Chapter 10: The Lawyer’s Hidden Game
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The room was completely silent.
I looked at Michael.
The man who had stood beside my family for fifteen years.
The man who had held my father’s final documents.
The man who had told me to trust the evidence.
Now Vanessa was accusing him.
And the worst part was that Michael didn’t immediately deny it.
That scared me more than anything.
“Michael.””
My voice was low.
“Tell me she’s lying.””
He looked at me.
His face was tired.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Tired.
“Daniel…”
That was enough.
My stomach dropped.
I stood up.
“No.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
I backed away.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Daniel, I told you the truth.””
I turned toward her.
“You told me after everything fell apart.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was scared.””
“Everyone is scared.””
My voice shook.
“But somehow, everyone still found time to betray me.””
The words hurt.
Because they were true.
Michael placed his hands on the table.
“I never betrayed your father.””
“Then explain.””
He looked at the documents.
Then at Vanessa.
Then finally at me.
“Your father knew something was wrong with Robert.””
I crossed my arms.
“I know.””
“But he didn’t know how deep it went.””
“Because of you?””
Michael closed his eyes.
“No.””
A pause.
“Because of Thomas.””
The name caught my attention.
“Thomas?””
Michael nodded.
“Your father’s assistant wasn’t just managing his schedule.””
“What was he doing?””
“He was collecting information.””
I frowned.
“Working for my father?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he steal the box?””
Michael didn’t answer.
That silence returned.
The same silence that had followed every important question.
I looked at him.
“What was in that box?””
My mother quietly spoke.
“Something your father wanted protected.””
I turned.
“Mom, you knew?””
She looked heartbroken.
“I knew there was a letter.””
“Not the whole thing?””
“No.””
She looked down.
“Richard didn’t tell me everything.””
I believed her.
Because unlike everyone else, my mother looked devastated.
Not afraid of being caught.
Afraid of losing her family.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“There’s something else.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She took a breath.
“Michael didn’t just introduce me to Robert.””
The room became colder.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Michael.
“He arranged our first meeting.””
I stared.
“Why?””
Michael’s jaw tightened.
“Because I wanted answers.””
“From her?””
“Yes.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So you used my future wife as a spy?””
“No.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“That’s not what happened.””
I looked at her.
“Then what happened?””
She hesitated.
And that hesitation told me there was still more.
“Vanessa.””
She whispered:
“I was supposed to find out what your father knew about Robert.””
My heart sank.
“And you agreed?””
She looked away.
“At first.””
The room spun slightly.
“At first?””
She wiped her tears.
“I thought I was helping expose someone dangerous.””
“And then?””
She didn’t answer.
I already knew.
“Then you saw the money.””
Her face fell.
“That’s not fair.””
“Isn’t it?””
She looked at me.
“I fell in love with you.””
The sentence should have mattered.
But it came too late.
I shook my head.
“You were investigating me before you loved me.””
She had no response.
Michael quietly said:
“Daniel, there is something your father discovered that explains all of this.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He opened a document.
“Robert wasn’t trying to steal your father’s company.””
I frowned.
“What was he trying to steal?””
Michael looked directly at me.
“The trust.””
My blood went cold.
“The lake house?””
“No.””
He turned the page.
“Something inside it.””
“What?””
Michael hesitated.
Then said:
“The original Carter family records.””
I stared.
“What records?””
“The documents proving ownership of several properties and investments your grandfather left behind.””
I felt sick.
“How much?””
Michael looked away.
“Enough to change everyone’s life.””
Nobody moved.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Thomas.
This time, there was an image.
I opened it.
It was the cream-colored box.
Open.
The document inside was visible.
But there was something else beside it.
A small key.
May you like
And underneath the photograph were five words:
“Your father hid the truth.””
