Chapter 10: The File That Changed Everything
Claire stood in the doorway of the hidden archive room, holding the file against her chest.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The silence was heavier than any argument.
Daniel moved slightly in front of me.
“Why are you here, Claire?””
She looked at him.
“Because Amelia deserves the truth.””
I stared at the file in her hands.
“You said my mother betrayed my father.””
Claire’s expression changed.
“I said what I was told to say.””
My eyes narrowed.
“By who?””
She looked away.
That small movement told me everything.
“You know.””
Claire walked slowly into the room.
“I know enough to understand that your father spent his entire life trying to protect the wrong people.””
I stepped forward.
“My father protected everyone.””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“Your father protected the people he loved. There’s a difference.””
I looked at the file again.
“What’s inside?””
Claire placed it on the table.
“Everything.””
I opened it.
The first pages contained old financial records.
The second pages contained photographs.
The third page contained something that made my hands freeze.
A signature.
My mother’s signature.
But this wasn’t a betrayal.
It was a legal statement.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?””
He leaned closer.
His eyes widened.
“This proves your mother was investigating the fraud.””
Claire nodded.
“She discovered someone was stealing from Sterling Crown.””
I looked at her.
“Then why did everyone think she was involved?””
“Because someone wanted it that way.””
My chest tightened.
“Who?””
Claire remained silent.
I closed the file.
“No more secrets.””
She looked at me.
“You really want the answer?””
“Yes.””
She took a deep breath.
“Your father’s business partner.””
I frowned.
“Richard?””
“No.””
My eyes widened.
“Then who?””
Claire looked toward Daniel.
And my stomach dropped.
“No.””
Daniel shook his head immediately.
“Amelia, listen to me.””
Claire interrupted.
“It wasn’t Daniel.””
The room went silent.
I looked between them.
“Then who?””
Claire opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, the archive lights suddenly turned off.
Darkness surrounded us.
Ethan’s voice immediately came to my mind.
He was upstairs.
Alone.
Daniel grabbed his phone flashlight.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
I followed him.
We rushed through the hallway.
The hotel was suddenly unusually quiet.
Too quiet.
When we reached the lobby, employees were standing around nervously.
A security guard approached.
“Ms. Carter.””
“What happened?””
“The power system was manually shut down.””
“By who?””
The guard hesitated.
“We found someone near the control room.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“Your uncle.””
I turned.
Richard was standing near the entrance.
But his expression wasn’t guilty.
It was furious.
“I didn’t shut anything down.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Then why were you there?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because I was trying to stop something before it happened.””
“What?””
He looked toward the elevator.
“Your son.””
My entire body went cold.
I ran.
The elevator doors opened.
I rushed inside.
“Ethan!””
No answer.
The suite door was slightly open.
I pushed it open.
The room was empty.
The television was still playing.
His notebook was on the couch.
But my son was gone.
I felt like the world stopped.
Then I saw something on the table.
A note.
My name was written on it.
I picked it up with shaking hands.
May you like
Only five words were written.
Come alone if you want him back.
