Chapter 5: The Letter Our Father Never Wanted Us to Read
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The greenhouse smelled of wet soil and old wood. Rain tapped against the glass roof, and the small electric heater hummed in the corner.
Ethan kept the gun pointed at me.
Lily was crying quietly.
I wanted to run toward her, but I knew one wrong movement could put her in danger.
“Ethan,” I said carefully.
“She's frightened.””
He glanced at Lily.
“Children are frightened of many things.””
“She trusts you.””
“That was her mistake.””
My jaw tightened.
“Don't talk about her like that.””
He laughed.
“You still think you're the good brother, don't you?””
I looked at the envelope.
“What's in there?””
“Something Dad should have told us years ago.””
“Then open it.””
Ethan shook his head.
“Not until you tell me where the other documents are.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
He struck the wooden chest with the gun.
“Don't lie to me!””
Lily began sobbing harder.
I lowered my voice.
“Ethan, please. Look at her. Whatever happened between us, she has nothing to do with it.””
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then he looked away.
“That's what Dad used to say about you.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He always said you were the responsible one. The one who deserved the company. The one who deserved the house. The one who deserved everything.””
I took a careful step forward.
“That's not true.””
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You were the golden child, Marcus. I was the mistake.””
Our father had always been strict, but I remembered him treating us equally.
At least, that's what I had believed.
“Ethan, Dad loved you.””
“Then why did he leave you everything?””
“I didn't know he had changed his will.””
“He didn't just change his will. He changed the accounts, too.””
Ethan pointed the gun toward the envelope.
“Read it.””
I didn't move.
“Let Lily go first.””
“No.””
“She's your niece.””
“She's leverage.””
The word made me sick.
I looked at my daughter.
“Lily, sweetheart, look at Daddy.””
She lifted her wet eyes.
“Remember what Mommy taught you?””
She nodded.
“What do we do when we're scared?””
Her lips trembled.
“We breathe slowly.””
“That's right. Take a breath for me.””
She inhaled shakily.
Ethan rolled his eyes.
“Stop playing father of the year.””
I looked directly at him.
“You're not going to hurt her.””
“You don't know what I'm capable of.””
“No. But I know what you were capable of when we were children. You once jumped into a frozen pond because you thought I was drowning. You broke your arm pulling me out.””
His expression changed.
For the first time, he looked uncomfortable.
“Don't bring that up.””
“You were my brother before you became this man.””
He stared at me.
Then he shook his head.
“Open the envelope.””
I slowly reached for it.
Inside was a letter, several bank statements, and a small photograph.
The photograph showed our father standing beside a woman I didn't recognize.
On the back was a date.
Twenty-three years earlier.
I unfolded the letter.
My sons,
If you are reading this together, then I have failed to protect both of you from a secret I should have revealed long ago.
I looked up.
Ethan gestured with the gun.
“Keep reading.””
For years, I believed our family's wealth was built entirely through honest business. I was wrong. My former business partner, Richard Cole, used our company to move money through accounts I did not know existed.
I turned the page.
When I discovered the truth, I tried to stop him. He threatened my family. I was forced to cooperate until I could gather enough evidence to expose him.
My hands began trembling.
Richard Cole.
I knew that name.
He had been our father's closest business associate before disappearing from public life twelve years earlier.
The letter continued.
The money transferred through the children's medical foundation was never meant to enrich our family. It was stolen by Richard's network. I discovered that someone had recently reopened those accounts using my old authorization codes.
I looked at Ethan.
“Did you know about Richard Cole?””
He said nothing.
I continued reading.
Marcus, if you are reading this, you need to know that Elina was right to investigate the accounts. She discovered the truth before I could explain it to her.
My heart tightened.
The next sentence was underlined twice.
Do not trust anyone who claims Richard Cole is dead.
I stopped.
“What?””
Ethan lowered the gun slightly.
“Keep going.””
I looked at the final paragraph.
The evidence is hidden inside the old greenhouse chest, beneath the false wooden floor. But there is something more important. The person who helped Richard establish the accounts is not an outsider.
A chill ran through me.
One of my sons knows exactly what happened.
I slowly raised my eyes.
Ethan was watching me.
“Which one?”” I whispered.
He smiled.
“You tell me.””
Before I could answer, the greenhouse door opened.
Victoria walked inside.
Her cream-colored dress was stained with mud, and her hair hung loosely around her face.
Behind her stood Daniel, holding a small metal case.
Ethan looked annoyed.
“You're late.””
Victoria ignored him.
She stared at the letter in my hand.
“Did you find it?””
I stepped backward.
“You knew about this?””
Victoria nodded.
“Your father was going to destroy everything.””
“Was he the one who arranged Elina's accident?””
“No,” she answered quickly.
“Your father wasn't responsible for the accident.””
“Then who was?””
Victoria looked at Ethan.
Ethan laughed.
“Don't look at me.””
Daniel placed the metal case on the table.
Victoria opened it.
Inside were several passports, bundles of cash, and a photograph.
She picked up the photograph and turned it toward me.
It showed Elina standing outside a hospital.
But she wasn't alone.
A man stood beside her.
A man I had seen at my father's funeral.
A man who had disappeared shortly afterward.
Richard Cole.
I stared at the picture.
“When was this taken?””
Victoria answered.
“Three weeks ago.””
I looked at her.
“Elina was supposed to be locked beneath my house.””
Victoria nodded.
“She was. But someone helped her get out once before.””
“Who?””
Victoria's expression changed.
“Your father.””
I felt the room tilt.
“That's impossible. He died eight months ago.””
Victoria swallowed.
“Marcus, the man buried in your father's grave wasn't your father.””
Silence.
Rain continued tapping against the greenhouse roof.
Ethan slowly lowered his gun.
For the first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
“What did you just say?”” he whispered.
Victoria turned toward him.
“Your father is alive.””
May you like
Then she looked at me.
“And he's coming here tonight.””
