Chapter 10: The Lawyer’s Secret
I stared at the document in my hands.
The name at the bottom seemed impossible.
Michael Grant.
The man my father trusted.
The man I called because I believed he was the only person left who could help me.
The man who looked me in the eyes and told me my father wanted to protect me.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
“No.””
Evelyn watched me carefully.
“Yes.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Did you know?””
His face was pale.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
But this time, I believed him.
Because Daniel looked just as betrayed as I felt.
Evelyn smiled.
“You see? Everyone has secrets.””
I turned back to her.
“You expect me to believe you?””
“I expect you to read the document.””
I looked down.
It was a transfer agreement.
A company ownership transfer.
My father’s company shares.
Transferred months before his death.
But something didn’t make sense.
“Why would my father give Michael ownership?””
Evelyn shrugged.
“Maybe because your father trusted him.””
“That’s not what you said.””
Her smile faded slightly.
“I said your father wasn’t telling you the whole truth.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this place?””
He didn’t answer.
“Daniel.””
He swallowed.
“My mother kept records here.””
“Records of what?””
He looked at Evelyn.
“Everything.””
The word made my stomach turn.
Evelyn walked toward the table.
“Your father was not the innocent man you think he was.””
I felt anger rise inside me.
“Don’t talk about my father.””
“Why? Because you loved him?””
“Yes.””
She tilted her head.
“That’s exactly why people like him were easy to manipulate.””
I stepped closer.
“My father spent his life helping people.””
“No.””
Her voice became sharper.
“Your father spent his life controlling outcomes.””
I stared at her.
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
She opened another folder.
Inside were photographs.
Old photographs.
My father.
Michael.
Evelyn’s husband.
And another person.
A woman.
Rachel’s mother.
I looked at the picture.
“What is this?””
Evelyn leaned against the table.
“The beginning.””
Daniel picked up one photograph.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get these?””
“My husband kept everything.””
I looked at him.
“Your father?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“My father had files on everyone.””
Evelyn laughed quietly.
“Because he knew everyone had something to hide.””
I looked back at the documents.
The more I uncovered, the less I knew.
Everyone had lied.
Everyone had hidden something.
But one question kept coming back.
Why was my father’s lawyer involved?
I grabbed my phone.
“I’m calling Michael.””
Evelyn didn’t stop me.
That worried me.
The call rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then voicemail.
I hung up.
Again.
Nothing.
Daniel looked at me.
“He knows.””
I turned.
“What?””
“He knows we found out.””
“How?””
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Because he was the one who told my mother you were asking questions.””
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
“How do you know that?””
“Because I heard them talking.””
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
My heart sank.
Before dinner.
Before the slap.
Before everything exploded.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Because I was scared.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of what?””
He looked at his mother.
“Her.””
For the first time, Evelyn looked angry.
“Careful, Daniel.””
He stepped back.
“No.””
His voice shook.
“No more.””
She stared at him.
“You’re choosing her?””
Daniel looked at me.
Then at his mother.
“I’m choosing the truth.””
For a second, I almost believed him.
Then Evelyn smiled.
A calm, terrifying smile.
“You still don’t understand.””
She pointed toward the document in my hand.
“The transfer was only the first step.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What else?””
She looked directly at me.
“Your father didn’t die naturally.””
The air left my lungs.
Daniel froze.
“Mom.””
I turned slowly.
“What did you say?””
Evelyn didn’t blink.
“Ask yourself why your father died right after he planned to expose us.””
May you like
I stared at her.
And for the first time, I wondered if my father’s death had ever been an accident.
