Chapter 10: The Man Behind The Lies
The photograph on my phone was old.
The edges were faded.
The colors had softened with time.
But the face was clear.
An old man with cold eyes.
A man I had never met.
Yet somehow, his name felt like it had been hiding in every corner of my life.
My grandfather.
Thomas Carter.
My father stared at the image.
The color drained from his face.
“Where did you get this?””
I looked at him.
“You know him.””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
My chest tightened.
“Dad.””
He sat down slowly.
The chair scraped against the kitchen floor.
For a few seconds, he looked like a man much older than he really was.
“He died twelve years ago.””
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
My father looked at the notebook on the table.
At my mother’s handwriting.
At the truth we had spent years avoiding.
“He was not a good man.””
Rachel lowered her eyes.
“You never told Emma.””
“No.””
My father’s voice cracked.
“Because she was a child.””
I stared at him.
“I’m not a child anymore.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me.””
He took a deep breath.
“My father controlled everything.””
The words sounded strange coming from him.
Because my father was the calm one.
The gentle one.
The person who apologized even when he wasn’t wrong.
“I grew up believing love was something you earned,” he continued.
“Not something you were given.””
I sat down across from him.
“What did he do?””
My father looked at his hands.
“He controlled my money. My choices. My relationships.””
Rachel nodded.
“Thomas was obsessed with power.””
My father looked at her.
“You remember.””
“I remember everything.””
I looked between them.
“Then why did Nicole blame my mother?””
Rachel’s expression changed.
“Because Nicole believed the story Thomas created.””
“What story?””
Rachel took a breath.
“That your mother ruined his life.””
I frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It doesn’t,” Rachel said.
“Then why believe it?””
“Because Nicole needed someone to blame.””
The room became quiet.
My father opened the notebook again.
“There’s more.””
He turned the page.
My mother’s handwriting continued.
*Thomas Carter destroyed every person who tried to leave him.*
I felt a chill.
The next line was worse.
*Nicole thinks I betrayed her. She does not know I was the one who saved her.*
I looked up.
“My mother saved Nicole?””
Rachel nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“From what?””
Nobody answered.
And that scared me.
Finally, my father whispered:
“From her own father.””
The words sat between us.
I looked at the picture again.
My grandfather.
The man who had never been part of my childhood.
The man who was somehow connected to all of this.
“What happened to Nicole?””
Rachel spoke softly.
“When Nicole was eighteen, she tried to expose him.””
“And?””
“He destroyed her reputation.””
My father nodded.
“He convinced everyone she was unstable.””
I felt sick.
“That sounds familiar.””
Nobody responded.
Because everyone knew.
Nicole had learned from someone.
The manipulation.
The victim act.
The way she turned every situation around.
My father rubbed his eyes.
“I thought she hated your mother because they fought.””
“What was the real reason?””
Rachel looked at the notebook.
“Your mother knew the truth.””
I looked at her.
“What truth?””
“That Thomas didn’t die naturally.””
The room went silent.
My heart stopped.
“What?””
My father stood.
“Rachel.””
“No.””
She looked at him.
“You can’t protect her anymore.””
My father looked devastated.
“Protect who?””
Rachel looked at me.
“Your mother.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“My mother?””
“She was investigating Thomas.””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
Rachel pointed to the notebook.
“Read the next page.””
My fingers trembled as I turned it.
The handwriting was darker.
Like my mother had pressed harder while writing.
*I finally found the proof. Thomas did not just hurt our family. He hurt others. I know what he did.*
The next sentence was underlined.
*Nicole knows too.*
I looked up.
“Nicole knew?””
“Yes,” Rachel said.
“But she still married my dad?””
Rachel’s eyes filled with sadness.
“She thought she was getting revenge.””
My father looked confused.
“Revenge?””
Rachel nodded.
“She thought destroying your family was the only way to make your mother pay.””
I stood.
“But my mother died.””
Rachel went quiet.
And that silence answered before she did.
“Wait.””
My voice shook.
“Are you saying…”
Nobody moved.
My father whispered:
“Emma.””
But I needed the words.
I needed him to say it.
“Are you saying Nicole had something to do with Mom’s death?””
My father looked away.
That hurt more than if he had answered.
Because his silence was terrifying.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
I answered.
Nobody spoke.
Then a voice came through.
A woman’s voice.
Nicole.
“Emma.””
My grip tightened.
“What do you want?””
“I want you to stop digging.””
I laughed quietly.
“Now you’re scared?””
“No.””
Her voice was calm.
“I’m scared of what you’ll find.””
My father stepped closer.
“Nicole, where are you?””
She ignored him.
“Emma, your mother lied to you.””
My heart raced.
“About what?””
A pause.
Then she said:
May you like
“About who killed her.””
The call ended.
