Chapter 6: The Man Who Controlled The House
I read the message three times.
Each time, it became harder to believe.
Not because I was scared.
Because I was angry.
Marcus had spent years convincing everyone around him that he was the victim.
But now, the moment someone questioned him, he threatened them.
I took a screenshot of the message and drove straight to my mother’s house.
I didn’t know what I was going to say.
I just knew I couldn’t stay silent anymore.
When I opened the front door, I heard voices from the kitchen.
My mother and Marcus.
I stopped before entering.
“You need to handle this,” Marcus said.
My mother sounded exhausted.
“Handle what?””
“Your son.””
A pause.
“He’s asking too many questions.””
I felt my hands tighten.
My mother sighed.
“He’s hurt.””
“No.””
Marcus’s voice became sharper.
“He’s angry because he thinks he deserves control over everything.””
I stepped into the kitchen.
“Funny.””
Both of them turned.
“Because I was just thinking the same thing about you.””
Marcus’s face immediately hardened.
My mother looked worried.
“Where were you?””
“Talking to Carla.””
The room changed.
Marcus went completely still.
My mother looked shocked.
“You saw her?””
“Yes.””
She shook her head.
“She should not have gotten involved.””
I looked at her.
“Mom, why are you more upset that I learned the truth than that someone hid it from me?””
She didn’t answer.
Marcus stepped forward.
“You need to leave Carla out of this.””
I laughed.
“You mean the person who knows you?””
His eyes narrowed.
“What is that supposed to mean?””
“It means I know about your past.””
My mother looked between us.
“What past?””
Marcus looked at me.
Not angry.
Calculating.
That scared me more.
“I don’t know what lies Carla told you.””
I reached into my pocket.
I pulled out the envelope.
My mother’s face changed.
“Where did you get that?””
I looked at her.
“Dad left it.””
Her eyes widened.
“Your father?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“Where?””
“Carla had it.””
Marcus immediately said, “Impossible.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
He realized his mistake too late.
My mother noticed too.
“Why would you say that?””
Marcus looked at her.
“I mean… because Carla is lying.””
But the damage was done.
For the first time, my mother looked at Marcus with doubt.
Small.
But real.
I placed the letter on the table.
“Read it.””
She didn’t move.
“Mom.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
“Because what if everything I believed was wrong?””
That sentence hurt.
Because it meant she was finally considering it.
Marcus shook his head.
“This is ridiculous.””
He grabbed his keys.
“I’m leaving.””
My mother looked at him.
“Marcus.””
He stopped.
She stared at him.
“Did you take this letter?””
The question hung in the air.
Marcus slowly turned around.
“What?””
“Did you take it?””
His expression changed.
“You believe him over me?””
My mother looked confused.
“I asked you a question.””
Marcus became defensive.
“I was protecting you.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“There it is.””
Everyone looked at me.
“That’s what you always say.””
Marcus stared.
“You don’t know anything.””
“No. But I know people who control others always call it protection.””
My mother looked down.
For once, she didn’t defend him.
Marcus noticed.
And that scared him.
“You’re making a mistake.””
My mother whispered, “Maybe.””
The word shocked everyone.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“You’re really going to listen to him?””
My mother looked at him.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do.””
That was the first honest answer she had given.
Marcus walked toward the door.
Then he stopped.
He looked back at me.
“You think you won?””
I said nothing.
He smiled slightly.
And that smile made my skin crawl.
“This isn’t over.””
After he left, my mother sat down.
She picked up my father’s letter.
Her hands were shaking.
“I need to tell you something.””
I sat across from her.
“What?””
She looked at the door Marcus had just walked through.
“Before your father left…”
She paused.
“He found something else.””
I leaned forward.
“What?””
My mother looked terrified.
“He found out Marcus wasn’t just taking money.””
I waited.
“What was he taking?””
My mother looked at me.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“He was taking something from me that could never be replaced.””
