Chapter 6: The Man Who Helped Bury the Truth
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what I'd heard.
Robert Bennett.
My father's younger brother.
My uncle.
The man who had carried me out of the church after my father's funeral because I couldn't stop crying.
The man who had paid for my college textbooks when my mother's salary wasn't enough.
The man who had stood beside me when Marcus proposed.
The man who had told me I deserved a good husband.
I stared at the frozen image of my father.
"No," I whispered.
My mother looked as though someone had struck her.
"Turn it off.""
I didn't move.
"Nia," she said again.
"Please.""
I looked at her.
"Mom, why?""
She lowered herself onto the sofa.
"I don't know.""
But something in her voice made me wonder whether she knew more than she was saying.
Claire stood beside the laptop.
"Let it play.""
I pressed the button.
My father's face returned to the screen.
"Robert has been working with Patricia for years. I trusted him because he was my brother. I gave him access to the company accounts when he said he wanted to help.""
He rubbed his eyes.
"At first, I thought the missing money was a bookkeeping problem. Then I found transfers to companies that didn't exist.""
He held up a document.
"Robert authorized the transfers. Patricia approved them. Marcus handled the paperwork.""
My stomach tightened.
My father continued.
"I confronted Robert yesterday. He told me to stay out of it.""
He looked down.
"Then he threatened to make sure you and Evelyn would never see a penny of what I left behind.""
The recording paused.
My mother's eyes filled with tears.
"Your uncle came to the house that night," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"What?""
"After your father died.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She looked at her hands.
"He said your father had been under enormous pressure. He said the company was considering legal action and that your father had become obsessed with the accounts.""
"Mom.""
"He told me there was no point investigating. He said the accident was tragic, but it wasn't anyone's fault.""
I felt cold.
"Did you believe him?""
She shook her head.
"I wanted to.""
My mother took a shaky breath.
"Robert was your father's brother. He had held you when you were a baby. He was at every birthday. I couldn't imagine him hurting us.""
I looked back at the laptop.
My father was speaking again.
"If Robert contacts you, don't meet him alone. Don't sign anything he brings you. And whatever happens, don't let him control the inheritance.""
The video ended.
The room was silent.
Claire leaned against the cabinet.
"Now we know why they wanted your inheritance.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"Robert helped them move the money. He probably knows where the missing funds went. Your inheritance was supposed to cover the gap.""
"Why would my uncle help them?""
"Because he was part of it.""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"Robert loved your father.""
Claire looked at her gently.
"People can love someone and still betray them.""
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen.
*UNCLE ROBERT.*
My blood turned cold.
I answered.
"Nia?""
His familiar voice sounded warm and concerned.
"Sweetheart, where are you? I've been trying to reach you.""
I looked at Claire.
She motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
"I'm at the hotel.""
"Oh, thank goodness. I heard something happened with the wedding.""
"Who told you?""
"Marcus called me. He said you've been upset.""
I almost laughed.
"Did he tell you why?""
There was a brief pause.
"Family disagreements happen, sweetheart. Don't make a permanent decision because of one difficult morning.""
I stared at the laptop.
"Uncle Robert, do you know what happened to Dad?""
Silence.
Then a sigh.
"Your father? What do you mean?""
"Did you know he was investigating Hale Development Group?""
Another pause.
"Where did you hear that?""
"Did you help him?""
His voice became quieter.
"Nia, I think you're getting involved in something you don't understand.""
"That's what Marcus said.""
"Because it's true. Your father was under a lot of stress. He made accusations that damaged important relationships.""
"Did you move money out of his company?""
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then he said, "Who gave you those documents?""
I felt my stomach twist.
That wasn't a denial.
"Uncle Robert, did you?""
He exhaled.
"Listen carefully. I don't know what Claire has told you, but she has been unstable for years.""
Claire rolled her eyes.
I continued.
"Why did Dad mention your name in his video?""
The line went quiet.
Then Robert's voice changed completely.
"Where is that recording?""
I stared at the phone.
"Why?""
"Because it's dangerous.""
"For whom?""
"For you.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"You're lying.""
"Nia, sweetheart, I am trying to protect you. Your father made mistakes. He trusted the wrong people, and he paid for it.""
My mother suddenly stood.
"Robert, what did you do?""
He recognized her voice.
"Evelyn?""
"Don't you dare pretend you care about us.""
He sighed.
"You're misunderstanding everything.""
"Did you know my husband was in danger?""
No answer.
"Robert?""
His voice became cold.
"Some things are better left buried.""
Then the call ended.
My mother covered her mouth.
Claire immediately reached for her phone.
"I'm calling Daniel.""
But before she could dial, someone knocked on the suite door.
Three slow knocks.
Thomas looked toward the entrance.
"Are you expecting anyone?""
I shook my head.
He walked over and looked through the peephole.
His expression changed.
"Miss Bennett, I think you should stay back.""
"Who is it?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he turned around.
"Your uncle.""
My heart dropped.
Robert was standing outside room 1806.
The very room where my father had recorded his final message.
And he wasn't alone.
Two men in dark suits stood behind him.
I stepped away from the door.
"Don't open it.""
Thomas nodded.
But Robert knocked again.
"Nia, I know you're in there.""
His voice sounded almost gentle.
"Sweetheart, open the door. We need to talk.""
Claire moved toward me.
"Don't.""
Robert knocked harder.
"I know you found your father's video.""
I looked at my mother.
Her face had gone completely white.
Then Robert said something that made all three of us freeze.
"I know what your father told you. But there's one thing he left out.""
I approached the door, keeping several feet between us.
"What?""
Robert's voice dropped.
"Your father wasn't alone in that car the night he died.""
My breath caught.
"What are you talking about?""
"I was there, Nia.""
My mother let out a small cry.
Claire immediately raised her phone and began recording.
Robert continued.
"And if you want to know who was driving, you need to stop trusting the people standing beside you.""
I looked at my mother.
Then at Claire.
Then back at the door.
"Who was driving, Uncle Robert?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I heard him slide something beneath the door.
A photograph.
It landed faceup on the carpet.
I walked toward it.
My hands trembled as I picked it up.
The picture showed my father's car at the bottom of a steep embankment.
The windshield was shattered.
The driver's door was open.
And standing beside the wreckage, holding a bloodstained jacket, was a woman I recognized immediately.
My mother.
Evelyn.
I turned toward her.
She was crying.
May you like
And when our eyes met, she whispered four words.
"Your father wasn't alone.""
