Chapter 8: The Brother I Never Knew
I didn’t hear anything after Mark said it.
Not because the room was silent.
Because my mind was too loud.
My brother.
My own brother.
The person who shared my childhood.
The person who held Emily after her mother died.
The person who stood beside me when I thought I had lost everything.
He had been connected to Rebecca from the beginning.
“Daniel.””
Mark’s voice came through the phone.
“Say something.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“How long?””
She didn’t answer.
“How long were you two together?””
Rebecca crossed her arms.
“Daniel—”
“How long?””
Her eyes dropped.
“Before you.””
That was all she said.
But it was enough.
My chest tightened.
My brother had watched me fall in love with her.
He had watched me plan the wedding.
He had watched Emily trust her.
And he said nothing.
“Why?””
The question came out quietly.
Rebecca looked at me.
“What?””
“Why me?””
Neither of them answered.
That silence hurt more than the betrayal.
Because I already knew.
It wasn’t love.
It wasn’t an accident.
It was a plan.
Mark finally spoke.
“Because you had everything.””
I stared at the phone.
“What?””
“You had the house.””
The words sounded disgusting.
“The company.””
“The life.””
I shook my head.
“You mean my daughter?””
“No.””
But his hesitation told me enough.
I ended the call.
I couldn’t listen anymore.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Now you understand.””
“No.””
I held Emily tighter.
“I understand that you both are monsters.””
Her expression hardened.
“You think I wanted this?””
“Yes.””
“You don’t know what happened.””
“Then tell me.””
For a second, she looked like she might.
Then the mask returned.
“Mark was supposed to be the one.””
I stared.
“He told me you would be easier.””
My stomach twisted.
“Easier?””
“You trusted people.””
The way she said it was almost disgusted.
“You wanted to believe everyone had good intentions.””
I looked at Emily.
“She was never part of your plan.””
Rebecca’s eyes shifted.
That tiny movement told me everything.
She was lying.
“She was always part of it.””
Rebecca looked toward the window.
“Mark said she was your weakness.””
My blood ran cold.
“And you agreed?””
“I thought she was the reason you wouldn’t move forward.””
I stared at her.
Move forward.
That was how they saw my daughter.
Not a child.
Not a person.
An obstacle.
I walked toward the door.
Rebecca didn’t move.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
“You think you can just leave?””
I looked back.
“Yes.””
She smiled sadly.
“No, Daniel.””
She pulled out her phone.
“You can’t.””
A second later, mine buzzed.
An email notification.
I opened it.
My heart dropped.
It was from an unknown sender.
Attached were photos.
Photos of me.
Arguing.
Frustrated.
Tired.
Moments taken completely out of context.
Then a message:
Evidence of emotional instability.
I looked at Rebecca.
“You’ve been recording me.””
“Not me.””
“Mark?””
She didn’t answer.
I understood.
They had been building this for months.
Maybe longer.
The fake documents.
The property.
The custody plan.
Everything.
“You wanted me to look like a bad father.””
Rebecca stepped closer.
“I wanted you to understand how easy it is to lose everything.””
“You’re insane.””
“No.””
Her voice became calm.
“That’s what people say when they finally see the truth.””
Emily started crying.
I immediately turned toward her.
“Hey.””
She whispered:
“I want Grandma.””
My heart broke.
Because she didn’t ask for Rebecca.
She didn’t ask for anyone else.
She asked for safety.
“I’m taking you home.””
I reached for the door.
This time, Rebecca moved.
Not aggressively.
Almost casually.
She stepped aside.
And that scared me more.
“You can go.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“You can leave.””
“Why?””
“Because you’ll come back.””
I stared.
She smiled.
“Everyone always comes back when they realize what they’re losing.””
I walked out.
I carried Emily to the car.
I drove away.
But Rebecca was right about one thing.
I was losing something.
Not my house.
Not my money.
Not my reputation.
I was losing the illusion that I knew the people around me.
When I reached my mother’s house, Mark was waiting outside.
I stopped the car.
Emily immediately hid behind me.
Mark looked destroyed.
Good.
He should.
“Daniel.””
I didn’t answer.
“I can explain.””
“You already did.””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“You heard the worst part.””
I laughed bitterly.
“There’s a worse part?””
Mark looked at Emily.
Then back at me.
“Yes.””
My anger faded.
Because he looked afraid.
Not guilty.
Afraid.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“Rebecca isn’t the person who started this.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What does that mean?””
Mark looked toward the house.
Then whispered:
“There’s someone above her.””
I stared.
“Who?””
He took a breath.
Then said:
“The person who has been funding everything.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
Mark looked at Emily.
May you like
And the answer destroyed the last piece of trust I had left.
“It’s someone your daughter knows.””
