Chapter 6
I thought meeting my father would be the hardest moment of my life.
I was wrong.
The hardest moment came the next morning.
When Patricia Wells walked into Evelyn's conference room carrying a small black briefcase.
She was a Black woman in her early fifties.
Her hair was pulled into a neat bun.
Her gray pantsuit looked expensive.
But her hands were shaking.
I sat beside Jonathan.
Maya was on my other side.
Arthur stood near the window.
Evelyn remained at the head of the table.
Patricia looked around.
Then her eyes settled on me.
"Marcus."
I didn't answer.
She swallowed.
"You look just like your father."
I felt anger rise.
"You knew my father?"
Patricia nodded.
"Yes."
"Then you knew about me?"
She looked down.
"Yes."
My chest tightened.
"For how long?"
"Nineteen years."
I stared at her.
The room went silent.
Nineteen years.
Another adult who had known I existed.
Another adult who had chosen silence.
I leaned forward.
"Why?"
Patricia's eyes filled.
"Because I was paid to keep quiet."
Jonathan sat straighter.
"By whom?"
Patricia looked toward Arthur.
Then at Evelyn.
"By Diane Bennett."
My stomach dropped.
I had expected that answer.
But hearing it still hurt.
Evelyn opened a notebook.
"Patricia, before we continue, I need to remind you that any information you provide may have legal consequences."
Patricia nodded.
"I understand."
"Do you have legal representation?"
"Yes. My attorney is aware of this meeting."
Evelyn nodded.
"Then explain what you're prepared to disclose."
Patricia opened her briefcase.
Inside were copies of bank records, correspondence, and old legal documents.
She placed them on the table.
"Diane asked me to help prevent Jonathan from finding Marcus."
Jonathan closed his eyes.
I looked at Patricia.
"Why?"
"She was afraid he'd seek custody."
I shook my head.
"That's what she said."
Patricia nodded.
"But there was another reason."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Your grandfather's estate."
Arthur stepped closer.
Patricia continued.
"Elijah planned to create a trust for you. Diane knew that once Jonathan was identified as your father, he might become involved in protecting your interests."
I frowned.
"So she didn't want him knowing about the money?"
Patricia nodded.
"She wanted control."
I stared at her.
I thought about the parties.
The luxury cars.
The expensive clothes.
The way Mom talked about family reputation.
Then Patricia said something that made everything worse.
"Diane wasn't the only person benefiting."
Arthur's expression changed.
"Who else?"
Patricia hesitated.
Then she looked directly at him.
"You."
The room went completely silent.
I turned toward Arthur.
He stared at her.
"What?"
Patricia pointed toward a bank statement.
"Payments were made to an account connected to your consulting business."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Arthur shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Patricia continued.
"Your company received money for administrative services."
Arthur stepped forward.
"My company performed legitimate work for Bennett Legacy Holdings."
Patricia nodded.
"Some of it was legitimate."
My stomach twisted.
I looked at Arthur.
The man who had defended me at the gala.
The man who had revealed my father's name.
The man who had promised to protect me.
"Uncle Arthur?"
He turned toward me.
"Marcus, listen."
My heart raced.
"Did you take my money?"
His face crumpled.
"No."
Patricia opened another document.
"Then explain these payments."
Arthur stared at the records.
His expression changed.
I noticed immediately.
He recognized something.
Evelyn leaned forward.
"Arthur, do you know about these transactions?"
He sat down slowly.
"I know about the account."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
Arthur looked at me.
"Marcus, I need you to hear me."
I stood.
"Did you know?"
He swallowed.
"Some funds passed through my consulting firm."
I felt sick.
"How much?"
Arthur looked at Patricia.
Then at me.
"Approximately two hundred thousand dollars."
I stumbled backward.
Jonathan caught my arm.
"Easy, son."
I stared at Arthur.
"You told me Mom stole from me."
Arthur nodded.
"She did."
"And you were taking money too?"
"No!"
His voice cracked.
"I was paid for work I believed was authorized."
Patricia shook her head.
"Arthur, you knew the source of the funds was questionable."
He stared at her.
"I suspected."
I felt the room tilt.
Suspected.
That word destroyed me.
I looked at him.
"You suspected and said nothing?"
Arthur lowered his head.
"Yes."
I couldn't breathe.
Another betrayal.
Another person who knew something was wrong but stayed silent.
I looked toward Jonathan.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"I'm here."
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I wanted to run.
To leave everyone behind.
To stop hearing secrets.
But then I remembered something.
I wasn't a child anymore.
I had a right to know the truth.
I sat down.
"Tell me everything."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"When Elijah died, Diane asked me to help manage several corporate accounts."
I listened.
"She said the trust needed temporary administrative support."
Patricia crossed her arms.
"And you accepted payments."
Arthur nodded.
"Yes."
I felt anger rising.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was ashamed."
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Arthur flinched.
I continued.
"Everyone is ashamed after they get caught."
Jonathan squeezed my shoulder.
I looked at Patricia.
"Why are you telling us now?"
She began crying.
"Because Diane threatened me."
My stomach tightened.
"With what?"
"She said she'd blame me for everything."
Evelyn leaned forward.
"Do you have evidence?"
Patricia nodded.
"Messages. Emails. Recordings."
I stared at her.
"Then why didn't you come forward years ago?"
Patricia looked at me.
Her eyes filled.
"Because I was greedy."
The honesty surprised me.
She continued.
"I told myself I was only doing paperwork. I convinced myself nobody was getting hurt."
I shook my head.
"But I was."
Patricia nodded.
"Yes."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"And I'm sorry."
I looked away.
I was tired of apologies.
Tired of people saying sorry only after the truth caught up with them.
Evelyn collected the documents for review.
Then she looked at Arthur.
"Given your involvement, you cannot continue acting as Marcus's representative or advisor in this matter."
Arthur nodded.
"I understand."
He looked at me.
"Marcus, I never meant to hurt you."
I stared at him.
"But you did."
His eyes filled.
"I know."
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I stood.
"I need time."
Arthur nodded.
"I understand."
I walked out with Jonathan and Maya.
Outside, the afternoon sun was bright.
But I felt cold.
Jonathan placed a hand on my back.
"Want to go somewhere quiet?"
I nodded.
He took me to a small park near the river.
We sat on a bench.
For a long time, I said nothing.
Then I whispered, "How do I know who to trust?"
Jonathan looked at me.
"You don't have to trust everyone immediately."
I swallowed.
"What if you hurt me too?"
He didn't look offended.
He didn't get angry.
He simply nodded.
"Then you have every right to hold me accountable."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"Trust isn't something I get because I'm your father."
My eyes filled.
"It's something I have to earn."
I looked down.
For the first time, an adult wasn't demanding that I forgive them.
He was offering to prove himself.
I leaned against his shoulder.
He wrapped an arm around me.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?"
His expression changed.
"What?"
I sat straighter.
He listened carefully.
Then looked at me.
"Marcus."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
He swallowed.
"Your mother has been taken to the hospital."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
Jonathan's voice was quiet.
"She collapsed during a meeting with investigators."
I closed my eyes.
Even after everything she'd done, hearing that she was hurt frightened me.
May you like
Because no matter how deeply she'd betrayed me, she was still my mother.
And I suddenly realized I wasn't ready to lose her.
