Chapter 8: The Betrayal Before the Marriage
The photograph sat between us like a loaded weapon.
Nobody wanted to touch it.
Because everyone understood what it meant.
Someone in that picture knew the truth.
Someone had lied.
Someone had betrayed my mother.
I stared at the four faces.
My mother.
My father.
Amelia.
And Henry Ashford.
Nathan’s father.
“Where did you find this?”” I asked.
The security guard looked at my father.
“In the car.””
“What car?””
He hesitated.
“The one registered under Ms. Amelia Ashford.””
Every person in the room turned toward her.
Amelia closed her eyes.
“I knew this would happen.””
My voice became cold.
“You knew?””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to find the person who took it.””
Nathan laughed.
“You expect anyone to believe that?””
Amelia looked at him.
“I don’t care what you believe.””
She looked back at me.
“I care what she deserves to know.””
I held the photograph.
My mother’s face looked peaceful.
Like she had no idea she was standing beside people who would destroy everything.
“Tell me what happened that night.””
Amelia was quiet.
Then she spoke.
“Your mother called me three hours before she died.””
My heart tightened.
“She was scared.””
My father looked away.
That hurt.
Because he had known.
“You knew she was afraid?””
He nodded.
“She told me something was wrong.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
His voice broke.
“Because I thought I could fix it.””
I looked at him.
“You always thought you could fix everything.””
He lowered his eyes.
And that was the first time I saw my father as a person.
Not a powerful businessman.
Not my protector.
Just a man who had failed.
Amelia continued.
“Your mother believed someone close to her was working with Henry Ashford.””
Nathan immediately said:
“Impossible.””
Everyone looked at him.
He realized his mistake.
Because he had reacted too quickly.
Amelia noticed.
“You still protect him.””
Nathan’s face hardened.
“He was my father.””
“And mine was my father,” Amelia replied.
A painful silence followed.
“Family is not an excuse.””
My father picked up the photograph.
“Why was this hidden?””
Amelia looked at Nathan.
“Because someone knew I had it.””
Nathan shook his head.
“No.””
But his voice lacked certainty.
My phone vibrated.
Another message.
This time, from the same unknown number.
*YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE WRONG ASHES. FIND THE ORIGINAL REPORT.*
I stared at the words.
“Evelyn?””
My father noticed.
I locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
But Amelia saw my expression.
“What did you receive?””
I looked at her.
“Why should I tell you?””
The question hurt her.
Good.
Because I was tired of trusting people who claimed they were protecting me.
Nathan smiled.
“Finally.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
“You’re starting to understand.””
I stepped closer.
“You don’t get to act like you’re the victim.””
“I’m not.””
His voice lowered.
“I’m the only one who never pretended to be innocent.””
That was almost worse.
Because it was true.
Nathan never hid that he was cruel.
Everyone else hid behind good intentions.
The lawyer interrupted.
“Mr. Vale.””
My father looked over.
“What?””
“We found something else in the Ashford records.””
He opened a folder.
“An old police report.””
My breathing stopped.
“What report?””
The lawyer looked at Amelia.
“The original investigation into Mrs. Evelyn Vale’s mother.””
My hands shook.
“My mother.””
He nodded.
“The report was altered.””
My father stepped forward.
“By who?””
The lawyer hesitated.
Then handed him the document.
My father read it.
His face changed.
“What?””
I moved closer.
“What does it say?””
My father looked at me.
And I knew before he spoke.
It was something terrible.
“The person who altered the report…”
He swallowed.
“…was someone from my own company.””
I felt cold.
“Who?””
My father slowly turned the page.
The name was written clearly.
I read it.
And my entire body froze.
Because it was someone I knew.
Someone I had trusted.
Someone who had been helping me for years.
May you like
The name belonged to my father’s closest adviser.
And the same person had been standing outside Blackthorn Manor only minutes ago.
