Chapter 12: The Secret of My Childhood
The words followed me even after Victor left.
Because of you.
I stood in the middle of the chaos.
Reporters shouting.
Cameras flashing.
People asking questions I didn’t know how to answer.
But I only heard one thing.
My father disappeared because of me.
“Daniel.””
Michael grabbed my shoulder.
“Don’t listen to him.””
I looked at my father.
“Is it true?””
His expression changed.
That was enough.
My heart sank.
“Dad.””
He looked away.
“Not like he means.””
“Then explain.””
He didn’t.
And that hurt more than anything.
Claire stepped forward.
“Daniel…”
“No.””
I looked between them.
“Not another secret.””
My voice broke.
“I’m done being the last person to know my own life.””
Michael closed his eyes.
Then he nodded.
“You deserve to know.””
We moved upstairs again.
Away from the cameras.
Away from the crowd.
Only my family remained.
And Sophia.
My father sat down.
“When you were eight years old, Victor discovered something.””
“What?””
“That you had witnessed something.””
I frowned.
“I was eight.””
“Yes.””
“You’re saying I saw something?””
Michael nodded.
“The night of the crash.””
I felt cold.
“I don’t remember.””
“That’s because we made sure you didn’t.””
My anger returned.
“You erased my memories?””
“No.””
Claire shook her head.
“We protected your mind.””
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Michael looked at the floor.
“You saw Victor’s men near the car.””
My breathing changed.
“I saw them?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
“You identified one of them.””
“Who?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Thomas quietly said:
“You identified Victor’s right-hand man.””
I tried to remember.
A parking lot.
Rain.
A broken car.
My father leaving.
Then nothing.
“I don’t understand.””
Michael looked at me.
“Daniel, you were the only witness.””
The room went silent.
Victor hadn’t wanted to kill my father only.
He wanted to remove the person who could expose him.
Me.
I looked at Lily.
Suddenly everything made sense.
The fear.
The secrets.
The protection.
They weren’t only hiding the truth.
They were hiding me.
Sophia stepped closer.
“There’s something else.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She hesitated.
“My father kept a file about you.””
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of file?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“A psychological profile.””
My face changed.
“He studied me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he wanted to know if you remembered.””
I felt sick.
A child.
A little boy.
Being monitored because a powerful man was afraid of him.
Richard entered suddenly.
“Mr. Brooks.””
Everyone turned.
His face was serious.
“What happened?””
“The police are outside.””
Michael stood.
“Victor called them?””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
“Then why?””
He looked at me.
“They’re here because someone filed a complaint.””
“Against who?””
Richard swallowed.
“Against Daniel Brooks.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“The complaint claims you are not the legal heir of Brooks Enterprises.””
Michael went still.
“That’s impossible.””
Richard handed me a document.
I looked down.
The signature at the bottom made my blood freeze.
Because it was my father’s.
The document claimed I had been removed from the inheritance years ago.
And beneath the signature was a date.
The same date my father supposedly died.
I looked up.
“Dad…”
Michael stared at the paper.
His face changed completely.
Because he knew something I didn’t.
“What is it?””
He whispered:
“That signature…”
He looked at Claire.
“She never told me.””
I stepped back.
“Told you what?””
My mother’s eyes filled with fear.
“Daniel…”
“What?””
She looked at the document.
Then at me.
“The night your father disappeared…”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“…you weren’t the only person who came back from that crash.””
