Chapter 6: Her Sister's Name on the Truth
Sarah didn't call Laura immediately.
She stood in the hospital lobby, reading Ben's messages again.
Please don't speak to Laura about what happened today.
She doesn't know everything.
Those two sentences had opened more questions than they answered.
Why was Laura involved?
What did she know?
And why was Ben so determined to keep the two women apart?
Sarah looked at Daniel.
“I need you to tell me one thing.””
He nodded.
“Go ahead.””
“Is my sister helping Ben because he asked her to, or is she involved in whatever he's hiding?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“I can't answer that.””
Sarah let out a breath.
“Of course.””
She turned toward the elevators.
Daniel called after her.
“Sarah, wait.””
She stopped.
“Ben isn't trying to hurt you.””
She looked back.
“Then he should stop making decisions that hurt me.””
Daniel lowered his head.
Sarah returned to the ward.
When she entered Ben's room, he was awake, staring at the ceiling.
He turned as soon as he heard the door.
“You spoke to Daniel.””
It wasn't a question.
Sarah placed her phone on the table.
“Yes.””
Ben closed his eyes.
“I asked you not to.””
“You asked me to go home. You asked me not to open your envelope. You asked me not to come here. And now you're asking me not to speak to people who know what's happening to you.””
Ben pushed himself slightly upright.
“Sarah, please.””
“No. This time, you listen.””
He fell silent.
Sarah pulled the chair beside his bed.
“Daniel told me Laura is involved.””
Ben's expression changed.
“Daniel shouldn't have said that.””
“Is it true?””
He looked toward the window.
“Part of it.””
“What part?””
“Laura has been helping me.””
Sarah stared.
“With what?””
“Something I needed help managing.””
“Why didn't you ask me?””
Ben rubbed his forehead.
“Because I didn't want you carrying it.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Do you hear yourself? You keep saying you don't want me carrying something, but you keep handing it to my sister.””
“That's not fair.””
“Isn't it?””
She leaned forward.
“You trusted Laura enough to involve her in something important. You trusted Daniel enough to give him documents. You trusted Arnold enough to keep your letter.””
Her voice cracked.
“But you couldn't trust your own wife with the truth?””
Ben looked at her.
“I trusted you more than anyone.””
“Then why am I the last person to know?””
He didn't answer.
Sarah stood up and walked toward the small table.
The cake bag remained where she had left it.
She carefully opened the top enough to check that the box was still secure.
The cake was untouched.
She closed the bag again.
“I spent the morning thinking about what flavor you would like,” she said quietly.
Ben watched her.
“I stood in that bakery choosing between two cakes because I couldn't remember which one you preferred.””
She looked at him.
“Do you know what I kept thinking?””
He shook his head.
“That you would smile. That you would finally look happy when you saw me.””
Ben's eyes became wet.
“Sarah...””
“But you looked at me like I was the last person you wanted to see.””
“I didn't mean it that way.””
“Then explain it.””
Ben looked down.
“I can't.””
Sarah nodded slowly.
“Then I'll ask Laura.””
His head lifted.
“Don't.””
“Why?””
“Because she shouldn't have to choose between us.””
Sarah froze.
“What?””
Ben seemed to realize what he had just said.
He looked away.
Sarah slowly returned to the chair.
“Choose between us?””
He remained silent.
“Ben, what have you asked my sister to do?””
“Nothing that would hurt you.””
“That's not an answer.””
He reached for her hand.
She let him take it.
“Please trust me.””
Sarah looked at their joined hands.
“I have trusted you for years.””
“I know.””
“Trust isn't supposed to mean closing your eyes while everyone else makes decisions about your life.””
Ben squeezed her fingers.
“I'm trying to protect you.””
She gently withdrew her hand.
“Then tell me the truth.””
He stared at her.
For a long moment, she thought he might finally speak.
Instead, he whispered, “I need you to wait a little longer.””
Sarah stood up.
“I've waited long enough.””
She picked up her phone.
Ben watched her.
“Sarah, don't call her.””
She looked at him.
“I'm not calling her.””
He seemed relieved.
Then Sarah continued.
“I'm going to see her.””
Ben's face tightened.
“Please don't.””
But Sarah was already walking toward the door.
She stopped once more.
“Ben, if Laura has been helping you, she deserves to know that you've made me look like a stranger in my own marriage.””
She left.
Outside the hospital, the afternoon air felt strangely cold.
Sarah walked toward the parking area, then stopped beside a row of benches.
She called Laura.
The phone rang twice.
“Sarah?””
Laura's voice sounded cheerful.
“Hey! I was just thinking about you.””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“Where are you?””
“Home. Why?””
“I need to see you.””
A pause.
“Is everything okay?””
“No.””
Laura's voice changed.
“What happened?””
Sarah looked toward the hospital entrance.
“It's about Ben.””
Another silence.
Then Laura asked, “Did you see him?””
“Yes.””
“Did he tell you anything?””
Sarah's heart began beating faster.
There it was.
Not Is he okay?
Not How is he feeling?
The first thing Laura wanted to know was whether Ben had told her something.
Sarah kept her voice steady.
“Why are you asking that?””
Laura laughed nervously.
“I'm just worried about him.””
“Of course you are.””
“Sarah, what's going on?””
“I found out you've been helping him.””
The line went quiet.
A few seconds passed.
Then Laura spoke.
“Who told you?””
Sarah's stomach tightened.
“Why does that matter?””
“Sarah, listen to me. This isn't something we should discuss over the phone.””
“Then let's meet.””
“Not tonight.””
“Why not?””
“Because I need to speak to Ben first.””
Sarah felt a chill move through her.
“You need to speak to my husband before you speak to me?””
Laura exhaled.
“That's not what I meant.””
“Then tell me what you meant.””
Laura's voice became softer.
“Sarah, there's something you don't understand about Ben's situation.””
Sarah stared at the pavement.
“Then explain it.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because I promised him.””
Sarah laughed bitterly.
“Another promise.””
“Please don't be angry.””
“I'm not angry because you made a promise, Laura. I'm angry because my husband is in a hospital, my family knows something about him, and everyone thinks I should simply accept being kept outside the door.””
Laura began crying.
“Sarah, I never wanted this to happen.””
“Then help me understand.””
“I will.””
“When?””
“Soon.””
Sarah closed her eyes.
She couldn't bear that word anymore.
“Laura, I'm coming over.””
“Wait—”
Sarah ended the call.
She looked at the time and ordered a car.
Twenty minutes later, she was standing outside her sister's apartment.
The hallway smelled faintly of fresh paint and laundry detergent.
Sarah knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again.
Finally, the door opened.
Laura stood there wearing a cardigan, her eyes red.
“Sarah...””
Sarah looked past her.
On the dining table was a familiar brown folder.
Ben's handwriting was visible on the corner.
Sarah stepped forward.
“What's that?””
Laura moved quickly, trying to cover it with her hand.
“Nothing.””
Sarah stared at her sister.
“Don't.””
Laura swallowed.
“Sarah, please come inside.””
Sarah entered slowly.
The folder lay open.
Several documents were arranged inside, along with a photograph.
Sarah recognized Ben immediately.
But the woman standing beside him in the photograph wasn't Laura.
It was someone Sarah had never seen before.
On the back of the photograph, a date had been written.
It was from several months earlier.
Sarah picked it up.
“Who is she?””
Laura's face lost its color.
“Sarah, I can explain.””
“Who is this woman?””
Laura reached for the photograph.
Sarah held it away.
Then she noticed something written beneath the date.
A short sentence in Ben's handwriting.
If Sarah ever finds out, she must hear it from me first.
Sarah looked at her sister.
“Laura, what happened several months ago?””
Laura began crying harder.
And just as she opened her mouth to answer, Sarah's phone vibrated.
A new message had arrived.
It was from an unknown number.
Stop asking your sister questions. She is not the person you should be worried about.
Sarah read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
Ask Ben why he kept the photograph.
She slowly looked up at Laura.
Her sister was staring at the phone.
And the expression on her face told Sarah one thing.
May you like
Laura recognized the sender.
But she was terrified to say the name.
