Chapter 5: The Betrayal Inside My Family
I stared at the photograph.
My brain refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.
The person beside Emily was my older brother, Daniel.
The same Daniel who had hugged me when Emily disappeared.
The same Daniel who told me I needed to “move forward.””
The same Daniel who stood beside me at every police meeting.
“No.””
The word left my mouth before I even realized I said it.
Emily looked at me.
“I tried to tell you.””
I looked at Richard.
“Why?””
Richard smiled.
“Because your brother knew what your wife discovered.””
My hands shook.
“Where is Daniel?””
Nobody answered.
That scared me more than anything.
Vanessa looked toward the floor.
Richard noticed.
“You didn’t tell him?””
Vanessa whispered:
“I couldn’t.””
Richard laughed.
“You had eighteen months.””
Emily stepped forward.
“Michael, Daniel knew.””
I looked at her.
“Knew what?””
“That Richard was using our company.””
The room became silent.
I felt like the air disappeared.
My family business.
The company my father built.
The company Daniel and I inherited.
“What did he do?””
Emily looked at Richard.
“He created fake accounts.””
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“She doesn’t know the whole story.””
“Then tell me.””
Richard stared at me.
“You really think your brother was innocent?””
I remembered Daniel’s face.
His advice.
His sympathy.
All of it suddenly looked different.
A memory flashed.
Three weeks after Emily vanished.
Daniel sitting in my kitchen.
His hand on my shoulder.
“Michael, maybe you need to accept that she left.””
At the time, I thought he was helping me.
Now I wondered if he was protecting himself.
Richard walked toward the table.
“Your wife found evidence that millions of dollars were missing.””
My voice was barely audible.
“Daniel stole from us?””
Richard smiled.
“Not alone.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked away.
“You knew?””
She whispered:
“I found out later.””
“Later?””
She looked at me.
“I saw Daniel meeting Richard.””
Emily closed her eyes.
“I knew Vanessa was scared.””
I turned.
“You knew?””
Emily nodded.
“She came to me once.””
Everyone looked at her.
“She opened the hidden door.””
Vanessa started crying.
“I wanted to help you.””
Emily shook her head.
“But you closed it again.””
The silence was painful.
Because everyone had a reason.
Everyone had an excuse.
Except Emily.
She had spent eighteen months trapped.
I looked at Lily.
She was holding her mother’s hand.
The only innocent person in the room.
“We’re leaving,” I said.
Richard stepped forward.
“You can’t.””
I looked at him.
“Try to stop me.””
For the first time, his calm expression cracked.
“You don’t understand what happens if this information gets out.””
“I understand perfectly.””
I pointed toward Emily.
“You destroyed my family.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at the photograph.
“Your family destroyed itself.””
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?””
A pause.
Then his face changed.
Not fear.
Concern.
“What do you mean he’s already there?””
I noticed Emily’s expression.
She knew.
“Who is there?”” I asked.
Richard ignored me.
He ended the call.
Then looked at Vanessa.
“You were supposed to keep him away.””
Vanessa froze.
“Keep who away?””
Richard looked toward the front door.
“He found out.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Richard didn’t answer.
Because at that moment, the sound of a car stopping outside filled the driveway.
Emily grabbed my arm.
“Michael.””
Her voice trembled.
“He knows I’m alive.””
The front door opened again.
And a familiar voice called from the entrance.
“Michael?””
My blood ran cold.
Because I knew that voice.
May you like
It was Daniel.
And he sounded angry.
