Chapter 2: The Man Behind the Deal
I stared at the photo on my phone until the screen went dark.
A warehouse.
My daughter’s Mercedes.
And a message that sounded less like a warning and more like a threat.
Felicia watched me carefully.
“Who was that?””
I looked up.
“You tell me.””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
“Who sent this?””
“I don’t know.””
I stepped closer.
“You’re lying.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You don’t get to accuse me of things because you’re angry.””
“No, Felicia.””
I held up my phone.
“I’m accusing you because every time I ask a simple question, you suddenly become afraid.””
She looked at the picture.
For a moment, I saw panic.
Then she covered it.
“I don’t know where that is.””
“Really?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you look scared?””
“I didn’t.””
“You did.””
She grabbed her purse.
“I’m done with this conversation.””
I blocked the doorway.
“No.””
Her eyes widened.
“Move.””
“Not until you tell me the truth.””
“You’re acting insane.””
“Maybe.””
I lowered my voice.
“But I’m not blind anymore.””
That sentence bothered her.
I could tell.
Because the entire time we had been married, Felicia had counted on me believing her.
She counted on me being the reasonable one.
The patient one.
The husband who always tried to keep peace.
But peace had a price.
And I realized I had been paying it with my daughter’s happiness.
My phone rang.
It was Jasmine.
I answered.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
“Dad?””
Her voice sounded nervous.
“I’m outside.””
I immediately walked toward the front door.
“What do you mean outside?””
“I didn’t want to come in without asking.””
My heart sank.
“Jasmine, this is your home.””
I opened the door.
She stood there holding a backpack.
Only a backpack.
My daughter, who had grown up in that house, was standing outside like a guest.
Her eyes were red.
“Dad.””
I pulled her into my arms.
She hugged me tightly.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I felt something I hadn’t felt in years.
Guilt.
Because while I had been working, paying bills, and convincing myself everything was fine, my daughter had been quietly hurting.
When we stepped inside, Felicia was standing in the hallway.
Jasmine immediately stopped.
That small movement told me everything.
She was afraid.
“Jasmine,” Felicia said, “we need to talk.””
“No.””
My voice surprised both of them.
Felicia looked at me.
“Excuse me?””
“You don’t talk to her alone.””
“This is ridiculous.””
“No.””
I looked at Jasmine.
“You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone.””
Felicia laughed bitterly.
“Wow.””
She shook her head.
“So now I’m the villain?””
Jasmine looked down.
That was enough.
I stepped between them.
“Go upstairs, sweetheart.””
Jasmine hesitated.
Then she walked away.
The second she disappeared, Felicia turned on me.
“You’re destroying everything.””
“No.””
“You’re letting her manipulate you.””
I stared at her.
“My daughter?””
“Yes.””
The word came out too quickly.
Felicia realized it.
But it was too late.
“You actually believe that.””
She looked away.
“She knows how to get sympathy.””
I felt something inside me break.
“Leave.””
Her face hardened.
“You’re serious.””
“Yes.””
“You’re choosing her.””
I looked toward the stairs.
“Yes.””
Felicia grabbed her purse again.
“You’ll regret this.””
“Maybe.””
I opened the door.
“But not because I lost you.””
She stared at me.
“You think you know everything.””
The way she said it made me pause.
“What does that mean?””
She smiled faintly.
A cold, almost satisfied smile.
“It means you should ask your precious daughter why she never told you the truth.””
Then she walked out.
I stood there, confused.
Because for the first time, I wondered if Felicia was hiding something.
Or if she was trying to create doubt.
Later that night, after Jasmine finally fell asleep, I sat at my desk and opened the documents for the Mercedes.
The title.
The purchase agreement.
The insurance papers.
Everything was exactly where I left it.
Then I noticed something.
A document I had never seen before.
A transfer authorization form.
My hands went cold.
Because at the bottom of the page was a signature.
Not mine.
Not Jasmine’s.
Someone had forged my daughter’s name.
I grabbed my phone and searched the warehouse address from the photo.
It belonged to a used car dealership.
And the owner’s name made me freeze.
Derrick Coleman.
Felicia’s brother.
The same man she had called.
The same man I had banned after he tried to borrow money from me and threatened me when I refused.
I immediately called him.
He answered after three rings.
“Well, well.””
His voice was calm.
“Marcus.””
“Where is my daughter’s car?””
A short laugh.
“I was wondering when you’d find out.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“You bought it from Felicia.””
“She sold it.””
“She had no right.””
Derrick sighed.
“Don’t make this complicated.””
“Where is the Mercedes?””
“You’re emotional.””
“I’m asking one question.””
“And I’m telling you the truth.””
I heard movement behind him.
Then he said:
“The car isn’t the problem, Marcus.””
I went silent.
“What does that mean?””
His voice lowered.
“You really think Felicia sold that car because she wanted money?””
I looked toward the stairs where my daughter slept.
“What are you talking about?””
Derrick laughed softly.
“You should ask your wife why she needed cash so badly.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
There was a pause.
Then Derrick said:
“Because she wasn’t paying a debt.””
“Then what was she paying?””
The line went quiet.
I checked my phone.
Still connected.
“Derrick?””
Finally, he answered.
“She was paying someone to keep a secret.””
My heart started pounding.
“What secret?””
And then he said a name.
A name I had never expected to hear.
A name that made me stand up so fast my chair fell backward.
“Marcus…”
“What?””
“You might want to sit down before you hear this.””
I gripped the phone.
“Tell me.””
Derrick took a breath.
“Your daughter’s mother…”
I froze.
“Danielle?””
“Yes.””
May you like
My blood ran cold.
“Your wife Felicia has been hiding something about Danielle for twelve years.””
