Chapter 12: The Man Who Pretended to Save Me
The recorder fell from my hand.
No one spoke.
Not Reagan.
Not my mother.
Not me.
Because the name my father said changed everything.
Grant.
But not Uncle Grant.
Someone else.
Someone closer.
Someone I never suspected.
My father’s voice echoed in my mind.
*“The person who started this was not Reagan.””*
I looked at my mother.
She looked terrified.
“Who did he mean?””
She didn’t answer.
That scared me.
“You knew.””
“No.””
“You knew something.””
She looked at me.
“I suspected.””
“Who?””
Before she could respond, headlights appeared at the end of the driveway.
A black car stopped.
The door opened.
And someone stepped out.
My heart sank.
Victor Hale.
Again.
But this time…
he wasn’t alone.
He had someone with him.
Someone wearing a familiar face.
Someone I had trusted since childhood.
My father’s closest friend.
Daniel Cross.
I stared.
“No.””
Daniel looked at me sadly.
“Finnley.””
My voice became quiet.
“You?””
He sighed.
“I hoped you would never find out this way.””
Reagan lowered her gun.
Even she looked surprised.
Daniel walked closer.
“You need to listen to me.””
I laughed.
“Why?””
“Because your father made mistakes.””
“My father?””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at the hidden box.
“He thought hiding the truth would protect everyone.””
I shook my head.
“No. He hid it because he knew people like you would destroy it.””
Victor stepped beside him.
And suddenly everything became clear.
They weren’t enemies.
They were working together.
Daniel noticed my expression.
“Finnley…”
“Don’t.””
My voice hardened.
“Don’t say my name like you care.””
His face fell.
“I do care.””
“You watched me go to prison.””
“I had no choice.””
“No choice?””
I stepped forward.
“You sat in that courtroom.””
Daniel looked away.
“I tried to stop it.””
“Did you?””
Silence.
That was the answer.
My mother whispered:
“He helped them.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.””
“I know enough.””
Victor smiled.
“This is pointless.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Finish it.””
Daniel stared at him.
For a moment, I saw something.
Regret.
Fear.
Maybe even guilt.
Then he reached into his coat.
I prepared myself.
But instead of a weapon…
he pulled out a small folder.
He handed it to me.
“What is this?””
“The truth.””
Victor’s expression changed.
“Daniel.””
But Daniel ignored him.
“Your father wasn’t investigating the company.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
A list of names.
My name was there.
My mother’s name.
Reagan’s.
Victor’s.
Everyone.
But one name was highlighted.
Daniel Cross.
I looked up.
“What is this?””
Daniel swallowed.
“The reason your father died.””
The wind stopped.
Even Reagan looked at him.
Daniel whispered:
“Camden discovered I was the one who gave Grant the information.””
My hands went cold.
“You betrayed him.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“But I never wanted him dead.””
Victor looked angry.
“You’re wasting time.””
Daniel turned toward him.
“No.””
For the first time, Daniel sounded brave.
“I’m ending this.””
Victor raised his hand.
Two men stepped out of the car.
My mother grabbed my arm.
Daniel looked at me.
“Run.””
I stared at him.
“Why help me now?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because your father died believing there was still good left in me.””
The men moved closer.
Victor smiled.
“That was Camden’s biggest mistake.””
Daniel looked at me one last time.
Then whispered:
“Find the final file.””
I looked at him.
“What final file?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Your father didn’t hide the truth under the house.””
A pause.
“He hid it inside the person everyone forgot.””
Then the ground beneath us suddenly shook.
The old rose bush moved.
May you like
And beneath the roots…
something began to rise.
