Chapter 26: The Secret My Father Buried
Arthur didn't answer.
Not immediately.
That scared me.
Because I had learned something about my father.
His silence always meant the truth was painful.
"What happened after?""
I asked again.
He walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he simply stared outside.
Then he said:
"I made a deal.""
My stomach tightened.
"With who?""
"Sarah.""
I froze.
"You made a deal with the woman who might have caused my mother's death?""
"I made a deal with the woman who was the only person who knew what happened.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It will.""
He turned.
"After the accident, I knew someone was trying to cover everything up.""
"Richard?""
"Yes.""
"But also someone else.""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
Arthur looked at me.
"I never found out.""
I almost laughed.
"Another mystery.""
He ignored it.
"But I knew one thing.""
"What?""
"Your mother had been investigating someone close.""
"Sarah?""
"No.""
The answer surprised me.
"Then who?""
Arthur looked at the floor.
"Someone she trusted.""
I remembered the letter.
The person you trust most.
The person who stayed.
My mind raced.
"Who?""
Arthur didn't answer.
Instead, he walked to the cabinet.
He pulled out another file.
I stared.
"How many secrets do you have?""
He looked hurt.
"I don't know anymore.""
Inside the file were old police reports.
Newspaper articles.
Documents.
One page caught my attention.
A name.
Diane Whitmore.
I looked up.
"Diane?""
Arthur nodded.
"Your mother believed Diane was involved.""
"But Diane tried to save her.""
"Both things can be true.""
I hated that.
Because every person in this story existed in shades of gray.
Nobody was completely innocent.
Nobody was completely guilty.
"What did Diane do?""
"She gave information to your mother.""
"What kind?""
"Information about Richard.""
"Then why suspect her?""
"Because she was also protecting him.""
I looked at the documents.
"Why?""
"Family.""
The same answer.
Always family.
Then I noticed something.
A signature.
A document signed after my mother's death.
My blood froze.
Because it wasn't Richard.
It wasn't Diane.
It wasn't Sarah.
It was Arthur.
"What is this?""
His expression changed.
"I signed it.""
"Why?""
He didn't answer.
I read the title.
Legal guardianship transfer.
My heart sank.
"What is this?""
He sat down.
"After your mother died, there was an investigation.""
"Yes.""
"Richard wanted custody of you.""
I froze.
"What?""
Arthur nodded.
"He was your biological father.""
The words hurt.
"He wanted me?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't he take me?""
Arthur looked at the document.
"Because I made sure he couldn't.""
I stared.
"What did you do?""
"I exposed his criminal activity.""
"With what evidence?""
"The evidence your mother collected.""
My eyes widened.
"You used it?""
Arthur nodded.
"I had no choice.""
"But you said you promised her.""
"I promised to protect you.""
He looked at me.
"Sometimes protecting someone means breaking another promise.""
The room became quiet.
For the first time, I understood.
My father wasn't hiding because he was guilty.
He was hiding because every choice he made hurt someone.
But there was still something wrong.
"Why did Sarah say you chose me over my mother?""
Arthur looked away.
"Because she blamed me.""
"Why?""
"Because she lost her sister.""
I nodded.
"But what about you?""
His eyes filled.
"I lost my wife.""
That sentence broke something inside me.
Because I had spent days looking for someone to blame.
But maybe everyone had lost.
Everyone had suffered.
Everyone except the person who caused it.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Sarah.
You know enough now.
Come alone if you want the rest.
I showed Arthur.
His expression changed immediately.
"No.""
"What?""
"You cannot go.""
"I need answers.""
"It's a trap.""
"Maybe.""
I looked at him.
"But so was my entire life.""
Arthur stood.
"I'll come with you.""
"No.""
"Michael.""
"I need to know why she hates you.""
He looked at me.
"Because she believes I failed your mother.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
I looked at the message.
"She hates you because she knows something you don't.""
May you like
Arthur went silent.
And that silence told me I was right.
