Chapter 4: The Person Who Was Never Supposed To Return
Daniel stared at the phone screen as if the words had physically struck him.
His face had gone pale.
Not the fake concern he showed at hospitals.
Not the controlled expression he wore when talking to lawyers or bankers.
This was real fear.
I had spent years trying to read Daniel’s emotions, but I had never seen this one.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Daniel.””
His eyes stayed fixed on the message.
The name at the bottom of the screen seemed to hold him prisoner.
Finally, his lips moved.
“No.””
It was barely a whisper.
I tightened my grip on my phone.
“Who is it?””
Daniel looked at me.
For once, he didn’t have a clever response.
He didn’t have a sarcastic comment.
He didn’t have a way to make me feel foolish.
“It’s impossible.””
“That’s not an answer.””
He stepped backward.
“Delete it.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Delete the message.””
“No.””
His expression changed.
“Marissa.””
“Why?””
“Because you don’t understand what you’re involved in.””
I stared at him.
“Then explain.””
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
Toward his father’s bedroom.
Then back at me.
“You need to leave this alone.””
A cold feeling settled in my chest.
“You’re afraid.””
“No.””
“You are.””
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
For the first time, he looked like a man who had lost control of a situation.
“I’m telling you this for your own good.””
I almost laughed.
“Since when do you care about my good?””
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
Because we both knew the answer.
He didn’t.
Not anymore.
I looked down at the phone again.
The message was still there.
*You found the cabinet. Good. Now find the second drawer before Daniel does.*
And beneath it:
*— Jonathan Pierce*
Jonathan Pierce.
The name meant nothing to me.
But it meant everything to Daniel.
“You said he was dead,” I said.
Daniel closed his eyes.
For a second, I thought he might deny it.
Instead, he whispered:
“He was supposed to be.””
The words sent a chill through me.
“Supposed to be?””
Daniel immediately regretted saying it.
He looked away.
“I didn’t mean it like that.””
“Then what did you mean?””
He didn’t answer.
I took a step closer.
“Who is Jonathan Pierce?””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Someone from my father’s past.””
“What kind of past?””
“The kind you don’t want to know about.””
I hated that phrase.
Because people only said it when they wanted to hide something.
“Arthur told me there was evidence in this office.””
Daniel looked at me sharply.
“What evidence?””
I noticed the question.
Not what did you find?
Not what are you talking about?
Evidence.
He knew.
“You already know.””
“No.””
“You do.””
Daniel looked frustrated.
“You’re twisting my words.””
“Am I?””
Before he could answer, a sound came from the hallway.
A weak cough.
Both of us froze.
Arthur.
Daniel’s face changed instantly.
The fear returned.
“He’s awake?””
I didn’t respond.
I walked toward the bedroom.
Daniel followed.
“No.””
I stopped.
“No?””
He looked at me.
“You need to let me talk to him.””
The request was so unexpected that I almost believed him.
Almost.
“You want to talk to him alone?””
“He’s my father.””
“The same father you said couldn’t hear?””
Daniel went silent.
That was enough.
I stepped into the bedroom first.
Arthur’s eyes were open.
The moment he saw Daniel, his entire body tensed.
It was subtle.
A tiny movement.
But I saw it.
And Daniel saw it too.
“Dad.””
His voice softened.
A performance.
Arthur stared at him.
No recognition.
No warmth.
Only fear.
Daniel walked closer.
“I heard you woke up.””
Arthur didn’t respond.
I stood beside the bed.
Watching.
Waiting.
“Dad,” Daniel said again.
“Do you know who I am?””
Arthur’s eyes moved slowly toward me.
Then back to Daniel.
“Yes.””
His voice was weak.
But clear.
Daniel stopped breathing for a moment.
“You know me?””
Arthur swallowed.
“Yes.””
Something changed in Daniel’s face.
A realization.
His father was no longer silent.
“You remember everything?””
The question slipped out.
Too quickly.
Too honestly.
Arthur looked at him.
“I remember enough.””
The room became still.
Daniel’s hands curled into fists.
“What does that mean?””
Arthur looked away.
“I remember what happened.””
My heart raced.
Daniel looked at me.
Then at his father.
“What did she tell you?””
Arthur frowned slightly.
“She?””
Daniel pointed toward me.
“She’s been filling your head with things.””
I felt anger rise inside me.
“I haven’t told him anything.””
Daniel ignored me.
“Dad, you need to understand. She doesn’t know the whole story.””
Arthur’s eyes hardened.
A tiny spark of the man he used to be returned.
“You’re right.””
Daniel looked relieved.
Then Arthur finished:
“She doesn’t.””
A pause.
“Because I haven’t told her everything yet.””
Daniel’s face changed.
I felt it.
The balance of power had shifted.
For six months, Daniel had controlled the story.
But now the person who knew the truth was speaking.
“Dad,” Daniel said quietly, “you need to rest.””
Arthur stared at him.
“Where is Jonathan?””
The question hit Daniel like a punch.
He stepped back.
I looked between them.
“You know him.””
Neither of them answered.
“Daniel?””
Arthur closed his eyes.
“He lied.””
Daniel’s voice became sharper.
“Dad, stop.””
“Everyone believed him.””
“Stop.””
“He said he was helping.””
Daniel’s face turned red.
“Enough.””
I had never seen Daniel react this way.
Not even when confronted about money.
Not even when accused of neglecting his father.
This was different.
Jonathan Pierce wasn’t just a secret.
He was something Daniel was desperate to bury.
Arthur opened his eyes.
“You should have left it alone.””
Daniel stared at him.
“What?””
“You should have let me die.””
The words filled the room.
I felt my stomach twist.
Daniel’s face went blank.
Arthur continued.
“But you got greedy.””
“Dad…”
“You thought I wouldn’t wake up.””
Daniel looked at the floor.
For a moment, I saw something unexpected.
Regret.
Then it vanished.
“You don’t understand.””
Arthur’s voice was weak.
“No.””
He looked at his son.
“I understand perfectly.””
Daniel turned and walked out of the room.
Not angry.
Not arguing.
Leaving.
That scared me more.
Because Daniel only walked away when he was planning something.
I waited until the front door closed.
Then I turned back to Arthur.
“What is Jonathan Pierce?””
Arthur looked exhausted.
But he knew I needed answers.
“An accountant.””
I frowned.
“Your accountant?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Arthur stared at the ceiling.
“Twenty years ago, I discovered money was missing.””
“How much?””
“More than money.””
I remembered Daniel saying the same thing.
Control.
“What did Jonathan do?””
Arthur closed his eyes.
“He helped people hide things.””
“People?””
Arthur didn’t answer.
“Who?””
His breathing became heavier.
I reached for his hand.
“Arthur, I need to know.””
After a long silence, he whispered:
“Your husband wasn’t the first person to betray me.””
My heart sank.
“What does that mean?””
Arthur looked at me.
“The first betrayal came from someone I trusted.””
“Who?””
His eyes moved toward the office.
“The second drawer.””
I remembered the message.
Find the second drawer before Daniel does.
Arthur squeezed my hand weakly.
“Inside…”
He struggled to continue.
“Inside is proof.””
“Proof of what?””
Arthur’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Proof that Daniel is not the person you think he is.””
I wanted to ask more.
But before I could, a loud crash came from the office.
We both turned.
Someone was inside.
I stood immediately.
“Arthur, stay here.””
I moved toward the doorway.
The hallway was dark.
The office door was open.
A shadow moved across the floor.
Someone was searching through the cabinet.
I stepped closer.
“Who’s there?””
The person froze.
Then slowly turned around.
My breath caught.
Because I recognized the face.
Not from my life.
Not from my memories.
But from the photograph Daniel showed me.
The man standing in Arthur’s office looked older now.
But unmistakable.
Jonathan Pierce.
May you like
Alive.
And holding the second drawer in his hands.
