Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside Sterling
The words hung in the room.
In my father’s office.
Daniel had seen the document before.
A fake document.
With my signature.
Hidden inside Richard Crawford’s office.
I stared at him.
“Why were you there?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“I went looking for information.””
“After the wedding?””
“No.””
My heart sank.
“Before.””
Grandpa stepped forward.
“How long before?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Three weeks.””
I closed my eyes.
Three weeks before my wedding.
Three weeks before he stood beside me and promised forever.
He had already been searching through his father’s secrets.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because I realized my father was planning something bigger.””
“And you still went through with the wedding.””
He had no answer.
That was the pattern.
No answer.
No excuse.
Just damage.
Grandpa walked toward the window.
“Tell us everything you found.””
Daniel hesitated.
Then nodded.
“My father had files on Sterling Enterprises.””
“How many?””
“Hundreds.””
“What kind of files?””
“Personal information. Financial records. Family history.””
I felt sick.
“He was collecting information on me.””
“Yes.””
“On my grandfather.””
“Yes.””
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“He had been building this plan for years.””
Grandpa turned around.
“And you found nothing about Phoebe’s mother?””
Daniel looked away.
That told me something.
“Daniel.””
He swallowed.
“I found a folder.””
The room went silent.
“What folder?””
He looked at me.
“One with your mother’s name.””
My breath caught.
“What was inside?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“I took this.””
Grandpa immediately stepped forward.
“Where did you get that?””
“From my father’s safe.””
I stared at him.
“You had this?””
“Yes.””
“For how long?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Since before the wedding.””
Anger replaced everything.
“You knew there was information about my mother.””
“I didn’t know what it was.””
“But you kept it from me.””
“Yes.””
I turned away.
Even when he tried to help, he still chose himself first.
Grandpa took the envelope.
The handwriting on the front made his face change.
It was my mother’s.
He opened it carefully.
Inside was a single page.
He read it.
Then handed it to me.
The first line destroyed me.
Charles, if Richard ever discovers this letter, it means he knows I found the truth.
I kept reading.
The problem is not the money he stole.
My hands shook.
The problem is what he plans to do next.
I looked at Grandpa.
The letter continued.
Richard does not want Sterling Enterprises.
I frowned.
That made no sense.
Everyone thought he wanted the company.
Then I read the next sentence.
He wants something more valuable.
My heartbeat increased.
He wants control over the people who can stop him.
I looked at Daniel.
Grandpa continued reading aloud.
“Your mother believed Richard was afraid of one person.””
“Who?””
He looked at me.
“You.””
I froze.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It does.””
Grandpa pointed at the letter.
“She knew your existence gave her power.””
I stared at the page.
My mother had known.
She had prepared for this.
She had believed I could survive something I never knew was coming.
Then the office phone rang.
Nobody moved.
Finally, Grandpa answered.
“Yes?””
A pause.
His face changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then slowly sat down.
“What happened?””
He looked at me.
“The board found the source of the forged documents.””
I waited.
“Who?””
Grandpa’s voice was quiet.
“Someone inside Sterling Enterprises.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
He looked toward the door.
The same door where employees had walked in and out my entire life.
Then he said the name.
The name I never expected.
“Your aunt.””
I froze.
“My aunt?””
Grandpa nodded.
“Your mother’s sister.””
The room spun.
I barely knew her.
She had disappeared from our lives years ago.
Everyone said she left after a family argument.
But now…
Daniel looked at the letter.
“Your mother knew.””
“Knew what?””
He pointed to the final line.
I read it.
And my blood turned cold.
Phoebe, if you ever discover the betrayal inside our family, do not trust the person who claims they were protecting you.
Because beneath the words was another name.
May you like
The person my mother feared most.
My aunt.
