Chapter 8: The Truth Daniel Hid
I spent eight months believing Eric was the person who destroyed my life.
Now I wasn’t sure anymore.
Because secrets had a way of changing shape.
Daniel sat at my kitchen table.
Marcus was gone.
He left without a fight.
Without fear.
Because he knew something.
Something I didn’t.
I looked at Daniel.
“Start talking.””
He rubbed his hands together.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“That’s what everyone says.””
“I know.””
“No.””
My voice broke.
“You don’t know what it feels like to find out everyone has been deciding what you can handle.””
Daniel looked down.
“You’re right.””
Maya sat beside me.
Quiet.
Watching.
Daniel took a deep breath.
“The night Eric disappeared, I found him.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Where?””
“At an abandoned warehouse.””
“Alive?””
“Yes.””
I waited.
“And?””
Daniel looked at Maya.
“I thought he was going to turn himself in.””
“But he didn’t.””
“No.””
“What happened?””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“He asked me for help.””
“With what?””
“Disappearing.””
The answer hurt.
“So you helped him.””
“I refused.””
“Then why did he disappear?””
“Because he had already prepared everything.””
Daniel explained.
Eric had created fake documents.
Fake identities.
Fake evidence.
He had planned every detail.
But one thing went wrong.
“The accident.””
I remembered.
The other driver.
The injured woman.
“He didn’t expect someone else to get hurt.””
Daniel looked sick.
“But they did.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Eric threatened Maya.””
My daughter looked down.
“He said if I talked, he would make sure people blamed me.””
I looked at her.
“Maya…”
“I was scared.””
I held her hand.
Then Daniel continued.
“Eric gave me the key.””
“The key?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew I hated what he did.””
Daniel looked toward the basement.
“He told me if he ever disappeared permanently, I should give it to you.””
“Why didn’t you?””
“Because I never had it.””
My eyes narrowed.
“But Maya did.””
Daniel nodded.
“Eric trusted his daughter more than anyone.””
That sentence hurt.
Because it explained everything.
Maya had been trapped between loyalty and fear.
Then Daniel said:
“There’s something else.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“The key doesn’t open a door.””
“Then what does it open?””
“A safety deposit box.””
My heart started racing.
“Where?””
“Boston.””
The next morning, we drove there.
The box was registered under a fake name.
But the key worked.
Inside was a single envelope.
No money.
No jewelry.
Just a letter.
My name was written on it.
I opened it.
Renee,
If you’re reading this, then I failed.
I almost stopped.
Almost threw it away.
But I kept reading.
I know you hate me.
You should.
I did terrible things.
But there is one thing you don’t know.
I didn’t disappear to escape punishment.
I disappeared because someone was trying to kill me.
My hands froze.
Someone?
The letter continued.
I found out who was behind everything.
And it wasn’t Marcus.
It wasn’t Daniel.
It was someone closer.
Someone you trust.
Someone who has been pretending to help you.
I looked up.
Daniel.
He saw my expression.
“What?””
I slowly lowered the letter.
“Eric says someone close to me is involved.””
Daniel went pale.
“That’s impossible.””
The words sounded defensive.
Too defensive.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
Eric’s voice came through.
“Did you read the letter?””
I froze.
“How are you calling me?””
“I have eyes everywhere.””
My hand tightened.
“You’re a coward.””
“No.””
A pause.
“I’m someone trying to keep you alive.””
“Who is behind this?””
Silence.
Then he said:
“Look at Daniel.””
I turned.
Daniel was standing across from me.
Eric whispered:
“Ask him why he deleted the last video.””
May you like
The call ended.
And Daniel’s face changed.
