Chapter 8: The Man Who Wanted The Truth Buried
I didn’t reply to Daniel’s message.
Not immediately.
I just stared at the screen, watching those four words sit there.
*We need to talk. Alone.*
A normal person might have felt curiosity.
I felt something else.
A warning.
Because people who had nothing to hide didn’t usually ask for private conversations right after their name appeared in a dead man’s letter.
Paige stepped beside me.
“Don’t go.””
Her voice was quiet.
Certain.
I looked at her.
“I need answers.””
“You need answers from someone who hasn’t spent years manipulating you.””
She looked at the phone.
“Connor, he was laughing while your daughters sat there hungry.””
I knew.
I knew exactly what Daniel was.
But I also knew something else.
He was the only person left who might know the missing pieces.
My mother had lied.
Melissa had hidden things.
David had revealed only what he wanted me to know.
And my father’s letter had ended with a warning.
Daniel was involved.
I needed to know how.
“I’m not going alone,” I said.
Paige looked at me.
“You just said he wanted you alone.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
“Because if he thinks he has control, he might talk.””
Paige shook her head.
“I don’t like this.””
“I don’t either.””
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she reached for my hand.
“Promise me something.””
“What?””
“Don’t protect people who never protected you.””
The words hit harder than she knew.
Because that had been my entire life.
Protecting my mother’s feelings.
Protecting Melissa’s image.
Protecting family peace.
Meanwhile, nobody protected me.
Or my daughters.
I nodded.
“I promise.””
Daniel chose a coffee shop downtown.
Public.
Busy.
Safe.
At least that was what he wanted me to think.
When I arrived, he was already sitting in the corner.
No smug smile.
No jokes.
No relaxed confidence from the restaurant.
He looked nervous.
That surprised me.
Because Daniel was usually the kind of person who walked into a room like he owned it.
He noticed me and stood.
“Connor.””
I didn’t shake his hand.
“Daniel.””
He sat back down.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he sighed.
“You know.””
It wasn’t a question.
I sat across from him.
“About what?””
He gave me a tired look.
“Don’t do that.””
“Do what?””
“Pretend you don’t know.””
I leaned forward.
“You’re the one who asked to talk.””
He looked around the coffee shop.
Then lowered his voice.
“You found the letter.””
My jaw tightened.
“How do you know about the letter?””
His expression changed.
And there it was.
A mistake.
A tiny one.
But enough.
“You knew my father wrote something.””
Daniel looked away.
“Connor…”
“No.””
I stopped him.
“You don’t get to say my name like we’re having some friendly conversation.””
He swallowed.
“Fair enough.””
“Start talking.””
He rubbed his forehead.
For the first time, I saw something I never expected.
Fear.
Not fake fear.
Real fear.
“I didn’t start the fire.””
I stared at him.
“I didn’t ask if you did.””
“You were thinking it.””
“I’m thinking a lot of things.””
He looked down.
“Your father blamed me.””
“Was he wrong?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
I felt anger rising.
“You destroyed evidence.””
“No.””
“You knew about the records.””
“Yes.””
“You knew the truth about Melissa.””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing.””
His face tightened.
“Because I was trying to protect my family.””
I almost laughed.
“Your family?””
He looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Daniel, you stood there while my daughters were treated like they weren’t worth a meal.””
His expression shifted.
Regret?
Maybe.
Too late.
“You think this is about dinner?””
“No.””
I leaned closer.
“It’s about everything.””
Daniel looked down.
Then quietly said:
“Melissa hated herself.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She hated feeling like she didn’t belong.””
I didn’t speak.
Because despite everything, I understood.
Daniel continued.
“When she found out the truth, she broke.””
“That doesn’t excuse what she did.””
“I know.””
His answer surprised me.
He didn’t defend her.
“She became obsessed with proving she was still your mother’s daughter.””
I frowned.
“How?””
“By being perfect.””
I thought about Melissa.
The expensive clothes.
The achievements.
The constant need to be admired.
Daniel continued.
“She thought if she was successful enough, nobody could take her place.””
I looked away.
“But where does that involve me?””
Daniel was quiet.
Then he said:
“Because your mother told her something.””
“What?””
“That you were the reason everything happened.””
My stomach dropped.
“She blamed me?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Your mother did.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Because she needed someone to blame.””
The same old pattern.
When something broke, someone else carried the weight.
“And Melissa believed her?””
“Yes.””
I looked out the window.
A thousand thoughts raced through my head.
Melissa wasn’t just the favorite daughter.
She was also a person raised inside a lie.
But that didn’t erase what she had done.
Especially to my daughters.
“Why did you go along with it?””
Daniel was silent.
Then he answered:
“Money.””
At least he was honest.
I almost respected him for that.
Almost.
“Explain.””
“Your mother’s estate.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She told Melissa that if the truth came out, she would lose everything.””
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She changed her will.””
My heartbeat increased.
“She left everything to Melissa.””
I stared.
“Everything?””
“Yes.””
“And you knew?””
“Yes.””
“And you helped hide the truth because you wanted money.””
Daniel didn’t deny it.
“I wanted security.””
I shook my head.
“You’re unbelievable.””
“I know.””
The answer was quiet.
Unexpected.
He looked exhausted.
“I know what I did.””
“Then why tell me now?””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Because someone else knows.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
He hesitated.
Then:
“Your mother’s lawyer.””
I frowned.
“What lawyer?””
“The one who helped create the documents.””
“What documents?””
Daniel looked at me.
“The adoption records.””
My chest tightened.
“Those records were fake?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t anyone expose it?””
Daniel looked at his hands.
“Because the original records disappeared.””
“The fire.””
He nodded.
“But there was a copy.””
I leaned forward.
“Where?””
Daniel looked around.
Then lowered his voice.
“Your father hid it.””
My heart started pounding.
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
“You said there was a copy.””
“There was.””
“Where is it?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Your father gave it to someone he trusted.””
“Who?””
He hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Emma’s school principal.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Your father knew if something happened to him, he needed someone outside the family to protect the truth.””
I stared at him.
“My daughter’s principal has evidence from forty years ago?””
“Yes.””
That sounded impossible.
But so did everything else.
I stood.
“I’m going there.””
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“Wait.””
I looked down at his hand.
He released me immediately.
“What?””
His face was pale.
“There’s one more thing.””
I waited.
“The person who set the fire…”
I stared.
“Who?””
Daniel swallowed.
“It wasn’t just about hiding the records.””
“Then what?””
He looked directly at me.
“It was about making sure your father never told you who your real mother was.””
My heart stopped.
“My real mother?””
Daniel nodded.
“You think Karen is the answer.””
A pause.
“She isn’t.””
The world seemed to go quiet.
“What are you saying?””
Daniel looked terrified.
“I’m saying your mother wasn’t the only person who lied about your birth.””
I stared at him.
“Who else?””
He opened his mouth.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
And the fear on his face returned.
“What?””
I watched him answer.
He listened.
Then all color disappeared.
“Where?””
A pause.
“No, don’t touch anything.””
He looked at me.
“Connor…”
“What happened?””
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
His voice was barely a whisper.
“The school principal.””
My heart dropped.
“What about him?””
Daniel stared at me.
“He’s dead.””
I froze.
“And the evidence your father left…”
May you like
He swallowed.
“It’s gone.””
