Chapter 20: The Brother Who Wanted Everything
No one moved.
It was strange how quickly a room could change.
A few seconds earlier, we were discussing someone who existed only as a secret.
Now he was standing in front of us.
A real person.
A man connected to every lie that had destroyed our family.
Daniel Cole looked nothing like Christopher.
Christopher had always carried warmth in his face.
Even when he was angry, there was kindness behind his eyes.
Daniel had something else.
Control.
Every expression seemed measured.
Every movement seemed planned.
“I see Lauren finally decided to tell the truth,” Daniel said.
Christopher stepped forward.
“What are you doing here?””
Daniel smiled.
“I could ask you the same thing.””
“This is my home.””
“No.””
Daniel looked around.
“This is William Hayes’s home.””
The words were deliberate.
A reminder.
A claim.
Christopher’s jaw tightened.
“You’re not welcome here.””
Daniel laughed softly.
“You really are just like him.””
“Like who?””
“Our father.””
The room went silent.
Christopher’s expression hardened.
“You don’t get to call him that.””
“Why?””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Because he abandoned me?””
His smile disappeared.
“Because he chose you?””
Nobody spoke.
Daniel looked at Christopher.
“You have any idea what it feels like growing up knowing your father gave another child everything?””
Christopher shook his head.
“I didn’t know.””
“That’s the point.””
Daniel’s voice became sharper.
“You didn’t know anything.””
The anger behind his words surprised me.
Because beneath the cruelty, I saw something else.
Pain.
A lifetime of it.
“My mother raised me alone,” Daniel continued.
“William paid our bills.””
“Sent money.””
“Made sure we had what we needed.””
“But he never claimed me.””
Christopher stared.
“Why?””
“Because you existed.””
The answer was immediate.
“You were the perfect son.””
Daniel pointed at him.
“The legitimate son.””
I felt a chill.
This wasn’t just about Daisy.
This was about years of resentment.
Years of feeling replaced.
“You wanted revenge,” Christopher said.
Daniel smiled.
“Finally.””
A pause.
“Yes.””
The honesty was terrifying.
“I wanted him to lose everything.””
Lauren stepped forward.
“Daniel, this has gone too far.””
He looked at her.
“You don’t get to say that.””
“I tried to protect you.””
“No.””
His expression hardened.
“You protected him.””
“I protected a baby.””
“You protected a lie.””
The words hurt Lauren.
I could see it.
She had spent twenty-two years carrying guilt.
And Daniel knew exactly where to strike.
“Why Daisy?”” I asked.
Everyone looked at me.
Daniel’s eyes moved toward me.
“Because Daisy was the one thing William cared about.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does.””
He stepped closer.
“William didn’t love people.””
He looked toward the upstairs hallway.
“But he loved control.””
“So?””
“So when Daisy was born, she became a weakness.””
A pause.
“Everyone who knew about her became a threat.””
Christopher stared.
“You’re saying my father wanted her gone because she was evidence.””
“Yes.””
“Evidence of what?””
Daniel looked at Lauren.
Then at Christopher.
“Your father’s murder.””
The room went cold.
“You already told us that.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
“What?””
“You think William killed one person.””
He smiled sadly.
“You’re wrong.””
My stomach tightened.
“How many?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached into his coat.
Everyone tensed.
But he didn’t pull out a weapon.
He pulled out a photograph.
He handed it to Christopher.
Christopher looked at it.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
The photograph showed William Hayes.
Richard Cole.
And another man.
A man none of us recognized.
Except Christopher.
“Who is that?”” I asked.
Christopher whispered:
“My uncle.””
Daniel nodded.
“Your family’s secrets go back further than you think.””
Matthew looked angry.
“So what do you want?””
Daniel looked at him.
“The same thing everyone in this family wants.””
“What?””
“The truth.””
I almost believed him.
Almost.
Then he said:
“And everything that comes with it.””
Christopher narrowed his eyes.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked at Daisy’s room.
“It means William promised me something.””
“What?””
“My inheritance.””
The words shocked me.
Daniel continued.
“He promised that when the truth came out, everything he built would belong to me.””
Christopher laughed bitterly.
“You think he would actually honor that?””
“No.””
Daniel smiled.
“That’s why I have insurance.””
He looked at the notebook.
The recordings.
The evidence.
“I have copies.””
My blood ran cold.
“Copies of what?””
May you like
Daniel answered:
“Everything.””
