The Lie After the Funeral
Chapter 06 - The Lie After the Funeral
Robert admitted Margaret had confronted him.
She had forgiven the pawned necklace.
She had not forgiven the lies.
Before she died, Robert promised to tell Emma and Ethan everything.
He never did.
“Why?” Emma asked.
Robert stared at the floor.
“Because after the funeral, everyone kept saying I had been so strong for her.”
He laughed once, without humor.
“I wasn’t strong. I was drowning.”
He had continued lying because the truth made him feel like a failure.
Then the construction company collapsed completely.
Robert sold tools.
Then trucks.
Then part of the land behind the house.
Emma had known none of it.
Ethan had discovered the debt accidentally and had been secretly helping their father.
Emma turned on her brother.
“You knew for months?”
Ethan looked ashamed.
“He begged me not to tell you.”
“So you both decided I couldn’t handle the truth?”
Robert said, “You had your career. You had your own life.”
Emma stood.
“And that meant I stopped being family?”
No one answered.
Emma picked up her suitcase.
Robert looked alarmed.
“Where are you going?”
“To a hotel.”
“Emma—”
She stopped at the door.
“You didn’t lose me because you sold Mom’s necklace.”
May you like
She looked at both men.
“You’re losing me because nobody in this house trusts me with the truth.”
