did.””
My heart broke.
“Why?””
“Because Mom acted like it was.””
I took a breath.
“Nia, listen to me.””
She looked up.
“You never have to apologize for who you are.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
I smiled.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You know it now.””
And that difference mattered.
Because knowing something after being told is not the same as believing it after living through it.
A month later, we had our first family dinner again.
Not a perfect dinner.
A real one.
Nia sat at the table.
With everyone.
She served herself first.
And nobody questioned it.
Zoe smiled.
“Told you she would sit here again.””
Trey laughed.
“She never should have left.””
I looked at my children.
Then at the empty chair where Yolanda used to sit.
We were separated by then.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because sometimes forgiveness requires distance.
That night, after dinner, Nia came to me.
She held something in her hand.
The silver bracelet.
My breath caught.
“Where did you find that?””
Rebecca had recovered it during the investigation.
Nia smiled.
“Can you help me put it on?””
I fastened it around her wrist.
The same wrist where it had belonged for years.
Then she said something I would never forget.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“I’m glad Zoe took the pictures.””
I smiled sadly.
“So am I.””
She looked at me.
“Even though they hurt?””
I nodded.
“Especially because they hurt.””
Because sometimes the truth hurts before it heals.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Rebecca.
I opened it.
And my smile disappeared.
Because there was one final thing we had never answered.
One question that had bothered me since the beginning.
Who told Ethan where the insurance papers were?
Who helped him change the documents?
And the message contained a name.
May you like
A name I had never expected.
My own.
