Chapter 13 - THE BROTHER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Matthew couldn't breathe.
"My brother died when he was two."
Grace looked at the photograph.
"Apparently, that's what you were told."
Jessica whispered:
"Your father lied."
Matthew shook his head.
"No."
He grabbed the document.
"My mother would have known."
"She did," Grace said quietly.
Matthew's face hardened.
They found Evelyn at the police station.
He placed the photograph in front of her.
She stared at it.
Then began crying.
"Ethan."
Matthew's voice was cold.
"He's alive."
Evelyn nodded.
"Where?"
"I don't know."
"How long?"
"Twenty-nine years."
Matthew stepped backward.
"What?"
Evelyn explained.
Ethan had been born with a severe medical condition.
Matthew's father feared the family's reputation would suffer.
Robert convinced him to send Ethan away.
But Ethan survived.
He grew up believing his family had abandoned him.
Robert found him.
And turned his anger into loyalty.
Matthew closed his eyes.
"So this was revenge."
"Partly."
Evelyn wiped her tears.
"Ethan wanted what you had."
"Money."
"Family."
Matthew looked at her.
"What?"
"He believed you stole his life."
Matthew sat down.
He remembered his father always refusing to talk about Ethan.
He remembered an empty bedroom.
A locked door.
A photograph removed from the hallway.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Then his phone rang.
A man's voice answered.
"Hello, brother."
Matthew froze.
"Ethan."
A laugh.
"You finally know."
"Where are my sons?"
"Safe."
"Let them go."
"I want the trust."
"You won't get it."
"Then they die."
Matthew's blood ran cold.
"What do you want?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"Where?"
"The place where our father first lied."
"What does that mean?"
"The old family cemetery."
The call ended.
Matthew looked at Grace.
"We're going."
"No," Jessica said.
Matthew turned.
"We're not giving him the children."
"I know."
"Then what?"
"We give him something else."
Matthew looked at her.
Jessica held up the ledger.
"We give him the account."
Grace shook her head.
"He'll kill you."
"Maybe."
Matthew looked at his wife.
"We're not letting him decide."
The next morning, they arrived at the cemetery.
Police waited nearby.
Matthew carried a briefcase.
Ethan appeared.
He looked almost exactly like Matthew.
Same eyes.
Same height.
Same family resemblance.
But his face carried years of bitterness.
Beside him stood Benjamin and Caleb.
Matthew nearly broke.
"Daddy!"
The boys ran toward him.
Ethan allowed it.
Matthew hugged them.
Then stood.
"You wanted the trust."
Ethan nodded.
"Give it to me."
Matthew opened the briefcase.
Inside was a laptop.
"The trust requires a biometric authorization."
Ethan smiled.
"Then authorize it."
Matthew sat at the computer.
He entered the credentials.
Then stopped.
Ethan pointed a gun.
"Do it."
Matthew looked at him.
"You've spent your entire life believing Dad chose me over you."
Ethan's face tightened.
"He did."
"No."
Matthew slowly stood.
"He lied to both of us."
Ethan hesitated.
Matthew held out the old letter.
"Read it."
Ethan took it.
His hands began shaking.
The letter was from their father.
It revealed the truth.
Their father had planned to bring Ethan home.
Robert stopped him.
Robert had convinced Ethan that Matthew was the enemy.
Ethan looked toward Robert.
"Where is he?"
Matthew smiled bitterly.
"In prison."
Ethan's face changed.
"You used me."
The sound of police sirens approached.
Ethan lowered the gun.
But then a shot rang out.
A hidden sniper fired.
Ethan fell.
Matthew grabbed his brother.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Ethan whispered:
"I never wanted the boys."
Matthew held him.
"Stay with me."
Ethan looked at him.
"Tell Mom..."
His voice faded.
Matthew shouted for help.
And across the cemetery, someone watched from a black car.
May you like
Someone who hadn't been arrested.
Someone who had been pulling every string from the beginning.
