Chapter 5 - What Walter Never Told His Son
Ethan could not breathe.
“What did you just say?”
Walter stepped inside.
Vanessa backed away.
Walter placed the envelope on the table.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
“Ethan.”
“You said Mom believed you killed someone.”
“I said she believed it.”
“Did you?”
Walter looked at his son.
“No.”
Ethan's anger erupted.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you were seventeen.”
“I was old enough.”
“You were a child.”
“I was old enough to know if my father was a murderer.”
Walter closed his eyes.
“I was afraid you would hate me.”
“I already hate you for lying.”
Walter absorbed the words.
Vanessa stood silently.
Ethan noticed her face.
“Why do you look like you already knew?”
She shook her head.
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
“No.”
Walter turned toward her.
“Vanessa.”
She stepped back.
“What?”
“You should leave.”
Ethan looked between them.
“What is going on?”
Walter did not answer.
Instead, he opened the envelope.
Inside were documents.
Bank statements.
Property deeds.
Letters.
And a photograph.
Ethan picked it up.
It showed Michael Hayes standing beside a young Margaret.
Behind them was the same house Walter had just bought.
Ethan stared.
“This house?”
Walter nodded.
“This was your mother's first home.”
Ethan's voice became quieter.
“Then why did you buy it?”
“Because I lost it.”
“What happened?”
Walter sat down.
“In 1986, I was working for Michael.”
“Your brother?”
Walter nodded.
“Michael was older than me. He owned the company. He was ambitious, reckless, and angry. We argued about money.”
“Money?”
“Millions of dollars were missing from the company accounts.”
Ethan stared.
“Who took it?”
Walter looked at him.
“Michael blamed me.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Walter hesitated.
“I never found out.”
Ethan looked at the documents.
“What happened to Michael?”
“He disappeared.”
“And Mom?”
“She believed I had something to do with it.”
“Did she leave you?”
Walter nodded.
“She took you and moved away.”
Ethan remembered those years.
He remembered waking up in a different house.
He remembered asking why his father could not visit.
He remembered being told Walter needed time.
He remembered believing his father had abandoned them.
But now the story looked different.
“You let me believe you left us.”
Walter's eyes filled with tears.
“Your mother threatened to take you somewhere I could never find you.”
“So you gave up?”
“No.”
Walter's voice cracked.
“I watched from a distance.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You watched?”
“I paid your school bills.”
“What?”
“Your tuition. Your first car. Your first apartment.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
“I never wanted credit.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother believed I was dangerous.”
Ethan's face changed.
“Then who paid everything?”
Walter looked down.
“I did.”
Silence.
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“That doesn't prove anything.”
Walter looked at her.
“No.”
Then he pulled another document from the envelope.
“But this might.”
He placed it on the table.
Ethan read the name at the top.
Vanessa Carter.
His wife's maiden name.
May you like
Ethan slowly looked up.
Vanessa's face had gone completely white.
