Chapter 7: The Lawyer’s File
The man standing in front of me had the kind of confidence that only came from knowing he held power over everyone in the room.
He didn’t look nervous.
He didn’t look surprised.
He looked prepared.
The folder in his hand carried my name.
Emily Carter.
Two words that suddenly felt like they belonged to someone else.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Andrew Vale.””
The attorney smiled slightly.
“Daniel Whitmore.””
They knew each other.
That made my stomach tighten.
“How do you know him?”” I asked.
Daniel didn’t take his eyes off the man.
“Andrew Vale is one of the most expensive corporate attorneys in Chicago.””
Andrew adjusted his jacket.
“Was.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
“I stopped representing certain clients years ago.””
His eyes moved toward Victoria.
A small smile appeared.
“Some relationships become inconvenient.””
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Don’t start acting like you’re above this.””
Andrew ignored her.
Instead, he opened the folder.
“I’m here because Emily deserves the truth.””
My father stepped forward.
“Not from you.””
Andrew looked at him.
“Michael.””
The way he said my father’s name felt personal.
Almost familiar.
“You still believe you’re the victim.””
My father’s face hardened.
“I am.””
Andrew looked at me.
“Emily, your father wants you to believe he was betrayed.””
I stared at him.
“Wasn’t he?””
Andrew opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
Bank records.
Legal forms.
Photographs.
“I’ll let you decide.””
He placed the first page on the table.
“This is a transfer authorization from Bellavita Holdings.””
I picked it up.
My hands trembled.
“My father’s signature.””
“Yes.””
Andrew nodded.
“Your father authorized the transfer of company funds.””
My father immediately shook his head.
“That signature is fake.””
Andrew placed another document beside it.
“And this is the investigation report.””
I read the first lines.
My heart sank.
There were words I didn’t understand.
Financial misconduct.
Unauthorized transfers.
Suspicious accounts.
I looked at my father.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
He looked devastated.
“Because I didn’t want you carrying my problems.””
I laughed quietly.
“My whole life was a problem because nobody told me anything.””
The words hurt him.
I saw it.
But I needed answers.
Victoria stepped closer.
“Emily, you need to be careful.””
I turned toward her.
“You’re telling me to be careful?””
Her face tightened.
“Yes.””
She pointed at the documents.
“You think your father is innocent because he says he is?””
My father looked at her.
“You know exactly what happened.””
“No,” she replied.
“I know what the evidence says.””
Daniel picked up one of the papers.
“Andrew, why are you bringing this here?””
The attorney looked at him.
“Because the evidence disappeared seventeen years ago.””
Silence.
Then Daniel looked at my father.
“What?””
Andrew continued.
“The original investigation files were sealed.””
My father nodded.
“Because someone paid to bury them.””
Victoria immediately stepped back.
“You can’t prove that.””
Andrew smiled.
“That’s why I brought this.””
He placed a small envelope on the table.
My father stared at it.
“Where did you get that?””
Andrew looked at him.
“From the person who kept it hidden.””
Nobody moved.
Daniel looked around.
“Who?””
Andrew’s eyes slowly moved toward Victoria.
My chest tightened.
“No.””
Victoria laughed.
“You’re lying.””
Andrew shook his head.
“I wish I was.””
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
The paper looked old.
Worn.
He handed it to me.
The handwriting was my father’s.
Emily,
If you are reading this, I failed to protect you.
My breathing stopped.
I kept reading.
Your mother knows about the account. She knows about the evidence. If anything happens to me, do not trust anyone who tells you I abandoned you.
My hands started shaking.
There was more.
But before I could read it, Victoria grabbed the paper.
“No.””
Daniel immediately stopped her.
“Don’t.””
Her face changed.
She wasn’t angry anymore.
She was terrified.
My father looked at her.
“You thought you destroyed it.””
Victoria stared at him.
“I thought you were gone.””
My voice was barely a whisper.
“What did you do?””
Nobody answered.
Then Andrew spoke.
“The night Michael Carter disappeared, someone attempted to have him arrested.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
Andrew looked directly at Victoria.
“Your mother.””
The room went silent.
Victoria’s face turned cold.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Ask your father why he never came back.””
Everyone looked at my father.
May you like
And for the first time…
He looked afraid.
