Chapter 4: The Favor She Wanted
I spent the entire night thinking about Olivia’s words.
“What happened before I was born?””
It sounded like a threat.
And coming from my sister, I knew it probably was.
The next morning, I found my father in the garage.
He was fixing an old chair.
A habit he had whenever he needed to think.
“Dad?””
He looked up.
“Hey.””
I hesitated.
“Who is Michael Hayes?””
The screwdriver slipped from his hand.
Just for a second.
But I noticed.
“Where did you hear that name?””
“Olivia.””
His expression changed.
“What did she tell you?””
“That you’re hiding something.””
He sat down.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he sighed.
“Your sister is trying to distract you.””
“From what?””
He looked at me.
“From her own choices.””
But I could tell there was more.
I didn’t push.
Not yet.
Because later that day, Olivia made her move.
She came into my room holding a folder.
“I want to make peace.””
I almost laughed.
“You destroyed my dress yesterday.””
“I know.””
“And stole credit for my project.””
“I know.””
She placed the folder down.
“But I can fix it.””
I opened it.
Inside were printed messages.
Photos.
Documents.
I looked confused.
“What is this?””
She smiled.
“Proof that Dad isn’t the hero you think he is.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
She sat on my bed.
“You always believed Dad treated us equally.””
“He does.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“He just feels guilty.””
I stared at her.
“For what?””
She leaned closer.
“Before you were born, Dad made a promise to someone.””
I waited.
“And he broke it.””
I looked at the papers.
But before I could read them, my father appeared at the doorway.
“What are you doing?””
Olivia immediately stood.
“Showing Emily the truth.””
His face hardened.
“Give me that.””
She held the folder behind her back.
“No.””
My father walked closer.
“Olivia.””
She smiled.
There it was.
That old confidence.
She thought she had control again.
“You always protect Emily.””
He looked at her.
“Because she needs protection from people like you.””
Her smile disappeared.
“You don’t even know what I know.””
“Then tell me.””
The room went silent.
Olivia looked between us.
Then she said:
“Ask him why Michael Hayes disappeared from our lives.””
My father closed his eyes.
And that was when I knew.
There was a story.
A real one.
One nobody had ever told me.
That evening, my father sat me down.
“Michael was my best friend.””
I listened.
“He helped me build my company.””
“Then what happened?””
My father looked at the floor.
“He betrayed me.””
I waited.
“He stole money.””
I looked surprised.
“Did you report him?””
“No.””
“Why?””
His silence lasted too long.
Finally, he said:
“Because he had a daughter.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
My father looked at me.
And before he could answer, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I picked up.
A woman’s voice spoke.
“Emily Carter?””
“Yes?””
“This is Rachel Hayes.””
I froze.
“Michael’s daughter.””
I looked at my father.
She continued.
“I need to tell you the truth about your family.””
Then she said one sentence that changed everything.
“Your sister didn’t destroy your dress because she hated you.””
May you like
A pause.
“She did it because she knows what your father left you.””
