Chapter 6: The Name Behind the Message
The name on Brielle’s phone was the last name I expected to see.
My father stared at the screen as if the letters had physically hurt him.
“Marcus,” he whispered.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Because Marcus wasn’t a stranger.
Marcus was my father’s business partner.
He had been at our house countless times. He had brought gifts on holidays. He had hugged me after my college acceptance letter arrived and told me he was proud.
He had even stood beside my father at my mother’s funeral.
And now his name was glowing on Brielle’s phone.
A message from him.
A message that said:
THE PLAN FAILED. GET OUT BEFORE THEY FIND OUT WHAT YOU DID.
My father slowly looked at Brielle.
“How long?””
She swallowed.
“Dad…”
“How long have you been talking to Marcus?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I can explain.””
My father laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“That’s the same thing you said when I found my credit card used.””
Brielle looked at me.
For a second, I saw something different.
Not anger.
Fear.
“Emily, you don’t understand.””
I stepped back.
“No. I understand that you destroyed my dress.””
Her face tightened.
“I didn’t want to hurt you.””
I looked at the torn fabric still lying on my bedroom floor.
“You didn’t want to hurt me?””
My voice cracked.
“You ripped apart something my mother helped me choose before she died.””
The room went quiet.
Brielle looked away.
For years, I had wondered if she hated me because I reminded her of my mother.
Now I wondered if there was something much darker.
My father unlocked the phone.
There were dozens of messages.
Not just from Marcus.
From unknown numbers.
Photos.
Plans.
Dates.
My father’s expression changed with every screen he opened.
“What is this?””
Brielle wiped her tears.
“Dad, please.””
“No.””
His voice was sharp.
“You don’t get to say please now.””
Aunt Clara moved closer.
“What did you find?””
My father didn’t answer immediately.
Then he turned the phone around.
There was a photo of a document.
A legal document.
My stomach twisted when I saw my name.
“What is that?”” I asked.
My father looked at me.
“Your college trust fund papers.””
I froze.
My mother had left money for my education.
It wasn’t a secret. Everyone knew.
But it had always been protected.
“What does Brielle have to do with it?””
My father scrolled further.
Then he stopped.
His face became completely empty.
“Brielle.””
She started crying.
“Dad, I never wanted it to go this far.””
“What did Marcus promise you?””
She didn’t answer.
My father slammed the phone onto the table.
“What did he promise you?””
Brielle covered her face.
“He said…”
Her voice trembled.
“He said if you lost faith in Emily, you would finally see me as your real daughter.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
I stared at her.
“So this was about replacing me?””
“No!”” Brielle cried.
Then she stopped.
Because everyone heard the truth hidden inside that scream.
My father looked devastated.
Not angry.
Devastated.
“Why would you believe someone who wanted you to destroy your sister?””
Brielle had no answer.
Then another message appeared.
A new notification.
Everyone looked at the screen.
Marcus had sent another text.
I KNOW YOU FAILED. I’M COMING TO FIX THIS MYSELF.
A cold feeling moved through me.
Because Marcus wasn’t just trying to hide something.
May you like
He was coming.
And he was coming to our house.
