Chapter 7: The Name on the Screen
The archive room felt smaller after the video stopped.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The name on the screen remained there like a wound that refused to close.
I stared at it.
Then I looked at Claire.
Her face had lost all color.
“Mom…”
She didn’t answer.
“Mom, tell me I’m wrong.””
Her lips parted.
But no words came out.
Thomas looked at the screen, then at Claire.
And for the first time in my life, I saw my uncle afraid.
Not nervous.
Not uncomfortable.
Afraid.
Richard stepped closer to the computer.
“Mr. Brooks…”
I barely heard him.
My eyes stayed on the name.
The name my father had written.
The name that changed seventeen years of memories.
The name that belonged to the person I had trusted more than anyone.
Claire.
My mother.
I shook my head.
“No.””
The word came out like a denial to the entire universe.
“No, this isn’t possible.””
Claire closed her eyes.
“Daniel…”
“Don’t.””
I stepped away.
“Don’t say my name like you’re still my mother.””
The pain on her face was immediate.
And I hated myself for noticing.
Because even after everything…
She was still my mother.
“I need you to explain.””
She nodded slowly.
“I will.””
“Then explain why Dad accused you.””
Thomas spoke.
“Because it wasn’t the truth.””
I turned toward him.
“You don’t get to defend her.””
“I’m not defending her.””
His voice was low.
“I’m telling you your father knew more than what he put in that message.””
I looked at the screen.
“The message was clear.””
“No.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Your father was protecting someone.””
I laughed bitterly.
“By accusing them?””
“He knew someone would find that video.””
Richard frowned.
“Then why leave her name?””
Thomas looked at him.
“Because Michael trusted Daniel to find the missing pieces.””
I felt anger rising.
“Everyone keeps saying my father trusted me.””
I pointed around the room.
“But nobody trusted me enough to tell me the truth.””
Nobody responded.
Because there was no defense.
Lily quietly held my hand.
“Daddy…”
I looked down.
Her eyes were full of confusion.
She didn’t understand the business.
The betrayal.
The years of lies.
She only understood that the people around her were hurting me.
I knelt beside her.
“It’s okay.””
She shook her head.
“No, it’s not.””
The honesty of a child cut deeper than any accusation.
She looked at Claire.
“Why did you leave my daddy?””
Claire started crying.
“I didn’t want to.””
“Then why?””
Claire looked at me.
“Because someone wanted him dead.””
The room went silent.
I stood.
“What?””
She wiped her tears.
“The night your father died wasn’t an accident.””
My chest tightened.
“Everyone said it was a car crash.””
“It was planned.””
Richard looked shocked.
“Claire…”
“I kept quiet because I had no choice.””
She looked at me.
“Your father discovered the person behind everything.””
“Who?””
She looked toward Thomas.
My uncle immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Claire whispered:
“Not Thomas.””
I froze.
Thomas looked relieved for half a second.
Then Claire continued.
“Thomas was involved.””
His relief disappeared.
“But he wasn’t the person who started it.””
I stared at both of them.
“You expect me to believe this?””
Claire nodded.
“I know how it sounds.””
“It sounds like everyone here has a different version of the truth.””
She walked toward the desk.
“I can prove mine.””
She opened one of the boxes.
Inside were old documents.
Photos.
Letters.
She pulled out a small notebook.
“Your father kept records of everything.””
I took it.
The first pages were financial notes.
The next pages were names.
Dates.
Meetings.
Then I saw something familiar.
A company logo.
A company I knew.
One that had been competing with Brooks Enterprises for years.
But there was something else.
A signature.
My fingers went cold.
Because I recognized it.
“Where did Dad get this?””
Claire answered quietly.
“He got it from the person who helped him uncover the truth.””
“Who?””
She looked at the archive door.
Before she could answer, the lights suddenly flickered again.
Everyone turned.
A sharp sound came from above.
The hotel alarm.
Richard checked his phone.
His expression changed.
“What happened?””
He looked at me.
“The security system detected someone entering the private floors.””
I frowned.
“Someone?””
Richard nodded.
“And they used an employee access code.””
Thomas stepped backward.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
Because his face had changed.
He knew something.
I saw it.
“Thomas.””
He looked at me.
“Who has access?””
He didn’t answer.
The alarm continued.
Then Richard’s phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And his expression turned to pure shock.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Mr. Brooks…”
“What?””
Richard swallowed.
“The person who entered the hotel just asked for you.””
“Who?””
Richard slowly lowered the phone.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“They said their name was Michael Brooks.””
