Chapter 5: The Brother I Trusted
I stared at the picture until my vision blurred.
Nathan.
My younger brother.
The person who had stood beside me at Danielle’s funeral.
The person who had hugged Jasmine and promised he would always protect her.
The person who had looked me in the eyes and said:
“Marcus, I don’t know how you’re surviving this.””
I suddenly wondered how long he had been lying.
“Why was Nathan there?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
That was becoming a pattern.
Everyone knew something except me.
Rachel sat down slowly.
“Because Nathan knew about the money.””
I looked at her.
“What money?””
“The money Felicia took.””
Felicia closed her eyes.
“Rachel.””
“No.””
Rachel shook her head.
“I’m done protecting people.””
I turned toward Felicia.
“Explain.””
She looked exhausted.
“I didn’t steal from Danielle.””
“Then why were there transfers?””
“Because Nathan asked me to move them.””
The room went still.
I laughed once.
A bitter sound.
“You’re blaming my brother now?””
“I’m telling you the truth.””
“The same truth you hid for twelve years?””
She looked away.
“I deserve that.””
For the first time since this started, Felicia didn’t fight back.
And somehow that scared me more.
Rachel leaned forward.
“Danielle discovered Nathan was using her company accounts.””
My stomach tightened.
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
“No.””
The word came out automatically.
Because some truths are too painful to accept.
Rachel looked at me with sympathy.
“I know you loved him.””
I shook my head.
“You’re wrong.””
But my voice lacked confidence.
Because suddenly, memories were returning.
Nathan always knowing too much.
Nathan always asking about my finances.
Nathan always making jokes about how lucky I was.
“I don’t understand,” I said.
Rachel looked at Felicia.
“Tell him.””
Felicia swallowed.
“I met Nathan before I met you.””
I froze.
“What?””
Jasmine looked between us.
“What does that mean?””
Felicia’s voice became quiet.
“Your brother introduced us.””
I stared at her.
“Nathan introduced us?””
“Yes.””
The room spun.
Because my entire marriage suddenly had a foundation I had never seen.
“You knew him before me?””
She nodded.
“Briefly.””
“How briefly?””
She didn’t answer.
“Felicia.””
“A few months.””
I stepped back.
“A few months?””
My mind raced.
The woman I married.
The brother I trusted.
Two people connected before they entered my life.
And nobody told me.
“Why?””
Felicia looked at me.
“Because Nathan thought we could help each other.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Help each other do what?””
She looked down.
“Hide what happened.””
Jasmine grabbed my arm.
“Dad.””
I turned toward her.
“I’m okay.””
But I wasn’t.
Not even close.
I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water.
My hands were shaking.
Behind me, Rachel spoke.
“Danielle found out everything three days before the accident.””
I turned around.
“What everything?””
“That Nathan and Felicia had been moving money.””
Felicia whispered:
“She threatened to go to the police.””
“And then she died.””
Felicia started crying.
“I didn’t kill her.””
I looked at her.
“But you knew she was in danger.””
She said nothing.
That was enough.
My anger changed.
It wasn’t explosive anymore.
It was colder.
“You let me believe it was an accident.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Nathan.””
The answer shocked me.
“Why?””
“Because he told me if Danielle talked, we would both go to prison.””
Rachel nodded.
“That’s why she stayed quiet.””
I looked at Felicia.
“And the car?””
Her face changed.
“The car was supposed to be a temporary thing.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at the floor.
“Nathan contacted me last month.””
My stomach tightened.
“He knew about the car?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he said he needed money.””
I felt sick.
“From you?””
She nodded.
“And when I refused…”
She stopped.
“When you refused what?””
Felicia looked at me.
“He threatened to tell you everything.””
The room went silent.
“So you sold Jasmine’s car to pay him?””
“I thought I could buy time.””
I couldn’t believe it.
“You sacrificed my daughter’s happiness to protect yourself.””
Tears rolled down her face.
“I know.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t.””
My phone rang.
This time, I recognized the number.
Nathan.
Everyone looked at me.
I answered.
“What?””
Silence.
Then his voice.
“Marcus.””
I felt my blood boil.
“You have some nerve calling me.””
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
“You don’t understand what happened.””
“I understand enough.””
A pause.
Then Nathan said something unexpected.
“Felicia is lying to you.””
I looked at her.
She looked terrified.
“What did you say?””
“She’s giving you half the story.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Where are you?””
Another pause.
“Come alone.””
“No.””
“Marcus.””
His voice became serious.
“If you want to know why Danielle died…”
My heart stopped.
“Come alone.””
I said nothing.
Then he added:
“And bring the letter.””
I looked at the letter on the table.
“How do you know about the letter?””
The line went silent.
Too silent.
Then Nathan whispered:
May you like
“Because I wrote the part she never finished.””
The call ended.
