Chapter 10: The Evidence My Mother Hid
Victor’s words echoed through the empty house.
*“You were the proof that would destroy us all.””*
I stared at him.
Not because I understood.
Because I didn’t.
My entire life, I thought I was just a daughter caught in someone else’s war.
Now this stranger was telling me I was the reason it started.
My father stepped between us.
“Leave.””
Victor smiled.
“Still protecting her.””
“That’s all I’ve ever done.””
Victor tilted his head.
“Is that what you told yourself?””
The anger in my father’s face was immediate.
But Victor didn’t look afraid.
That scared me.
Powerful people usually feared my father.
Victor didn’t.
“You know what the funny part is, Emily?”” Victor said.
I didn’t answer.
He continued anyway.
“Your father spent years making you believe he was your shield.””
My father’s voice turned cold.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Victor laughed softly.
“Why? Because I’m telling her something you didn’t?””
I looked at my father.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“I need the truth.””
Victor smiled.
“There it is.””
My father closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he spoke.
“Your mother discovered Victor was stealing company information.””
Victor shrugged.
“That part is true.””
My father continued.
“She copied the evidence.””
Victor’s expression changed slightly.
“And that evidence was never money.””
I looked between them.
“Then what was it?””
Victor answered.
“Proof that your father’s company had been used to cover up illegal operations.””
My father immediately said, “That’s a lie.””
Victor looked at him.
“Is it?””
The question hung there.
I looked at my father.
Not because I believed Victor.
Because I needed to know why my father had been silent for so long.
Victor noticed.
“You see the problem, Emily?””
He stepped closer.
“Your father always gives you pieces of the truth.””
My father moved forward.
“Enough.””
Victor stopped.
Then smiled.
“Ask him about the night your mother died.””
My heart dropped.
My father became completely still.
I noticed.
Victor noticed too.
“Tell her.””
My father said nothing.
“Tell her where you were.””
“Victor.””
“Tell her who called you away.””
The room felt colder.
I looked at my father.
“Dad?””
He looked away.
That hurt more than anything.
“Where were you?””
Finally, he answered.
“I was at the company.””
“Why?””
“Because Victor had threatened to expose me.””
My breath caught.
“Expose you?””
He nodded.
“But not for what he says.””
Victor laughed.
“Of course.””
My father continued.
“I went there because I thought I could stop him.””
“And Mom?””
His voice became quiet.
“Your mother was supposed to meet me afterward.””
I swallowed.
“She never came.””
“No.””
I looked at the floor.
Fourteen years.
Fourteen years of believing my mother was simply gone.
But my father had been waiting for her that night.
Victor stepped closer.
“And after she disappeared, Alexander became the only person who knew where the evidence was.””
I looked at him.
“What evidence?””
Victor smiled.
“Your mother hid it.””
“Where?””
He looked at me.
“Inside the one thing nobody would ever suspect.””
Before I could ask, my father moved.
Fast.
He grabbed Victor’s arm.
“Where is it?””
Victor didn’t fight.
He only smiled.
“Still don’t know?””
My father froze.
Victor looked at me.
“Your mother didn’t trust your father with everything.””
The words cut deep.
My father released him.
I saw the pain on his face.
And somehow that hurt more.
Because a small part of me wondered if it was true.
Victor reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
My father’s expression changed.
“Where did you get that?””
Victor held it up.
“Your wife gave it to me.””
My stomach dropped.
Impossible.
“My mother?””
Victor smiled.
“Not willingly.””
The room went silent.
Then the front window shattered.
Everyone turned.
A loud crash echoed through the house.
Victor ducked.
My father pulled me down.
Someone was outside.
Someone else was here.
Victor looked genuinely surprised for the first time.
May you like
And whispered:
“They found us.””
