Chapter 13: The Man I Thought I Lost
The world went silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that comes right before something breaks.
I looked at my father.
Then at Nathan.
Then back at Richard.
"No.""
The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
Nathan's face had gone completely pale.
"Caroline...""
I stepped away from him.
"Tell me he's lying.""
Nobody answered.
That was the answer.
My chest tightened.
Five years ago, I lost my home.
My sister.
My family.
My daughter.
And now I was standing in front of the man I once loved, wondering if I had ever truly known him.
Richard smiled.
"Ask him.""
"Shut up," Nathan said.
For the first time, I heard fear in his voice.
Not confusion.
Not sadness.
Fear.
I turned toward him.
"Nathan.""
He looked at me.
"Please.""
One word.
One desperate word.
But it wasn't enough.
"Please what?""
He swallowed.
"Please don't believe him.""
"Then tell me the truth.""
The police officers watched silently.
My father lowered his head.
My mother looked away.
Everyone knew something except me.
Again.
Nathan closed his eyes.
"I never wanted anyone hurt.""
My heart sank.
Because that wasn't a denial.
"What does that mean?""
He looked toward the burned house.
"Five years ago, I found out about the company.""
Detective Vance stepped closer.
"The missing money.""
Nathan nodded.
"I discovered someone was using my investment accounts to move funds.""
I stared.
"You?""
"I was working with your father to uncover it.""
My father looked up.
"I asked him to help.""
I felt betrayed all over again.
"You both knew?""
"We were trying to protect you.""
I laughed.
A painful, empty laugh.
"Everyone always says that.""
Nathan looked devastated.
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
He looked down.
"That night.""
The night of the fire.
My breathing became shallow.
"What happened?""
Nathan took a shaky breath.
"Richard found out we were investigating.""
Richard laughed.
"Finally.""
Everyone turned toward him.
"You all want to pretend Nathan is innocent?""
Nathan glared at him.
"You manipulated everything.""
Richard smiled.
"But I didn't start the fire.""
My blood ran cold.
Because that was the one question left.
Who did?
Nathan looked at me.
"Juliette did.""
"I know.""
"But she did it because Richard told her you had the documents.""
I froze.
Richard's expression changed slightly.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"You used her.""
Richard didn't answer.
Nathan continued.
"Juliette thought she was destroying your life.""
His eyes filled with guilt.
"She didn't know Richard planned to destroy all of us.""
I looked at Richard.
"And you?""
He smiled.
"I needed everyone distracted.""
My hands curled into fists.
"You almost killed me.""
"No.""
His voice was cold.
"I almost removed a problem.""
A problem.
That's what I was.
Not a daughter.
Not a sister.
Not a person.
A problem.
Detective Vance stepped forward.
"Richard Mercer, you are under arrest for conspiracy, fraud, and attempted murder.""
Richard didn't fight.
Instead, he looked at me.
"Before you decide who deserves your forgiveness, ask yourself one question.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Why did Nathan survive the fire too?""
My blood froze.
I turned toward Nathan.
"What?""
Nathan looked terrified.
Richard smiled.
"Ask him what happened after the explosion.""
Nobody moved.
I looked at Nathan.
"After the explosion?""
His silence was enough.
"Nathan.""
He looked away.
"I was there.""
My heart shattered.
"You told me you weren't.""
"I was trying to get to you.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was ashamed.""
I stepped back.
"What happened?""
Nathan whispered:
"I saw Juliette leaving.""
A pause.
"Then I saw the fire.""
My voice became smaller.
"Why didn't you save me?""
His face broke.
"I tried.""
The words came out like a confession.
"But someone hit me from behind.""
Everyone froze.
Detective Vance looked at him.
"Someone?""
Nathan nodded.
"I never saw his face.""
Richard smiled.
Because he knew.
And I knew too.
The person who attacked Nathan wasn't Juliette.
It was someone else.
Someone who wanted every witness gone.
My mother suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Caroline.""
I looked at her.
"Your father.""
I turned.
My father looked horrified.
Because he understood what she meant.
The question.
The one nobody asked.
May you like
If Richard wanted us all destroyed...
Why was my father still alive?
