Chapter 7: The Face In The Footage
Daniel couldn’t breathe.
The police officer’s words repeated in his mind.
*Someone pushed her.*
Not an accident.
Not a child’s mistake.
Someone had made a decision.
Someone had placed his daughter’s life in danger.
“Who was on the footage?”” Daniel asked.
The officer hesitated.
“Mr. Carter, we need you to come to the station.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice was low.
“I need to know.””
A pause.
Then the officer spoke carefully.
“The person in the footage is someone you know.””
Daniel looked toward Lily’s bedroom.
His daughter was sleeping peacefully, unaware that the world around her had become a battlefield.
“Tell me.””
The officer exhaled.
“It was your brother.””
The phone nearly slipped from Daniel’s hand.
Richard.
His own brother.
The man who stood beside him at their father’s funeral.
The man who called Lily his niece.
The man who smiled while holding her hand.
Daniel closed his eyes.
For years, he had believed betrayal came from strangers.
He never imagined it could wear his family’s face.
The police station was quiet when Daniel arrived.
The officer led him into a small room.
A screen was waiting.
“Before you watch this,” the officer said, “understand that this is evidence. We will handle everything legally.””
Daniel nodded.
But he already knew.
Nothing could prepare him.
The footage began.
The ballroom appeared.
Guests moving.
Music playing.
Lily standing near the staircase.
Then Richard entered the frame.
Daniel’s hands tightened.
Richard walked toward Lily.
He said something.
The audio was unclear.
Then Lily stepped back.
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Suddenly, Richard reached toward her.
The video froze.
Daniel looked away.
“Stop.””
The officer paused.
Daniel covered his face.
For a moment, he wasn’t a CEO.
He wasn’t a powerful businessman.
He was just a father.
A father watching someone hurt his child.
“What did he say to her?”” Daniel whispered.
“We’re improving the audio.””
The officer played another version.
This time, the words were clearer.
Richard’s voice filled the room.
“Give me the paper, Lily.””
Daniel froze.
The officer looked at him.
“Paper?””
Daniel remembered.
The trust documents.
The evidence.
Lily had found something.
The footage continued.
Lily shook her head.
“I’m telling Daddy.””
Richard became angry.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
Then Lily said something that made Daniel’s heart break.
“You’re not supposed to hurt my daddy.””
The officer paused the video.
Daniel stared at the frozen image.
His little girl had been protecting him.
Not the other way around.
That night, Daniel returned home.
Victoria was waiting in the living room.
She immediately knew from his face.
“You saw it.””
Daniel didn’t answer.
“You saw Richard.””
“Yes.””
The word came out cold.
Victoria looked down.
“I’m sorry.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Sorry?””
She looked up.
“I know it doesn’t fix anything.””
“No, it doesn’t.””
Silence filled the room.
Then Daniel asked:
“Where is the original trust document?””
Victoria looked confused.
“What?””
“My father hid evidence. Lily found it.””
Victoria’s expression changed.
“Daniel…”
“Where is it?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then who does?””
Victoria looked toward the staircase.
“Lily.””
Daniel stopped.
“She knows?””
“She doesn’t understand what she knows.””
Daniel walked upstairs.
But before he reached Lily’s room, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“You should have left the past buried.””
Daniel froze.
“Who is this?””
“You already know.””
The call ended.
Seconds later, another message arrived.
A photograph.
It was Lily’s room.
Taken moments ago.
Daniel looked at the timestamp.
The picture had been taken while he was standing downstairs.
May you like
Someone was inside his house.
Again.
