Chapter 5: The Man Behind the Lies
Andre didn't remember leaving Lena's house.
One moment he was standing in the living room holding a photograph of a man who claimed to be Ben's father.
The next, he was sitting behind the wheel with both hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his fingers hurt.
Ben sat beside him.
Silent.
The silence was worse than anger.
Andre wanted to say something.
Anything.
But every sentence sounded meaningless.
Finally, Ben spoke.
"So my whole life was a lie?""
Andre looked at him.
"No.""
Ben stared out the window.
"It feels like it.""
Andre pulled into the driveway.
Before they got out, he turned toward his son.
"Ben.""
The boy didn't look at him.
"Your mother loved you.""
"I know.""
"And I love you.""
A small pause.
"I know.""
Andre swallowed.
"Nothing changes that.""
Ben finally looked at him.
"But everything changed.""
The words stayed with Andre long after Ben walked inside.
That evening, Tanya came home.
She didn't look surprised to see Andre waiting.
Almost like she expected it.
"You talked to Lena.""
It wasn't a question.
Andre stood from the couch.
"You knew.""
Tanya removed her coat.
"Knew what?""
"About Marcus.""
Her hands stopped moving.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
Andre laughed quietly.
"You really thought you could keep this buried forever?""
Tanya placed her coat down.
"Who told you?""
"That's your first concern?""
She looked away.
"Andre.""
"No.""
His voice hardened.
"My son spent thirteen years believing everyone around him was honest. Then one day he finds out his grandmother's letters were hidden, his mother's last words were hidden, and his biological father was hidden.""
Tanya's expression changed.
"You need to calm down.""
"Don't tell me to calm down.""
The anger in his voice made her step back.
"Did you know Marcus?""
Silence.
Then:
"Yes.""
Andre closed his eyes.
The answer hurt more than he expected.
"How?""
Tanya walked toward the kitchen.
"I knew him before I knew you.""
"That doesn't answer the question.""
She poured herself water.
"He contacted me.""
Andre stared.
"Why?""
"He wanted information.""
"About Nia?""
"Yes.""
"About Ben?""
Tanya didn't answer.
Andre stepped closer.
"Answer me.""
"Yes.""
The honesty was almost worse.
"Why would you help him?""
Tanya looked at him.
"Because I knew Nia wasn't perfect.""
Andre shook his head.
"That's not an answer.""
"No, it's the truth.""
She set the glass down.
"You only knew the version of Nia she showed you.""
"And you knew the version Marcus showed you?""
Tanya flinched.
Andre saw it.
"You trusted him.""
"I didn't trust him.""
"You helped him.""
"I thought I was protecting Ben.""
Andre almost couldn't believe it.
"By keeping his grandmother away?""
"By keeping him away from a dangerous situation.""
"Then why hide the letters?""
Tanya looked away.
No answer.
"Why?""
Finally she whispered:
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
She looked at him.
"That Marcus would win.""
Andre stared.
"So you chose to control everything.""
"I chose what I thought was best.""
"No.""
His voice became quieter.
"You chose what made you feel powerful.""
The words hit.
Tanya's face hardened.
"You have no idea what I sacrificed.""
Andre looked at her.
"Neither did Ben.""
A sound came from the hallway.
Both turned.
Ben stood there.
He had heard everything.
Tanya went pale.
"Ben—"
He raised his hand.
"Don't.""
His voice was shaking.
"You knew.""
Tanya looked at him.
"I was trying to protect you.""
Ben laughed sadly.
"Everybody says that.""
He stepped closer.
"But somehow protection always means I don't get to know anything.""
Tanya had no response.
Ben looked at Andre.
"Is he really my father?""
Andre took a breath.
"I don't know.""
Ben nodded slowly.
Then he looked at Tanya.
"Do you?""
The question froze her.
Andre noticed.
"Do you know?""
Tanya looked between them.
And for the first time, she looked scared.
"I know where Marcus is.""
The room went silent.
Andre stepped forward.
"What?""
Tanya grabbed the edge of the counter.
"He came back.""
Ben's face changed.
"When?""
Tanya whispered:
"Three months ago.""
Andre felt cold.
"Three months?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Tanya didn't answer.
Because the answer was obvious.
She had been hiding something again.
Andre's phone suddenly buzzed.
Unknown number.
He looked at the screen.
One message.
A photo.
His blood ran cold.
It was a picture of Ben.
Taken outside Lena's house that afternoon.
Below it was a message.
"You should have left the past buried.""
Andre looked at Tanya.
She had seen the message.
And her face told him something worse.
She recognized the sender.
"Who sent this?"" Andre asked.
May you like
Tanya whispered:
"Marcus.""
