CHAPTER 3 — The Truth Beneath the Lie
We moved inside the house without anyone inviting us.
No one tried to stop us.
Because secrets have a way of pulling people inward.
Leo sat on the couch quietly while I stood in the center of the living room that once felt like prison walls.
My father finally spoke again.
“Daniel Mercer was not who you thought he was,” he said carefully.
“I don’t care about labels,” I said. “I want the truth.”
My mother broke.
“He was under investigation,” she whispered. “Federal investigation.”
I froze.
“For what?”
My father ran a hand over his face.
“He was involved in financial fraud… and worse.”
My stomach tightened.
“What does that have to do with me?”
My father looked directly at me.
“You weren’t just dating him, Emma. You were inside his circle.”
The words hit me slowly.
Then all at once.
“No…” I whispered. “I never—”
My mother interrupted.
“You were seen with him at meetings. At private locations. People assumed you were part of his… operations.”
My breath caught.
“I was nineteen,” I said. “I was a student.”
My father nodded grimly.
“That’s why we panicked.”
Silence.
Then my mother said the sentence that shattered me all over again.
“When you told us you were pregnant… we thought the child could be evidence.”
Leo looked up.
“Evidence of what?”
May you like
No one answered him.
Because they couldn’t.
