Chapter 9
The sound of breaking glass sent everyone running.
Dad grabbed my arm.
"Stay here!"
I pulled away.
"Dad, somebody's upstairs!"
He turned toward Rachel.
"Call the police."
Then he rushed toward the staircase.
I followed despite his warning.
We reached the landing.
Mom's bedroom door was open.
Inside, drawers had been pulled out.
Clothes covered the floor.
The bathroom window was shattered.
And someone was moving near the closet.
Dad stopped.
"Daniel!"
The figure turned.
A man stood in the doorway.
He looked to be in his early forties.
He had short hair, a trimmed beard, and a dark jacket.
His face was tense.
I stared at him.
For the first time in my life, I was looking at my biological father.
Daniel Brooks.
He looked at me.
His expression changed.
"Jordan."
My stomach twisted.
He said my name like he'd been practicing it for years.
I couldn't speak.
Dad stepped between us.
"Stay away from him."
Daniel raised his hands.
"Marcus, I don't want trouble."
Dad looked furious.
"Then why are you breaking into my house?"
Daniel glanced toward the open dresser.
"I need the documents."
I felt anger rise.
"You broke into Mom's room for money?"
He looked at me.
"Jordan, you don't understand."
I almost laughed.
Everybody kept saying that.
I stepped forward.
"Then explain it."
Daniel looked startled.
For a moment, he seemed unsure what to say.
Then he swallowed.
"Your grandfather stole from you."
I stared at him.
"I know."
He looked toward Dad.
"Marcus, Harold forged your signature."
Dad nodded.
"We know that too."
Daniel's expression changed.
"Then you know why I'm here."
I shook my head.
"No."
He looked at me.
"I wanted proof."
I stared at him.
"Proof of what?"
"That Harold took money from the account meant for you."
I felt sick.
"And you thought breaking into our house was the answer?"
Daniel looked ashamed.
"No."
He lowered his head.
"I panicked."
Dad moved closer.
"Then stay where you are until the police arrive."
Daniel glanced toward the bathroom window.
I felt fear rise.
"Don't."
He looked at me.
I swallowed.
"Please don't run."
For several seconds, we stared at each other.
Then he slowly stepped away from the window.
Dad kept his eyes on him.
The police arrived minutes later.
Daniel cooperated when officers entered.
They questioned him about the break-in.
He admitted entering the house without permission.
He also acknowledged leaving the note.
HE IS LYING.
I stared at him.
"Who was lying?"
Daniel looked toward Marcus.
Then shook his head.
"Not him."
My chest tightened.
"Then who?"
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"Your grandfather."
I frowned.
"Grandpa's dead."
He nodded.
"But his lies aren't."
The words stayed with me.
After Daniel was taken for questioning, I sat on the staircase.
The house was quiet.
My parents were downstairs speaking with officers.
Rachel sat beside me.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked.
"Is he a bad person?"
She looked at me.
"Daniel?"
I nodded.
She took a slow breath.
"He's made bad choices."
I stared at the floor.
"That doesn't answer my question."
She nodded.
"You're right."
Then she said something I appreciated.
"I don't know whether he's become the person he should have been."
I looked at her.
"But I know he was wrong to threaten your family and enter your home."
I swallowed.
"Do you think he loves me?"
Rachel's eyes filled.
"I think he wants to."
I looked away.
That hurt.
Because wanting to love someone wasn't the same as knowing how.
Later that week, the investigation into my trust began.
Rebecca obtained copies of old financial records.
The bank confirmed that an account had been created in my name.
Money had been deposited over the years.
But several withdrawals had been made without proper authorization.
Some were connected to Daniel's settlement.
Others appeared to have been used for Harold's personal expenses.
I stared at the records.
"Grandpa stole from me?"
Rebecca looked serious.
"The records suggest unauthorized withdrawals."
Dad squeezed my shoulder.
I looked at him.
"Did you know?"
He shook his head.
"No."
I believed him.
For the first time in weeks, I didn't have to wonder whether Dad was telling the truth.
Rebecca explained that the estate might be responsible for restoring some of the missing funds.
The process would take time.
There would be legal proceedings.
Account reviews.
And possibly settlement negotiations.
I nodded.
I wasn't excited about the money.
I was angry that the adults in my life had treated my future like something they could trade.
Meanwhile, Daniel faced legal consequences for entering our house and threatening Mom.
He agreed to stay away while the matter was handled.
The court issued conditions restricting contact.
I felt relieved.
But also sad.
My biological father had finally appeared.
And the first thing I needed was distance from him.
Mom began attending counseling.
She admitted that her fear of losing Marcus had driven her to hide the truth.
She apologized repeatedly.
I wasn't ready to forgive her completely.
But I appreciated that she had stopped making excuses.
One evening, she sat beside me at the kitchen table.
"Jordan?"
I looked up.
"Yeah?"
She hesitated.
"Do you hate me?"
I stared at her.
For a moment, I thought about every lie.
Every secret.
Every time she'd made me question myself.
Then I took a breath.
"No."
Her eyes filled.
"But I'm hurt."
She nodded.
"I know."
"And I need you to stop deciding what I can handle."
She began crying.
"I will."
I looked at her.
"Promise?"
She nodded.
"I promise."
I wanted to believe her.
Maybe someday I would completely.
For now, it was a beginning.
Two months later, the trust dispute reached a settlement.
The estate agreed to restore funds that had been improperly withdrawn.
I sat in Rebecca's office when she explained the result.
"Jordan, the account will be protected under independent management until you reach the appropriate age."
I nodded.
"Okay."
Dad smiled.
"That's good news."
I looked at him.
"Can I use some of it for college?"
Rebecca nodded.
"Subject to the trust terms and administration rules."
I smiled for the first time that day.
College.
Something normal.
Something about my future.
I had been accepted to Georgia State University.
I wanted to study engineering.
Dad had already bought me a notebook filled with sketches of bridges and buildings.
He said I could build anything if I worked hard enough.
Now I was finally beginning to believe that.
Later that evening, we sat together on the porch.
The sun was setting.
Dad handed me a glass of lemonade.
I smiled.
"Thanks."
He sat beside me.
For several minutes, we watched the neighborhood.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Jordan, I want you to know something."
I looked at him.
"No matter what happens with Daniel, I won't stand in your way if you decide you want answers."
My throat tightened.
"You mean that?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
I stared at my hands.
"What if I want to meet him someday?"
Dad looked at me.
"Then we'll help you do it safely."
Tears filled my eyes.
I leaned against him.
"Thanks, Dad."
May you like
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
And for the first time since finding the note, I felt like my family might actually survive.
