Chapter 9: The Enemy Inside the House
The room erupted.
My father immediately reached for his phone.
“No.””
He stopped.
Everyone looked at him.
I had never heard that tone before.
A warning.
A command.
A realization.
“What?”” I asked.
My father looked at the name again.
“Victor.””
The name felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Victor Hale had been my father’s right hand for twenty years.
He had attended every important family event.
He had helped manage my mother’s estate.
He had been there after her funeral.
He had comforted me when I was a child.
And now his name was attached to the one secret my family had buried.
“He couldn’t have done this,” my father whispered.
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because he helped me search for the truth.””
Amelia’s expression changed.
“That’s exactly why he could.””
My father stared at her.
“What are you saying?””
She stepped closer.
“I’m saying the best place to hide a betrayal is beside the person searching for it.””
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone knew she was right.
Nathan walked toward the table.
“This is what I was trying to tell you.””
I looked at him.
“You knew about Victor?””
“I suspected.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
A bitter smile appeared.
“Would you have believed me?””
I hated that he had a point.
Four years ago, I would not have.
I had trusted Nathan.
I had defended him.
I had ignored every warning.
Until he showed me exactly who he was.
My father picked up his phone.
“He needs to answer.””
He called.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then voicemail.
My father’s face became darker.
“Call security.””
One of the guards moved immediately.
But before anyone could leave, the front doors opened.
Everyone turned.
A man stepped inside.
Victor Hale.
He looked calm.
Almost amused.
“Richard.””
My father stared.
“Victor.””
Victor glanced around the room.
At the lawyers.
At Amelia.
At Nathan.
Then at me.
His smile faded slightly.
“So.””
He looked at me.
“You finally know.””
My entire body went still.
My father stepped forward.
“What did you do?””
Victor sighed.
“I was hoping we could avoid this.””
“Answer me.””
Victor removed his coat.
“You were always too emotional when it came to your family.””
My father looked like he had been slapped.
“You changed my wife’s report.””
Victor said nothing.
That was an answer.
My father’s voice broke.
“Why?””
Victor looked around the room.
“Because your wife found out too much.””
The air disappeared.
I heard my own heartbeat.
“You knew my mother?””
Victor looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Did you hurt her?””
A long silence.
Then Victor said:
“No.””
I almost believed him.
Almost.
“Not directly.””
The words were worse.
My father stepped toward him.
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
“On the night she died.””
“Yes.””
My father’s hands shook.
“Why?””
Victor looked at me.
“Because your mother was going to expose everyone.””
“Everyone?””
He nodded.
“The Ashfords. The investors. The politicians.””
Then he looked at Nathan.
“And people inside her own family.””
Nathan’s expression changed.
“What are you implying?””
Victor smiled.
“I’m implying you don’t know your father as well as you think.””
Nathan’s confidence disappeared.
For once, he looked confused.
Victor continued.
“Henry Ashford was not the mastermind.””
The room became silent.
Nathan stepped forward.
“My father built everything.””
“No.””
Victor looked at him.
“Your father followed orders.””
Nobody moved.
“Whose orders?””
I asked.
Victor looked at me.
And then he said the name that made my father go completely still.
“Richard Vale.””
The room exploded.
“That’s a lie,” my father said.
But Victor smiled.
“Is it?””
I looked at my father.
My heart refused to accept it.
My father saw my expression.
“Evelyn.””
I stepped back.
“No.””
Victor continued.
“Your father spent years trying to convince everyone he was protecting you.””
He looked at Richard.
“But he never told you the deal he made.””
My father whispered:
“Stop.””
Victor ignored him.
“The truth is…”
He pulled a document from his briefcase.
“Your mother didn’t die because she discovered the Ashfords.””
He placed the paper on the table.
“She died because she discovered what your father was willing to do to stop them.””
I stared at the document.
Unable to move.
Unable to breathe.
Then Victor added one final sentence.
“And Nathan Ashford knows exactly what happened that night.””
Everyone turned.
Toward Nathan.
His face had gone completely pale.
And for the first time…
May you like
Nathan looked at me like he was not my enemy.
He looked at me like he was afraid of what I would discover next.
