CHAPTER 3 — THE LIE THAT BROKE THE FAMILY
CHAPTER 3 — THE LIE THAT BROKE THE FAMILY
Officer Daniel Hayes closed his notebook but didn't leave.
Instead, he looked from Richard Bennett to Grace, sensing the tension that filled the hospital room.
"We'll need to speak with each family member separately."
Richard forced a nervous smile.
"Of course. Whatever helps."
Grace had seen that smile before.
It was the one he wore whenever creditors knocked on the front door.
The one he wore at Mom's funeral while telling everyone they would "be just fine."
It meant he was lying.
Hayes turned toward Grace.
"Miss Bennett, do you remember anything unusual before the crash?"
Richard answered before she could.
"She hit her head pretty hard. I doubt she remembers much."
"I asked your daughter."
The firmness in the officer's voice silenced him.
Grace closed her eyes, forcing herself to replay the last thirty minutes before the collision.
The strange smell.
Olivia whispering.
Dad refusing to stop the car.
Then...
"I remember saying something about the engine."
Officer Hayes looked up.
"What did you notice?"
"It smelled like gasoline."
Richard laughed too quickly.
"Old cars do that."
Grace ignored him.
"I asked Dad to pull over."
"And did he?"
"No."
The officer scribbled another note.
"Anything else?"
Grace hesitated.
If she told him about the envelope now, would it matter?
Before she could answer, the hospital door burst open.
"Grace!"
Aunt Meredith hurried inside, tears streaming down her face.
She wrapped her niece in the gentlest hug she could manage around the medical equipment.
"Oh, sweetheart..."
Richard frowned.
"I told you not to come."
Meredith slowly stood.
"You don't get to tell me where I can go anymore."
The room grew colder.
Officer Hayes sensed the shift.
"I'll return later."
After he left, Meredith turned toward Richard with a look Grace had never seen before.
Pure disgust.
"You actually said it."
Richard crossed his arms.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"The paramedics called me."
Grace looked between them.
"They heard everything."
Richard's face darkened.
"They misunderstood."
"No."
Meredith stepped closer.
"They heard you tell them to leave Grace."
Silence.
"You should be ashamed."
Richard slammed his fist against the wall.
"I SAVED THE CHILD WHO NEEDED ME MOST!"
Grace flinched.
Meredith didn't.
"They both needed you."
Richard looked away.
"They're not the same."
Grace felt something inside her finally snap.
"What does that mean?"
No one spoke.
"What does that mean, Dad?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"You've always been stronger."
"So you loved Olivia more?"
"I didn't say that."
"You never had to."
The words came out calm.
Too calm.
"You bought her a car."
"You forgot my birthday."
"You paid for private tutoring."
"I worked nights to buy my own textbooks."
"You hugged her every day."
"You haven't hugged me since Mom died."
Richard's eyes flickered.
For the first time, guilt appeared.
Only for a second.
Then it disappeared.
"I did what I thought was best."
Grace laughed.
It wasn't angry.
It wasn't bitter.
It was empty.
"No."
"You did what was easiest."
That evening, Meredith returned carrying Grace's backpack.
"The police found this inside the car."
Grace immediately searched for the envelope.
Gone.
Instead, she found a folded piece of paper tucked inside the smallest pocket.
She had never seen it before.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded it.
It wasn't addressed to her.
It was addressed to Richard Bennett.
DNA TEST RESULTS
Probability of biological father:
0.00%.
Grace stopped breathing.
Meredith leaned closer.
"What is it?"
Grace couldn't answer.
Richard wasn't her father.
He had known.
Maybe...
He had always known.
At that exact moment, Richard walked back into the room.
His eyes landed on the paper.
Every drop of color vanished from his face.
"Give me that."
Grace slowly looked up.
"So..."
May you like
Her voice barely existed.
"You knew."
