Chapter 4: The Lie We Lived In
For a moment, I couldn’t understand the words.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
“What did you say?””
Rebecca sat down slowly.
Her hands were shaking.
“Ethan wasn’t Daniel’s son.””
“Then whose son was he?””
She looked at me.
And I saw the answer before she spoke.
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“No, Rebecca.””
She started crying.
“Please let me explain.””
I stepped backward.
“You lied to me for years.””
“I was scared.””
“You lied about having a child.””
“I was trying to protect him.””
“Protect who?””
She looked toward the stairs.
“Everyone.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone? Ben almost died.””
Her face collapsed.
“I know.””
“Harper said you locked the door.””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she looked exhausted.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.””
Those words were worse than any confession.
I stared at her.
“You did lock it.””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I grabbed my phone.
“I’m calling the police.””
Rebecca stood.
“Wait.””
“No.””
“You need to know why.””
I stopped.
Not because I trusted her.
Because I needed to understand.
She wiped her face.
“Ethan was my son.””
I waited.
“And Daniel wasn’t his father.””
“Who was?””
She looked at me.
“Your brother.””
The room spun.
My brother Ryan.
Dead for five years.
Impossible.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
She walked toward the kitchen and opened a drawer.
She pulled out an envelope.
Inside was a letter.
A handwritten letter.
Ryan’s handwriting.
I knew it instantly.
My hands trembled as I read.
Rebecca,
I know what happened between us was wrong. I know I hurt everyone. But Ethan is my son, and I will find a way to make things right.
I looked up.
“No.””
Rebecca cried.
“Ryan died before he could tell you.””
I couldn’t breathe.
All the years.
All the secrets.
All the unanswered questions after my brother’s accident.
“You knew?””
She nodded.
“I found out after he died.””
“And you married me anyway?””
“I loved you.””
“You built our marriage on a lie.””
“I was trying to fix my life.””
I looked toward the stairs.
“Did you hurt Ben because of this?””
Her face changed.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
Too desperately.
“I never wanted Ben hurt.””
“Then what happened?””
Rebecca looked down.
And for the first time, I saw real fear.
“Daniel found out.””
My blood froze.
“Daniel?””
“He came back months ago.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew about Ethan.””
I stared at her.
“Where is Ethan now?””
Rebecca didn’t answer.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice came through.
“Stop asking questions.””
I gripped the phone.
“Who is this?””
A quiet laugh.
May you like
Then:
“The same man who knows why your bathroom door was locked.””
