Chapter 4: My Father's Secret
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my own heartbeat.
My father?
Robert Carter?
The man who had worked thirty years repairing trucks? The man who had sold his favorite pickup to help me start my company? The man sitting downstairs, wearing the navy suit he had bought specifically for my wedding?
I stared at Vanessa's phone.
“Say that again.””
Darius laughed.
“Your father knows exactly what we're doing, Ethan. Ask him about the authorization documents.””
I reached for the phone.
Vanessa pulled it away.
“Give me that.””
“Ethan, don't!””
“Give me the phone!””
She hesitated before placing it in my hand.
I brought it to my ear.
“Darius, listen carefully. If you have anything to do with my company, you'd better start explaining.””
“Relax, Carter. You're making this unnecessarily difficult.””
“Who gave you my signature?””
“Someone who wanted to help.””
“Who?””
“Your father.””
My stomach tightened.
I looked at my mother.
She was already shaking her head.
“That's a lie,” she whispered.
Darius chuckled.
“Ask Robert about the money he borrowed. Ask him about the warehouse project. Ask him why he needed three hundred thousand dollars six months ago.””
My father's name suddenly felt like a weapon.
“What money?””
“Exactly what I thought. You don't know anything about your own family.””
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa reached for the phone.
I handed it back without looking at her.
Then I turned toward my mother.
“Mom, did Dad borrow money?””
She looked confused.
“Not that I know of.””
“Three hundred thousand dollars?””
Her face went pale.
“Ethan, your father would never take that kind of money without telling me.””
I wanted to believe her.
But something about Darius's confidence bothered me.
He hadn't sounded like a man making a random accusation.
He sounded like someone who knew something.
Rochelle stepped between us.
“Ethan, we need to be careful. A phone call from someone involved in a suspicious transaction isn't proof that your father participated.””
“I know.””
“We should speak with him directly.””
I looked toward the ballroom.
My father was still there.
He was laughing with my uncle David, completely unaware that his name had just been dragged into something that could destroy our family.
“Bring him here,” I told my mother.
She nodded.
A few minutes later, Robert Carter appeared in the hallway.
He looked handsome in his navy suit. His silver hair was neatly combed, and his old wristwatch—the one I had bought him after my first major construction contract—was visible beneath his cuff.
He smiled when he saw me.
“What's going on, son? Your mother says there's a problem.””
I couldn't smile back.
“Dad, did you borrow three hundred thousand dollars six months ago?””
His smile disappeared.
He looked at my mother.
Then at Rochelle.
Finally, he looked at me.
“Who told you that?””
My chest tightened.
“Is it true?””
He rubbed his jaw.
“Ethan, this isn't the place.””
“Then tell me where.””
He glanced toward the ballroom.
“Can we discuss this after the wedding?””
“There isn't going to be a wedding.””
His eyes widened.
“What?””
I explained what I had heard, the messages, the proposed property transfer, and Darius's phone call.
My father listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he lowered himself into a nearby chair.
For several seconds, he stared at the floor.
Then he whispered, “I never thought it would come to this.””
My mother grabbed the back of the chair.
“Robert, what have you done?””
He looked up.
“Margaret, I can explain.””
“Then explain!””
My father sighed.
“Six months ago, I received a call from a man named Darius. He said he was working with a private investment group interested in purchasing one of Ethan's commercial properties.””
I stared at him.
“Why were you talking to him?””
“He said he knew you. He claimed you'd mentioned the property to him.””
“I never mentioned anything.””
“I know that now.””
“What happened?””
My father looked ashamed.
“He told me he could arrange a quick sale. He also said he could help me recover some money I'd lost in an investment.””
My mother covered her mouth.
“What investment?””
My father hesitated.
“Last year, I invested in a small transportation business with an old friend. The company collapsed. I lost almost everything I put into it.””
I remembered my father mentioning a business opportunity.
He had told me it was a small retirement investment.
I hadn't asked for details.
“How much did you lose?”” I asked.
“About one hundred and twenty thousand.””
“Dad…”
“I know.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
He looked down.
“Because you already had enough on your shoulders. You were building your company. You were preparing for your wedding. I didn't want you worrying about me.””
My mother wiped her eyes.
“And the three hundred thousand?””
My father shook his head.
“Darius said he could help me recover the loss. He offered to pay off my debts and give me another hundred and eighty thousand if I helped him arrange an introduction to Ethan.””
I stared at him.
“An introduction?””
“He wanted to discuss buying some of your properties.””
“And what did you do?””
“I agreed to meet him.””
My voice grew sharper.
“Did you sign anything?””
He looked at me.
“Yes.””
The hallway seemed to shrink.
“What did you sign?””
“A preliminary authorization. He said it allowed his investment group to review property information and prepare an offer.””
“Did you sign my name?””
“No!””
His answer came immediately.
“I never signed your name, Ethan. I swear to you.””
Rochelle leaned forward.
“Did you provide any identification documents or copies of company records?””
My father rubbed his forehead.
“I gave him some old company documents Ethan had sent me when he first started the business. I thought they were public information.””
Rochelle exchanged a look with me.
“Do you still have the agreement you signed?””
“I think so.””
“Where?””
“At home.””
I looked at him.
“Dad, did you receive any money?””
He swallowed.
“Thirty thousand dollars.””
My mother stepped backward.
“Robert!””
“It was supposed to be an advance. I thought it was legitimate.””
“Did you tell Ethan?””
“No.””
“Did you tell me?””
He shook his head.
My mother began crying.
“You hid thirty thousand dollars from your own family?””
My father stood.
“I was ashamed!””
“And you thought involving yourself in his business was the answer?””
“I thought I was helping him.””
I stared at the man who had taught me never to take shortcuts.
“Dad, you gave a stranger access to company information because he promised you money?””
My father's eyes filled.
“I made a terrible mistake.””
I wanted to be angry.
I was angry.
But beneath that anger was something worse.
Disappointment.
“Did Vanessa know?””
He looked at her.
For the first time, she seemed unable to meet his eyes.
“I don't know,” he answered.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Did you know my father was meeting Darius?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
My father suddenly spoke.
“She was there.””
Everyone turned toward him.
Vanessa froze.
“What?””
My father looked directly at her.
“I met Darius at a restaurant in Buckhead. You were sitting with him.””
I stared at her.
“You knew?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“I only introduced them.””
My father shook his head.
“You told Darius that Ethan would eventually agree to the property deal.””
“That's not true!””
“You said the wedding would make everything easier.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Ethan, please.””
I took a step backward.
My father continued.
“I didn't know she was planning anything criminal. I thought she was helping arrange a business opportunity.””
Rochelle closed her folder.
“We need the original documents and a complete timeline. Robert, do not contact Darius or sign anything else.””
My father nodded.
Then he looked at me.
“Son, I need you to believe me. I never wanted to hurt you.””
I stared at his trembling hands.
Those hands had carried me on his shoulders when I was little.
Those hands had repaired my bicycle.
Those hands had built the first shelves in my company's original office.
I swallowed hard.
“I want to believe you, Dad.””
He lowered his head.
“But I need the truth.””
He nodded.
“I'll give you everything.””
Then my mother's phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
She showed me a message from an unknown number.
*MRS. CARTER, YOUR HUSBAND IS NOT TELLING YOU EVERYTHING. ASK HIM ABOUT THE $500,000 LIFE INSURANCE POLICY.*
I looked at my father.
He went completely still.
“Dad?””
May you like
He closed his eyes.
And for the first time that day, I wondered whether Darius had told us only half the truth.
