Chapter 14: The Person Who Started It All
I couldn’t stop staring at the photo.
My mother beside my father.
His office.
The night he died.
The night everyone told me he was alone.
I looked at her.
“Why were you there?””
My mother didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
“Mom.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I went there to warn him.””
“About what?””
She looked down.
“About Daniel.””
Ryan stepped forward.
“You knew Daniel was alive?””
My mother nodded.
“I suspected.””
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
“Because I was scared.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone was scared.””
My voice shook.
“Everyone except me.””
My mother sat down.
“I found financial records your father missed.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“What records?””
“Payments.””
My mother looked at her.
“Large payments made through a hidden account.””
Ryan’s face changed.
“To who?””
She swallowed.
“Someone using a fake company.””
“And you found out who owned it?””
My mother looked at me.
“Yes.””
I knew before she said it.
“Michael.””
She nodded.
The room became silent.
“But Michael wasn’t the one who caused the accident.””
My mother’s words shocked me.
Ryan frowned.
“What?””
She looked at him.
“He was stealing.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“But the person who attacked Julian?””
My mother looked at me.
“That was someone else.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
My mother reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small envelope.
“I kept this because I couldn’t face the truth.””
She handed it to me.
Inside was a single photo.
Not old.
Recent.
A photo of Daniel.
Standing outside my house.
Watching.
My skin went cold.
“He has been following you?””
My mother nodded.
“For years.””
Ryan stared at the picture.
“He wanted the company.””
“No.””
My mother shook her head.
“He wanted something more valuable.””
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Control.””
I frowned.
“The company?””
“No.””
Her eyes filled with sadness.
“You.””
Nobody spoke.
My mother continued.
“Your father built the company, but he knew money creates enemies.””
She looked at me.
“The only thing he cared about was making sure nobody could use you.””
I looked at Ryan.
“And that’s why he assigned you?””
Ryan nodded.
“Yes.””
My mother continued.
“But Daniel found out.””
“About Ryan?””
“Yes.””
My mother looked at Ryan.
“He realized Julian trusted you.””
Ryan’s expression hardened.
“So he tried to destroy my reputation.””
“Exactly.””
The affair.
The documents.
The lies.
Everything.
Daniel had been moving pieces around.
But there was still one question.
“Why Vanessa?””
Everyone looked at her.
Vanessa looked uncomfortable.
“Because I had access to the financial records.””
“And the affair?””
She looked down.
“It was staged.””
I froze.
“What?””
Ryan closed his eyes.
“I know how it looks.””
“No.””
I stared at both of them.
“You let me believe that?””
Ryan’s face filled with regret.
“We needed Daniel to think he had control.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know.””
She looked at me.
“But Daniel was watching Ryan.””
“So you pretended to betray me?””
“Yes.””
The pain came back.
Even if it was fake.
It still happened.
Ryan stepped closer.
“I was wrong.””
I looked at him.
“You were.””
He nodded.
“I thought keeping you in the dark would protect you.””
“And?””
He looked at me.
“It almost destroyed us.””
Before I could answer, the lights suddenly went out.
Everyone froze.
A sound came from downstairs.
The front door opening.
Ryan immediately moved.
“Stay here.””
But this time…
I followed him.
Because I was tired of hiding.
We reached the living room.
A man stood there.
Older.
Calm.
Holding a folder.
Daniel.
He looked at me.
And smiled.
“Emily.””
Ryan stepped in front of me.
Daniel laughed.
“Still protecting her?””
He looked at me.
“You really don’t know, do you?””
I stared at him.
“Know what?””
Daniel opened the folder.
And pulled out a document.
A birth certificate.
My heart stopped.
May you like
Because the name written beside “Father” wasn’t Julian Hart.
It was Daniel’s.
