Chapter 14: The Last Witness
The meeting was scheduled for noon.
Linda believed she was safe.
That was her mistake.
For years, she had controlled the story.
She controlled Daniel.
She controlled Richard.
She controlled what people believed.
But she forgot one thing.
People who believe they have already won become careless.
Detective Harris arranged surveillance.
Daniel and I watched from across the street.
Neither of us spoke.
I looked at him.
“Did you ever love me?””
He turned toward me.
The question caught him off guard.
“Yes.””
I looked away.
“I don’t know if I can forgive everything.””
“I know.””
“But I need to know if any part of our marriage was real.””
Daniel’s eyes softened.
“All of it after the first day.””
I wanted to believe him.
Maybe someday I would.
But today wasn’t about forgiveness.
Today was about the truth.
A black car arrived.
Linda stepped out.
Perfect hair.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect smile.
Like nothing had happened.
A man exited behind her.
My heart stopped.
I recognized him from the photograph.
My uncle.
I looked at Daniel.
“He’s alive.””
Daniel nodded.
“But why is he with her?””
We watched.
Linda handed my uncle a folder.
They spoke.
Then Detective Harris’s voice came through the radio.
“We need audio.””
Vanessa, sitting beside us, connected the recording device.
Their conversation became clear.
Linda’s voice.
“You should have disappeared when I told you.””
My uncle answered.
“You should have stopped when I warned you.””
Linda laughed.
“You always thought you were smarter than everyone.””
My hands tightened.
Then my uncle said:
“You killed my brother.””
Silence.
Daniel looked at me.
We both heard it.
Linda didn’t deny it.
Instead, she said:
“He was going to ruin everything.””
My breathing stopped.
She continued.
“He found the documents. He found the accounts. He was going to take back control.””
My uncle’s voice shook.
“So you caused the crash.””
Linda sighed.
“I solved a problem.””
Detective Harris immediately moved.
But I stopped him.
“Wait.””
There was more.
My uncle asked:
“What about Emily?””
Linda answered.
“She was always the final step.””
I felt cold.
“The inheritance transfers when she signs.””
My uncle laughed bitterly.
“She never signed.””
Linda’s voice changed.
“That’s why Daniel was supposed to convince her.””
Daniel looked away.
Pain crossed his face.
Because he knew.
He had been part of the plan.
Even if he changed later.
Linda continued.
“But now we have a bigger problem.””
“What?””
“Emily knows.””
The entire world seemed to stop.
My uncle looked around.
“Where is she?””
Linda smiled.
And then she turned.
Directly toward our hiding place.
“She’s right there.””
Everyone froze.
She knew.
Detective Harris moved immediately.
“Go!””
The street exploded into action.
Officers surrounded the area.
Linda didn’t run.
She simply smiled.
Because she knew something we didn’t.
As she was handcuffed, she looked at me.
“You still don’t know the biggest secret.””
I stared.
“What secret?””
She leaned closer.
“The company isn’t the only thing your father left you.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
May you like
Linda smiled.
“Ask Daniel who your real mother was.””
