Chapter 9: The Truth Nia Took to Her Grave
The workshop went silent.
Andre could hear the ticking of an old clock on the wall.
Every second felt unbearable.
"Nia was murdered?""
David nodded.
Ben looked terrified.
"No.""
The word came quietly.
"No, my mom got sick.""
David looked at him.
"That's what you were told.""
Andre stood.
"Who told you this?""
David looked at him.
"Because you need to understand something.""
He pointed toward the letter.
"Nia knew she was in danger.""
Andre grabbed the letter.
"What happened?""
David looked away.
"She found evidence.""
"Evidence of what?""
"Marcus's crimes.""
Andre's expression changed.
"What crimes?""
David took a deep breath.
"Financial fraud. Threats. Blackmail.""
Ben stared.
"My mom knew?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't she tell Dad?""
David looked at Andre.
"Because Marcus made sure she couldn't.""
Andre remembered.
The strange phone calls.
The arguments.
The nights Nia locked herself in the bedroom.
He had thought they were normal marriage problems.
He had been wrong.
"What evidence?""
David reached into a drawer.
He pulled out a small flash drive.
"Nia copied everything.""
Andre looked at it.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
David's face changed.
"Because Tanya took the original.""
Andre froze.
"What?""
David nodded.
"She was there the night Nia died.""
The words hit like a punch.
Andre couldn't move.
"No.""
David looked at him.
"Yes.""
"You're saying Tanya killed her?""
"No.""
David shook his head.
"I'm saying Tanya knows what happened.""
Ben looked sick.
"She knew my mom?""
"She was there when Nia made her final decision.""
Andre remembered Tanya's words.
"I was protecting you.""
His stomach turned.
"What decision?""
David looked at Ben.
"Your mother planned to leave.""
Ben looked down.
"Leave me?""
"No.""
David's voice softened.
"Take you away from Marcus.""
Ben swallowed.
"Then why didn't she?""
David looked at Andre.
"Because she trusted the wrong person.""
The room became cold.
Andre already knew.
"Tanya.""
David nodded.
"Nia thought Tanya was helping her.""
Andre closed his eyes.
Because that was the cruelest part.
Nia had trusted her.
The woman who later hid her letters.
The woman who told Ben he didn't belong.
The woman who stood at his wife's funeral.
"Why?""
Andre whispered.
"Why would Tanya do that?""
David looked at the floor.
"Because Marcus promised her something.""
"What?""
"Money.""
Andre felt disgusted.
"Tanya chose money over my wife?""
David didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Ben sat quietly.
Too quietly.
Andre looked at him.
"Son?""
Ben wiped his eyes.
"I thought my mom left me.""
Andre sat beside him.
"No.""
"I thought she didn't love me enough to stay.""
Andre pulled him close.
"She fought for you.""
Ben cried silently.
And Andre realized something.
The biggest tragedy wasn't just that Nia died.
It was that Ben had spent years believing he wasn't worth fighting for.
A sound interrupted them.
Footsteps outside.
David immediately stood.
His face changed.
"What?""
He looked toward the window.
"We need to leave.""
Andre stood.
"Why?""
David pointed.
A car was parked outside.
Black.
Watching.
Andre recognized it.
The same car from the photograph.
Marcus.
Ben stepped back.
David grabbed the flash drive.
"We can't stay here.""
They rushed outside.
But before they reached the car, another vehicle pulled in.
A police cruiser.
An officer stepped out.
"Andre Whitfield?""
Andre stopped.
"Yes?""
The officer approached.
"I need you to come with me.""
Andre frowned.
"Why?""
The officer looked uncomfortable.
Then handed him a paper.
A warrant.
Andre read the accusation.
His blood ran cold.
"Attempted abduction?""
The officer nodded.
"Marcus Vale filed the complaint.""
Ben stared.
"He lied.""
The officer looked toward him.
"I'm sorry.""
Andre looked back at the workshop.
Then at the black car disappearing down the road.
Marcus wasn't just trying to scare them.
He was building a case.
And then Andre noticed something.
A small note had been left on his windshield.
He opened it.
Three words.
His hands started shaking.
Because the handwriting wasn't Marcus's.
May you like
It was Tanya's.
"I warned you.""
