Chapter 10: The Report That Changed Everything
The file sat on the table between us like a weapon.
Nobody touched it.
Nobody breathed.
Because everyone already understood what it meant.
My father stared at the cover.
His face had lost all color.
Victoria noticed.
And she smiled.
“Go ahead, Michael.””
Her voice was calm.
“Tell her.””
I looked at my father.
“Tell me what?””
He didn’t answer.
That silence hurt more than any confession could have.
I reached for the file.
My father stepped forward.
“Emily, wait.””
I looked at him.
“No.””
My voice shook.
“No more waiting.””
I opened the folder.
The first page was a police report.
The second was a photograph.
The third was a statement.
And my father’s name was everywhere.
Suspect.
Investigation.
Missing funds.
Missing person.
I looked up.
“You were a suspect?””
My father closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The word landed heavily.
Daniel moved closer.
“Why didn’t you tell us this?””
My father looked at him.
“Because it wasn’t the truth.””
Victoria laughed.
“That’s convenient.””
I turned the pages faster.
My hands trembled.
“What happened?””
My father sat down.
“I was framed.””
Victoria immediately shook her head.
“You always say that.””
My father ignored her.
“The night I disappeared, I was supposed to meet a financial investigator.””
“About the missing money?””
“Yes.””
He looked at the report.
“I had proof that someone inside Bellavita was stealing funds.””
Daniel looked at Victoria.
“And?””
“My meeting never happened.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
My father looked at me.
“I arrived at the location.””
He paused.
“Someone attacked me.””
The room went silent.
I stared.
“What?””
“I woke up hours later.””
His voice became quieter.
“My car was gone. My phone was gone. The evidence I carried was gone.””
Andrew stepped forward.
“And when police found the abandoned car, everything pointed toward Michael.””
I looked at the report.
“Because they thought you ran?””
Andrew nodded.
“Exactly.””
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Because he did.””
My father looked at her.
“You know that’s a lie.””
She smiled.
“Do I?””
The confidence in her voice bothered me.
She wasn’t acting like someone caught.
She was acting like someone holding another secret.
I looked at Andrew.
“Is this report real?””
“Yes.””
“And was my father officially charged?””
“No.””
That surprised me.
“Why?””
Andrew looked at Victoria.
“Because the investigation collapsed.””
“Why?””
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Andrew said:
“Because the main witness disappeared.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Andrew looked at me.
“Your father’s financial investigator.””
My father nodded.
“Her name was Sarah Bennett.””
I froze.
The name felt familiar.
Not because I knew her.
Because I had seen it before.
“Where?””
I searched my memory.
Then I remembered.
An old box.
My father’s belongings.
A photograph.
A woman standing beside him.
“You knew her.””
My father looked surprised.
“How?””
“I saw a picture.””
He nodded slowly.
“Sarah was my friend.””
Victoria laughed.
“Your friend who betrayed you.””
My father looked at her.
“She never betrayed me.””
Andrew pulled out his phone.
“I found something.””
Everyone looked at him.
He turned the screen around.
A recent photo.
A woman.
Older.
But alive.
My heart stopped.
“Is that…”
My father whispered:
“Sarah.””
Daniel stared.
“She’s alive?””
Andrew nodded.
“And she has been looking for Emily.””
I felt cold.
“Why?””
Andrew looked at me.
“Because she knows who actually stole the money.””
Victoria’s expression finally changed.
A crack in her confidence.
“You’re lying.””
Andrew looked at her.
“Am I?””
He showed another document.
“A message sent three days ago.””
My father grabbed it.
His eyes moved across the screen.
Then he looked at Victoria.
“You knew.””
She said nothing.
My father’s voice became broken.
“You knew Sarah was alive.””
Victoria looked away.
And that was when I understood.
This wasn’t just about money.
This was about seventeen years of secrets.
Then my phone rang.
Everyone turned.
I didn’t recognize the number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
“Emily?””
“Yes.””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m Sarah Bennett.””
My heart raced.
“How do you know me?””
Her voice became urgent.
“Because your father told me that if anything happened to him…”
She stopped.
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
Her voice dropped.
“Never trust Victoria Whitmore.””
The call suddenly cut off.
I looked at everyone.
Then my phone buzzed again.
A message appeared.
May you like
One sentence.
*COME ALONE IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOUR FATHER DISAPPEARED.*
