He Had $17, One Broken Guitar, and Nowhere to Sleep — Then America’s Biggest Band Called His Name
CHAPTER 7
Ethan found the truth by accident.
He was searching through old studio archives when he discovered a box labeled:
- COLE — 1999
Inside were tapes.
Photographs.
Lyrics.
And one letter.
Ethan opened it.
The letter was from his father.
Daniel,
If you’re reading this, then Victor knows.
Don’t let him finish what he started.
Ethan’s hands began shaking.
He kept reading.
The money is not the problem.
The songs are.
Victor has been stealing songwriting credits from artists for years.
If I expose him, he’ll destroy the band.
The letter ended with one sentence.
Protect the boys. Even if they hate me for leaving.
Ethan stared at the page.
His father hadn’t abandoned the band.
He had sacrificed himself to protect it.
And Daniel had known.
Ethan found Daniel that night.
“You knew.”
Daniel’s face collapsed.
“Yes.”
“You let me believe my father was a failure.”
“I was protecting you.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Ethan’s voice cracked.
“You all use that excuse.”
Daniel looked down.
“Your father made me promise.”
“What promise?”
“That I’d never tell you until you were ready.”
“Ready for what?”
Daniel pulled out an old cassette.
“The truth.”
He pressed play.
Samuel’s voice filled the room.
“If Ethan ever hears this, tell him I didn’t stop believing in him.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Tell him I wanted him to become a musician.”
A pause.
“But more importantly, tell him never to sell his soul for a place on a stage.”
The recording ended.
Ethan cried.
Daniel did too.
Neither man spoke.
Then Ethan noticed something.
The cassette had been edited.
Someone had removed the final thirty seconds.
Someone didn’t want them to hear the ending.
