Chapter 8: The Enemy Inside the Family
The accusation felt familiar.
Too familiar.
A ring.
A photograph.
Now company files.
Every time I got close to the truth, someone tried to make me look guilty.
Daniel saw my expression.
“Clara, look at me.””
I did.
“I know you didn’t do this.””
His certainty almost broke me.
“How?””
“Because I know you.””
Those four words meant more than he realized.
But not everyone believed him.
Richard took the tablet from Daniel.
“Interesting.””
His voice was calm again.
Dangerously calm.
“First my daughter’s ring. Now confidential company files.””
I stared at him.
“You think I did this?””
“I think,” Richard said, “that secrets have a way of attracting people who want power.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Stop.””
“No,” Richard replied.
“You need to see what she’s capable of.””
I looked around the room.
Everyone had an opinion about me.
Everyone except Daniel.
And that hurt.
Because I had spent years trying to prove I belonged.
Now I realized I never should have needed their approval.
Jonathan walked toward Richard.
“You’re doing exactly what you did twenty-five years ago.””
Richard smiled.
“And you’re still protecting her.””
Jonathan’s eyes narrowed.
“Always.””
Richard turned away.
“Find the evidence.””
Then he left.
The second he disappeared, Daniel looked at the others.
“Victoria.””
Nobody moved.
“Where is she?””
A servant answered quietly.
“She left early this morning.””
My stomach tightened.
Daniel immediately grabbed his phone.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then a message appeared.
From Victoria.
Daniel read it silently.
“What does it say?””
He handed me the phone.
The message was short.
I’M SORRY.
I DIDN’T KNOW IT WOULD END LIKE THIS.
My heart sank.
“That sounds like someone who knows she’s in trouble.””
Daniel nodded.
“We need to find her.””
We searched the mansion.
Not for Victoria.
For answers.
Her bedroom was untouched except for one thing.
A locked drawer.
Daniel opened it with a spare key.
Inside were dozens of printed documents.
Photos.
Notes.
And pages about me.
My hands went cold.
“She was investigating me.””
Jonathan picked up one of the pages.
“She knew.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Knew what?””
Jonathan read silently.
Then his face changed.
“She knew Clara was Amelia’s daughter.””
I looked at the papers.
There were dates.
Meetings.
Surveillance reports.
My entire life had been turned into a file.
“She was watching me.””
Daniel looked furious.
“Why?””
A small envelope fell from the drawer.
My name was written on it.
Not Clara.
My full name.
The name my mother gave me.
Clara Rose Sterling.
I stared.
I had never used that last name.
Never known I had the right to.
Inside was a letter.
Victoria’s handwriting.
I opened it.
Clara,
I know you probably hate me.
I deserve that.
But I need you to understand something.
I didn’t start this.
I was trying to protect myself.
Mom found out Grandpa’s original will existed. She knew if you returned, everything would change.
She told me to make you look like a thief.
She promised nobody would get hurt.
I believed her.
Then I found the truth.
The next sentence was underlined.
Your father didn’t disappear because of Richard.
He disappeared because of what I found about Grandpa’s death.
My hands started shaking.
Daniel read over my shoulder.
“Grandpa’s death?””
Jonathan went completely still.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He took the letter.
His face became pale.
“Victoria found the one thing Richard never wanted anyone to see.””
“What?””
Jonathan looked toward the door.
“A recording.””
The room fell silent.
“A recording of what?””
Jonathan whispered:
“The night your grandfather died.””
Before anyone could speak, Daniel’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
At first, there was only static.
Then a woman’s frightened voice.
Victoria.
“Daniel…”
“Where are you?””
“I found the recording.””
Everyone froze.
Daniel tightened his grip on the phone.
“Send it to me.””
“I can’t.””
“Why?””
Her voice trembled.
“Because someone is here.””
A sound came through the phone.
A door opening.
Victoria gasped.
Then the call went dead.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“Victoria?””
No response.
Then a new message appeared.
A video file.
Sent from Victoria’s phone.
May you like
The title was simple.
THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED.
