PART 4 — My Brother Offered Me Everything If I Would Just Leave My Wife
Godfrey walked into the hospital room carrying a bouquet of flowers.
Flowers.
After everything he had done.
He smiled at Phedra.
“I'm glad you're feeling better.”
Phedra immediately looked away.
I stood between them.
“What do you want?”
Godfrey sighed.
“I came to talk.”
“Then talk.”
He placed the flowers on the table.
“I know you're angry.”
“I'm not angry.”
He looked surprised.
“Then what are you?”
“I’m finished.”
His smile disappeared.
“Damian…”
“You lied to me.”
“I was trying to protect Mom.”
“You stole from me.”
“I didn't steal anything.”
“You used my money.”
“It was family money.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“It was money I earned.”
Godfrey lowered his voice.
“Let's not fight here.”
“Why?”
“Because Phedra needs rest.”
I looked at my wife.
She was watching him carefully.
Then Godfrey said:
“I want to make things right.”
I almost laughed.
“How?”
“I'll give you the auto shop.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“The business.”
“You bought it with my money.”
“It doesn't matter.”
“It matters to me.”
He swallowed.
“I'll sign it over.”
“And?”
“The commercial property.”
I stared at him.
“You'll give me that too?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked away.
“Because you're my brother.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Because you know I can expose you.”
His face hardened.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
He looked toward Phedra.
“She doesn't need to hear this.”
“Everything you say from now on can be heard by my wife.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
He pulled a chair closer.
“There are things Mom did that I didn't know about.”
“What things?”
“The money.”
“Which money?”
“The money Dad left.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“Mom said Dad died with nothing.”
Godfrey nodded.
“She lied.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
I stepped closer.
“Where is the money?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“Then why did you tell Phedra about it?”
He looked at her.
Phedra spoke quietly.
“You said your mother had hidden something.”
Godfrey's jaw tightened.
“I was angry.”
“At whom?”
“My mother.”
“Why?”
He didn't answer.
I suddenly understood.
Godfrey wasn't the mastermind.
He was hiding something.
“Who else knows?”
He remained silent.
I grabbed my phone.
“I have enough information to start an investigation.”
Godfrey's eyes widened.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because if you do, you'll destroy this family.”
I stared at him.
“You destroyed it.”
He stood.
“Damian, listen to me.”
“No.”
“Mom wasn't the only one.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“There are other people involved.”
“Who?”
Godfrey shook his head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because they'll come after you.”
“Who?”
He looked terrified.
That was the first time I had ever seen genuine fear in my brother's eyes.
Then the hospital lights flickered.
Godfrey whispered:
“They've been watching this family for years.”
Before I could ask another question, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
The color drained from his face.
“Who is it?”
He didn't answer.
I grabbed his wrist.
“Who?”
He finally showed me.
There was no name.
Only a number.
The phone stopped ringing.
A message appeared.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.
Godfrey stared at it.
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
He whispered:
“I have to go.”
“No.”
I blocked the door.
“You're not leaving.”
“I have to.”
“You're going to tell me everything.”
Godfrey looked at Phedra.
Then at me.
“You think I'm the enemy.”
“Aren't you?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I'm a coward.”
Then he said something I never expected.
“I tried to get Phedra treated.”
“I know.”
His eyes widened.
“How?”
“The clinic payments.”
He looked at me.
“You found them.”
“Yes.”
He lowered his head.
“I used the money I could access.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew Mom was going to let her die.”
My fists tightened.
“Then why did you participate?”
“Because she threatened me.”
“With what?”
He looked at the door.
“With the truth about Dad.”
I felt a chill.
“What truth?”
Godfrey's voice dropped.
“Dad didn't die in an accident.”
I stopped breathing.
“What?”
“He was murdered.”
Phedra gasped.
Godfrey continued.
“I don't know who did it.”
“But Mom does?”
“I think so.”
My mind went blank.
Fourteen years.
Fourteen years believing my father died because of faulty equipment.
Godfrey reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept this because I was afraid.”
He handed it to me.
On the front were three words.
FOR DAMIAN ONLY.
My hands trembled.
“Where did you get this?”
“Dad gave it to me.”
“When?”
“Three days before he died.”
I stared at the envelope.
“Why didn't you give it to me?”
“Because Mom found it.”
“And?”
“She threatened to destroy me.”
I looked at him.
“What is inside?”
Godfrey shook his head.
“I never opened it.”
I slowly opened the envelope.
Inside was one sheet of paper.
My father's handwriting.
I recognized it immediately.
My eyes moved across the first sentence.
And everything inside me froze.
Damian, if you're reading this, your mother has already lied to you about my death.
I read the next line.
The money I left behind was never meant for her.
Then the final sentence.
It was meant to protect you from the people who will eventually come looking for it.
I looked at Godfrey.
“Who?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then my phone rang.
This time, it wasn't Marcus.
It was my mother.
I answered.
Her voice was calm.
Far too calm.
“Damian.”
“What?”
“I know what Godfrey gave you.”
My blood ran cold.
“How?”
She laughed softly.
“Because I know everything my children do.”
Then she said:
“Come home.”
“No.”
“If you don't…”
She paused.
“…Phedra won't live long enough to receive her next treatment.”
The line went dead.
I looked at my wife.
And for the first time, I realized this was no longer about money.
My mother's secret could get Phedra killed.
