Chapter 13: The Man Who Played Both Sides
For a moment, nobody breathed.
Nolan.
The name echoed through the room.
The man who had chained my mother.
The man who had starved her.
The man who had acted like he was only following orders.
But now I understood.
He was not just a pawn.
He was the connection between every lie.
I looked at my father.
“You knew?””
His expression told me everything.
Not surprise.
Pain.
“I suspected.””
My anger exploded.
“You suspected?””
I stepped closer.
“My mother was tortured in her own home, and you suspected?””
My father accepted the anger.
Because he deserved it.
“I was trying to confirm it.””
Adrian laughed.
“Still protecting everyone except the person standing in front of you.””
I ignored him.
I looked at my mother.
“Tell me everything.””
She sat down slowly.
Her hands were shaking.
“The night your father disappeared, Nolan came to me.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“He said your father was in danger.””
My mother looked at my father.
“He told me Victor had betrayed him.””
Victor immediately shook his head.
“That was a lie.””
“I know that now.””
My mother looked down.
“But back then, I believed him.””
The pieces started connecting.
Nolan had played both sides.
He convinced my mother to trust him.
He convinced others to distrust Victor.
He created confusion.
And while everyone searched for answers, he moved quietly.
“What did Nolan want?”” I asked.
My mother looked at the documents.
“The contract.””
My father nodded.
“He knew the agreement could expose him.””
Adrian smiled.
“Not just him.””
Everyone looked at him.
Adrian continued.
“The contract exposed everyone involved.””
My father’s expression changed.
“What did you do?””
Adrian laughed.
“You still don’t understand.””
He looked at me.
“Your father wasn’t protecting the company.””
“Then what?””
“He was protecting a secret.””
My father walked toward him.
“Enough.””
“No.””
Adrian’s voice became louder.
“You hid it for years.””
He pointed toward me.
“Your son deserves to know.””
I looked at my father.
“What secret?””
Silence.
Then my father spoke.
“Twelve years ago, I discovered someone was stealing money.””
“Who?””
He looked at Adrian.
“My brother.””
Adrian didn’t deny it.
My father continued.
“But the money was not the worst part.””
“What was?””
My father looked at my mother.
“The money was being used to fund illegal operations.””
The room went silent.
Adrian’s face hardened.
“You always loved making yourself look righteous.””
My father shook his head.
“I tried to stop you.””
“And you ruined my life.””
“No.””
My father’s voice became firm.
“You ruined your own.””
Adrian stepped back.
For the first time, his control slipped.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?””
A pause.
Then anger.
“No. Keep him there.””
He ended the call.
I noticed.
“What happened?””
Adrian looked at me.
Nothing like fear appeared on his face.
Only calculation.
“You should ask your friend.””
I frowned.
“My friend?””
Adrian smiled.
“The one who found your father’s recordings.””
Daniel.
My stomach tightened.
“What about him?””
Adrian looked toward the door.
“He wasn’t helping you.””
Nobody moved.
Then my security team received an alert.
A vehicle had left the property.
Daniel’s vehicle.
My father looked at me.
“Don’t trust anyone yet.””
I hated hearing that.
Because I was tired of secrets.
Tired of questioning every person near me.
But then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered immediately.
His voice came through.
Breathing heavily.
“Salvatore.””
“Where are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“I made a mistake.””
My grip tightened.
“What mistake?””
Daniel whispered:
“I found the person who ordered your mother’s starvation.””
The room went silent.
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
“It wasn’t Nolan.””
My blood froze.
“Then who?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“The person closest to your family.””
The call cut off.
May you like
And everyone in the room looked at the same person.
My father.
