Chapter 5: The Brother Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
Daniel didn’t speak for nearly a minute.
The office around him disappeared.
The sounds of traffic outside.
The ticking clock.
Michael’s voice.
Everything faded.
All he could see was the photograph.
Alex.
His little brother.
Alive.
Daniel remembered the funeral.
The flowers.
The tears.
The empty chair at family gatherings.
He remembered telling Ethan stories about the uncle he would never meet.
And now…
he was looking at proof that everything had been a lie.
“This isn’t possible.””
Michael nodded slowly.
“I know how it sounds.””
“No.””
Daniel stood up.
“No, you don’t understand.””
His voice cracked.
“I watched them lower the coffin.””
Michael looked down.
“Did you see the body?””
Daniel stopped.
The question hit him.
Because the answer was no.
There had been an accident.
A burned vehicle.
Official reports.
A closed investigation.
But no one had ever allowed Daniel to identify the body.
At the time, he was too devastated to question anything.
Michael noticed the realization on his face.
“That’s what I thought.””
Daniel looked angry.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Michael sighed.
“Because I didn’t know if it was true.””
“You had this information.””
“I had suspicions.””
Daniel walked toward the window.
“How long?””
“Six months.””
Daniel turned.
“Six months?””
Michael nodded.
“I was investigating Rebecca after I noticed financial movements connected to her.””
“And you said nothing?””
“Because I needed proof.””
Daniel stared at him.
“You let me walk into a wedding with this woman.””
Michael looked guilty.
“I didn’t know about Vanessa.””
The name reminded Daniel of everything.
The fake pregnancy.
The recording.
The secret plan.
The betrayal.
He returned home that afternoon with one mission.
Find the truth.
Not emotions.
Not anger.
Truth.
When he arrived, Ethan was sitting at the kitchen table.
The boy immediately stood.
“What happened?””
Daniel sat down beside him.
“We found something.””
Ethan noticed his father’s expression.
“Bad?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.””
He showed him the photograph.
Ethan studied it.
“Who is that?””
Daniel answered quietly.
“My brother.””
Ethan looked confused.
“But…”
“I know.””
Daniel looked away.
“He was supposed to be dead.””
The boy became silent.
For the first time, Ethan saw that his father wasn’t just angry.
He was hurt.
Deeply.
That night, Daniel barely slept.
Every memory felt different.
Every person he trusted suddenly seemed suspicious.
Then, at 2:13 a.m., his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message.
*Stop digging.*
Daniel stared.
Another message appeared.
*You already lost one family. Don’t lose another.*
Daniel immediately stood.
He checked the security cameras.
A figure was standing outside his gate.
Wearing a dark jacket.
Watching.
Daniel grabbed his keys.
But before he reached the door, Ethan appeared.
“Dad.””
Daniel turned.
“You’re staying here.””
“No.””
“Ethan.””
The boy shook his head.
“I’m not a little kid anymore.””
Daniel wanted to argue.
But then he saw something.
Ethan wasn’t acting brave.
He was scared.
But he was standing anyway.
Just like he had at the wedding.
Daniel realized his son had been forced to grow up because adults kept lying.
“Stay behind me.””
Together, they walked outside.
The figure was gone.
Only a piece of paper remained near the gate.
Daniel picked it up.
One sentence.
*Ask Rebecca why she never told you about the child.*
Daniel froze.
Child?
He looked at Ethan.
“What child?””
The question haunted him.
Because if Rebecca had a child…
who was it?
And why would someone want him to know?
The next morning, Daniel found Rebecca.
Not through searching.
She found him.
She was waiting outside his office.
Older.
Different.
But unmistakably her.
Daniel stopped walking.
Rebecca looked at him.
“Hello, Daniel.””
His expression hardened.
“You’re alive.””
She looked sad.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Rebecca looked down.
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
Daniel almost laughed.
“Protect me?””
“You think I betrayed you.””
“You ruined my life.””
Rebecca’s eyes filled with regret.
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
She looked around.
“Not here.””
“Then where?””
Rebecca took a breath.
“Somewhere Vanessa can’t hear us.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“You know about Vanessa.””
Rebecca nodded.
“I know everything.””
The words sent a chill through him.
“Then tell me.””
Rebecca looked at him.
“Vanessa was never working alone.””
“I know.””
“No, Daniel.””
Her voice became serious.
“You don’t.””
She stepped closer.
“The person controlling everything isn’t me.””
Daniel stared.
“Who?””
Rebecca whispered:
“The person who started this plan fifteen years ago…”
A pause.
“Was Alex.””
Daniel felt the world tilt.
His dead brother.
His family.
His past.
Everything connected.
Rebecca looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“Your brother didn’t die.””
She swallowed.
“He disappeared.””
“Why?””
May you like
Rebecca answered:
“Because he wanted everything you had.””
