Chapter 13: The Final Move
My father’s words followed me all the way back to Chicago.
*He’ll come after you.*
I wanted to believe it was impossible.
I wanted to believe twenty years of secrets had finally ended.
But I had learned something about powerful people.
They didn’t stop when they were exposed.
They fought harder.
By the time I landed, I had dozens of missed calls.
Daniel.
Patricia.
Unknown numbers.
I ignored all of them.
I wasn’t the woman who begged for explanations anymore.
I had spent years waiting for people to tell me the truth.
Now I was going to find it myself.
When I arrived at the house, the first thing I noticed was the front door.
Unlocked.
My heart immediately tightened.
I stepped inside.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
“Daniel?””
No answer.
I walked farther.
The living room looked destroyed.
Papers everywhere.
Drawers pulled open.
Someone had searched the place.
Then I saw him.
Daniel standing near the kitchen.
His face was bruised.
“Emily.””
I rushed forward before I could stop myself.
“What happened?””
He looked away.
“Robert.””
The name made my stomach drop.
“Where is he?””
Daniel shook his head.
“He left.””
I looked around.
“He was here?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Because he wanted the files.””
“What files?””
“The ones Patricia kept.””
I stared at him.
“So he knows.””
Daniel nodded.
“He knows your father is alive.””
I closed my eyes.
Everything was moving too fast.
“What did he do to you?””
Daniel touched the cut on his lip.
“He wanted to know where your father was.””
“And you told him?””
“No.””
The answer surprised me.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because I finally understood something.””
I waited.
“My whole life, I thought protecting my family meant protecting my mother and father.””
He swallowed.
“But I was protecting the wrong people.””
For once, there was no excuse.
No defense.
Just regret.
I looked away.
“Regret doesn’t fix what happened.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
His eyes filled.
“Yes.””
The silence between us was heavy.
Then Patricia appeared in the doorway.
I immediately tensed.
“What are you doing here?””
She looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not powerful.
Just tired.
“I came to warn you.””
I almost laughed.
“Warn me?””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
Patricia accepted the anger.
“I deserve that.””
Those words shocked me.
I had never heard her admit fault.
She walked toward the table and placed a small box down.
“What is that?””
“Something your mother left.””
I stared.
“My mother?””
Patricia nodded.
“She gave it to me before she died.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew I would protect it.””
I looked at her.
“You hated her.””
Patricia looked down.
“I hated what happened.””
“That’s not the same thing.””
“No.””
Her voice broke.
“It isn’t.””
She opened the box.
Inside was a flash drive.
“This contains the proof.””
Daniel looked at it.
“Proof of what?””
Patricia looked at him.
“Everything.””
The room went quiet.
“Robert’s theft.””
“His threats.””
“The crash.””
My hands shook.
“Why didn’t you give this to me before?””
Patricia looked at me.
“Because I was a coward.””
The honesty hurt more than another lie.
“I spent years blaming your father. Then I discovered the truth.””
She looked at the flash drive.
“By then, too much damage had already been done.””
I picked it up.
“What’s stopping Robert from taking it?””
“Nothing.””
Patricia’s expression changed.
“That’s why he’s coming.””
A sound came from outside.
A car door.
We all froze.
Daniel looked toward the window.
Then whispered:
“He’s here.””
The lights suddenly went out.
And a voice came from the darkness.
“Emily.””
My blood turned cold.
May you like
Robert.
“I think it’s time we finished what your parents started.””
