Chapter 10: The Brother Who Wanted Me Dead
The message stayed on my screen long after the phone stopped vibrating.
*Hello, sister.*
I read it again.
Then I looked at the photograph Marcus had shown me.
The man standing beside Daniel had my mother's eyes.
My brother.
The brother I had never known existed.
The brother who apparently believed I had killed our mother.
“Marcus,” I whispered.
“How much does Ethan know?””
Marcus closed the laptop.
“Not enough.””
“That's not an answer.””
“He was raised by Daniel's family. They told him your mother abandoned him because she didn't want another child.””
Claire shook her head.
“That's what they told me too.””
Marcus nodded.
“Daniel created different versions of the same lie for each of you.””
I looked at my phone.
“Then why does Ethan think I killed Mom?””
“Because Daniel told him you knew about the medical records and refused to help her.””
I felt sick.
“I didn't even know Claire existed.””
“I know.””
“Then how could Ethan believe that?””
Marcus rubbed his jaw.
“Because Daniel has spent years making sure Ethan hates the people who might tell him the truth.””
Claire stood.
“Then we need to find him.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not yet.””
“Why not?””
“Because Ethan has access to Daniel's money, security, and private records. He's been trained to believe everyone outside that circle is a threat.””
Claire folded her arms.
“He's our brother.””
“Which is exactly why Daniel is using him.””
I walked toward the window.
Outside, a delivery truck moved slowly along the road.
For the first time, I wondered whether someone was watching us.
My phone vibrated again.
*Tomorrow. 10 a.m. The old greenhouse on Mercer Road. Come alone.*
Then another message.
*If you bring Marcus, I'll know.*
I showed them.
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“Marcus—”
“Absolutely not.””
“He's my brother.””
“He could be working with Daniel.””
“He's also been lied to his entire life.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Nia, you don't understand what Daniel has done to that boy.””
“Then explain it.””
Marcus looked at Claire.
She nodded slowly.
He took a breath.
“Three months after Daniel disappeared from your life as a family friend, he contacted Ethan. He told him Margaret had died.””
“But Mom didn't die until three years ago.””
“Exactly. He told Ethan she had abandoned him years earlier and was living under a different identity. Then he introduced him to the woman he claimed was his biological mother.””
Claire frowned.
“Who?””
“An employee of Daniel's father. She played the role for almost twenty years.””
I covered my mouth.
“That's disgusting.””
“Ethan believed her. He grew up calling her Mom.””
“And when she died?””
“Daniel told him the truth about the adoption but blamed Margaret. He said she had arranged everything.””
Claire sat down.
“So he never knew our mother.””
“No.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Then I have to meet him.””
Marcus was silent.
Finally, he said, “If you go, you don't go unprotected.””
I shook my head.
“He specifically asked me to come alone.””
“Daniel specifically wants us separated.””
“I'm not going to let him decide everything anymore.””
Marcus stared at me.
Then he nodded reluctantly.
“Give me until morning.””
At 9:57 the following morning, I stood outside the abandoned greenhouse.
The building had once belonged to a flower nursery. Most of its glass panels were cracked, and weeds had pushed through the concrete paths.
I carried no handbag.
No visible phone.
Just a small recording device Marcus had given me and the photograph of my mother.
At exactly ten, a black SUV stopped near the entrance.
A man stepped out.
He was taller than I expected.
Dark hair.
Grey eyes.
A scar along his chin.
He approached slowly.
“Nia?””
I nodded.
“Ethan?””
He looked at me for several seconds.
Then laughed without humor.
“So you do look like her.””
I swallowed.
“Like Mom?””
His expression hardened.
“Don't call her that.””
I stared at him.
“She was our mother.””
“She was your mother.””
“No, Ethan. She gave birth to both of us.””
He pulled a folded photograph from his jacket.
It showed a woman holding a newborn baby.
“I was told she never wanted me.””
“That's a lie.””
“She signed papers giving me away.””
“Daniel arranged those papers.””
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“Of course. Everything is Daniel's fault.””
I took out my photograph.
“Look at this.””
He didn't move.
“It's our mother.””
“I know what she looks like.””
“Then look at the back.””
He took it reluctantly.
My mother's handwriting was visible.
My three little miracles. No matter what happens, you belong to one another.
Ethan stared at it.
His fingers trembled.
“Where did you get this?””
“Claire had it.””
“Claire?””
“Our sister.””
His eyes widened.
I watched the realization move across his face.
“You're lying.””
“She's alive.””
“That's impossible.””
“She was kept at a private medical facility for years. Daniel controlled her records.””
Ethan stepped backward.
“Stop.””
“Ethan—”
“Stop saying his name like he's some kind of criminal.””
I pulled out the birth record.
“Three children. Three names. Our mother never abandoned you.””
He stared at the document.
Then his expression changed.
“Why are you doing this?””
“Because you deserve the truth.””
He looked at me for a long time.
Then he asked quietly:
“Did she suffer?””
My throat tightened.
“Yes.””
“Was she afraid?””
“Yes.””
“Did she ask about me?””
I nodded.
“She searched for you.””
His face crumpled.
For one moment, he looked like a lost little boy.
Then he covered it with anger.
“You're lying.””
I reached for his hand.
He pulled away.
“You came here to make me turn against Daniel.””
“No. I came because I don't want to lose another member of my family.””
He looked at me.
“Then answer one question.””
“Anything.””
“Did you know she was dying?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Did you know Daniel was hurting her?””
“No.””
“Did you know he was keeping Claire locked away?””
“No.””
He stared at me.
Then he took a step closer.
“Then why did he show me a photograph of you standing outside the hospital the night she died?””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
He pulled out his phone.
A photograph appeared.
It showed me outside the hospital.
My coat was soaked.
My face was turned toward the entrance.
The timestamp was the night my mother died.
But I hadn't been there.
I had been at home.
Daniel had told me the hospital had called while I was asleep.
I stared at the image.
“That's not me.””
Ethan frowned.
“It looks exactly like you.””
“Because someone wanted it to.””
He turned the phone toward me.
“Daniel said you visited her. He said you argued about the inheritance.””
I shook my head.
“I never visited her that night.””
“Then who did?””
I looked at the photograph more closely.
The woman wore my camel coat.
The same coat Daniel had given me.
But the woman was slightly taller.
And she had a small scar above her left eyebrow.
I looked up at Ethan.
“That's Claire.””
He frowned.
“What?””
“That's our sister.””
The realization hit both of us.
Someone had used Claire's identity to make it look like I had visited our mother.
Ethan lowered his phone.
Then he whispered:
“Daniel told me Claire was dead.””
I nodded.
“He lied.””
Ethan looked toward the SUV.
A second car had just arrived.
Daniel stepped out.
He was smiling.
“Ethan, son.””
My brother froze.
Daniel approached us with his hands open.
“I was hoping you'd come to your senses.””
Ethan stepped away from him.
“Did you fake the hospital photograph?””
Daniel's smile faded.
“What?””
“The woman outside the hospital. Was that Claire?””
Daniel looked at me.
Then at Ethan.
“She's been filling your head with nonsense.””
Ethan raised his voice.
“Answer me!””
Daniel sighed.
“You don't know what you're getting involved in.””
Ethan looked at him.
“I think I do.””
Daniel's eyes hardened.
He turned toward me.
“You always were good at ruining things.””
Then he looked back at Ethan.
“Get in the car.””
Ethan didn't move.
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Now.””
For the first time, my brother stood his ground.
“No.””
Daniel's expression became terrifyingly calm.
“Then perhaps it's time you learned what happened to your real mother.””
He pulled a small envelope from his coat.
May you like
And handed it to Ethan.
“Ask her what she did to your father.””
