Chapter 8: The Daughter Who Knew Nothing
My father looked down.
That scared me more than anything Andrew had said.
Because my father had been angry.
He had been hurt.
He had defended himself.
But now?
Now he looked like someone remembering something he wished he could forget.
“Dad,” I said.
He didn’t answer.
“Why didn’t you come back?””
The restaurant became painfully quiet.
My father slowly sat down.
“I tried.””
Victoria laughed.
“No, you didn’t.””
My father looked at her.
“You know that’s not true.””
“Then tell her.””
She stepped closer.
“Tell her why you stayed away.””
My father closed his eyes.
For a moment, he looked exhausted.
Then he spoke.
“Because I thought you were safer without me.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
He looked at me.
“But seventeen years ago, someone tried to make me disappear.””
Andrew watched him carefully.
“Explain.””
My father took a deep breath.
“After I discovered the missing money, I confronted Victoria.””
Victoria rolled her eyes.
“You mean after you accused me?””
“You knew about the trust.””
“Yes.””
“And you wanted control of Emily’s inheritance.””
Victoria looked away.
My father continued.
“When I refused, I started receiving threats.””
Daniel frowned.
“Threats?””
My father nodded.
“Anonymous calls. Messages. Warnings.””
I looked at him.
“Why didn’t you tell the police?””
“Because I did.””
The answer shocked me.
“And?””
He looked at Andrew.
The attorney spoke.
“The reports disappeared.””
My stomach tightened.
“Someone erased police records?””
Andrew nodded.
“That was the beginning.””
My father looked at me.
“I realized whoever was behind it had influence.””
Victoria smiled.
“So you ran.””
My father’s eyes hardened.
“I left because I found out someone was planning to hurt you.””
The room went still.
“Me?””
He nodded.
“I received a message.””
“What kind of message?””
My father looked at me.
“One sentence.””
His voice became quiet.
‘If you don’t disappear, your daughter will pay the price.’
I covered my mouth.
I wanted to believe it was a lie.
I wanted to believe someone had invented this nightmare.
But my father’s face told me everything.
“You should have told me.””
“I was seventeen.””
“I know.””
“You should have trusted me.””
He looked away.
“I was afraid.””
That was the first honest answer I had heard from him.
Not an excuse.
Not a defense.
Just fear.
I looked at Victoria.
“And you let me believe he was dead?””
She didn’t answer.
“Why?””
Her expression changed.
The anger returned.
“Because you were supposed to move on.””
My heart broke.
“Move on?””
“Yes.””
She pointed around the restaurant.
“I had to keep this company alive.””
“No.””
Daniel interrupted.
“You had to keep control.””
Victoria glared at him.
“You know nothing.””
Daniel laughed.
“I know enough.””
He walked toward her.
“I know you spent years taking money from a company that wasn’t yours.””
Her face hardened.
“You’re defending her?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I’m defending the truth.””
For the first time, I realized something.
Daniel wasn’t just helping me.
He was fighting against his own family.
Then Andrew’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
Nobody spoke.
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
“Emily.””
“What?””
His voice became serious.
“The evidence from the flash drive…”
He paused.
“It’s gone.””
My father stood immediately.
“What?””
Andrew looked at him.
“Someone accessed the file remotely.””
Daniel frowned.
“But the drive was here.””
Andrew nodded.
“Yes.””
He looked around the room.
“Which means someone inside this restaurant had access.””
Everyone became silent.
Slowly, everyone started looking at each other.
The kitchen staff.
The managers.
The customers.
Then my eyes landed on one person.
Richard.
He had been silent the entire time.
Too silent.
I looked at him.
“Richard.””
His face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Daniel noticed.
“Do you know something?””
Richard opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
And immediately went pale.
I stepped closer.
“Who texted you?””
Richard slowly lifted his eyes.
May you like
And whispered:
“The person who told me to hide your identity.””
