Chapter 4: The Truth Beneath the Water
The next morning, I drove Lily and Ethan to the old lake.
I didn’t tell anyone where we were going.
Not Daniel.
Not the police.
Not my lawyers.
Because I no longer knew who I could trust.
The lake was twenty miles outside the city.
A quiet place surrounded by trees.
A place that used to mean family.
Now it only meant pain.
Lily sat in the back seat.
She held Ethan’s photograph in her hands.
“Do you remember?”” Ethan asked softly.
She nodded.
“A little.””
I glanced at him through the mirror.
“How old were you?””
“Ten.””
I frowned.
“You were ten?””
“Yes.””
“And you saved my daughter?””
He looked away.
“I tried.””
That answer bothered me.
When we reached the lake, Lily became completely still.
Her breathing changed.
I turned around.
“Sweetheart?””
She pointed toward the water.
“That’s where…”
She couldn’t finish.
I got out of the car.
Ethan followed.
The wind moved through the trees.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Lily whispered:
“Mommy was arguing with Uncle Marcus.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What were they saying?””
She closed her eyes.
“I don’t know.””
Ethan looked at the ground.
“But I do.””
I turned.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“Marcus wanted Claire to sign papers.””
“What papers?””
“Your company.””
I stared at him.
That was impossible.
Claire had no involvement in my company.
Ethan continued.
“Marcus had been stealing money.””
My blood ran cold.
“He was afraid she would tell you.””
Lily suddenly covered her ears.
“No.””
I rushed to her.
“It’s okay.””
“No!””
She started crying.
“He pushed Mommy!””
Her scream echoed across the lake.
I held her.
And then she said something that made me freeze.
“Mommy didn’t fall.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She looked directly at me.
“Mommy jumped.””
The world stopped.
“What do you mean?””
Lily shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
Ethan stepped closer.
“Lily, think carefully.””
She looked at him.
“You told me something that night.””
“What?””
Her face changed.
Fear.
Confusion.
Then realization.
“He made her choose.””
My heart pounded.
“Who?””
“Marcus.””
The wind suddenly felt colder.
“What choice?””
Lily looked at the water.
“He said if Mommy didn’t jump…”
She covered her mouth.
“He would hurt you.””
I closed my eyes.
Claire.
My wife.
The woman I loved.
She sacrificed herself to save me.
A sound came from behind us.
A branch snapping.
I turned.
Nobody was there.
But on the ground was an envelope.
Someone had left it moments before.
I picked it up.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Four words.
“Ask Ethan about Sarah.””
I looked at him.
His face changed.
He knew that name.
“Who is Sarah?””
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
He stepped back.
“I need to go.””
I grabbed his arm.
“No.””
His eyes filled with guilt.
“I should have told you.””
“Told me what?””
He looked toward the lake.
“Sarah was my mother.””
I froze.
“What?””
“My mother worked for Marcus.””
The pieces started connecting.
“Your mother knew about the theft?””
He nodded.
“She tried to expose him.””
“And?””
Ethan’s voice became quiet.
“She disappeared.””
I stared at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Claire made me promise.””
“Why?””
He looked at Lily.
“Because if Marcus knew I was alive…”
A car engine suddenly roared behind us.
A black SUV sped toward the lake.
Ethan’s face turned pale.
“He found us.””
The SUV stopped.
The door opened.
And the person who stepped out made Lily scream one word:
“Daddy!””
But she wasn’t looking at me.
May you like
She was looking at the man standing beside the car.
A man who looked exactly like me.
