Chapter 12: The House Of Lies
I drove home faster than I ever had in my life.
Every red light felt like an insult.
Every second felt dangerous.
My family had already proven what they were willing to do.
But this time, Emily and Lily weren't alone.
Security was surrounding the property when I arrived.
The gates were closed.
Police vehicles were parked outside.
I ran inside.
And stopped.
My mother was sitting in the living room.
Richard Vale stood beside her.
But something was different.
They weren't acting like winners.
They looked cornered.
Emily stood across from them with Lily beside her.
Safe.
Protected.
Alive.
I immediately went to them.
"Are you okay?""
Emily nodded.
"I'm okay.""
Lily hugged my leg.
"Daddy.""
I held her tightly.
Then I looked at Richard.
"What do you want?""
Richard smiled.
But it wasn't the same confident smile.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with.""
I laughed.
"You came into my house.""
I stepped closer.
"You threatened my family.""
My mother looked at me.
"Michael, listen.""
I turned toward her.
"No.""
Her face changed.
"I made mistakes.""
"You chose them.""
She looked down.
"I was trying to protect the family.""
I shook my head.
"No. You were trying to protect yourself.""
Richard interrupted.
"Enough emotional drama.""
James entered behind me.
"You should be worried about yourself.""
Richard looked at him.
"Why?""
James held up a phone.
"Because we recorded everything.""
Richard's expression changed.
My mother froze.
James continued.
"Your conversation with Michael's father. Your agreement with Ryan. Your plan to alter company documents.""
Richard stared at him.
"You don't have proof.""
James smiled.
"Actually, we do.""
He held up the device.
"Your mistake was believing everyone around you was loyal.""
Richard looked at my mother.
Then away.
Because he finally understood.
Nobody was protecting him anymore.
I looked at my mother.
"Why?""
She didn't answer.
"Why would you do this?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I was tired of feeling invisible.""
I stared at her.
"So you destroyed your son?""
She cried quietly.
"I thought you would forgive me.""
That sentence hurt.
Because she still believed love meant forgiveness without consequences.
The police officer stepped forward.
"Richard Vale, you are being detained pending investigation.""
Richard looked at me.
"You think this is over?""
I didn't answer.
Because I knew better.
People like him always had another move.
As he was being taken away, my mother suddenly shouted.
"Michael!""
I turned.
She was holding something.
A small envelope.
Her face was terrified.
"I found this in Richard's office.""
I didn't move.
"What is it?""
She looked at the envelope.
"The reason he wanted your company.""
James took it.
Opened it.
Inside was a single page.
His eyes moved across the words.
Then he looked at me.
"Michael...""
"What?""
James slowly handed me the paper.
At the top was a name.
A name I had never seen before.
But underneath it was a sentence that made my blood run cold.
"Project Callahan was never about the company.""
I looked at James.
"What does that mean?""
He pointed to the final line.
May you like
And I read it.
"The real target was Michael Callahan himself.""
