Chapter 13: The Truth Daniel Hid
I couldn’t hear anything except my own heartbeat.
Not Richard.
Not the officers outside.
Not even Michael breathing beside me.
Only one question repeated in my mind.
Why did Daniel find me?
Richard watched my face carefully.
He knew he had planted the doubt.
And he enjoyed it.
“Tell her,” Richard said.
Daniel didn’t move.
“Tell her why you suddenly appeared at that restaurant.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Was it a coincidence?””
His eyes met mine.
And that was when I knew.
It wasn’t.
“No,” he whispered.
My chest tightened.
“Then why?””
Daniel looked older than he had moments before.
“I was looking for you.””
“Why?””
“Because I received a message.””
“From who?””
He looked at the notebook.
“Your mother.””
Nobody spoke.
Richard’s smile disappeared slightly.
“What?””
Daniel continued.
“Three weeks ago, I received a package. Inside was a copy of one page from Eleanor’s journal.””
My eyes narrowed.
“My mother’s journal?””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
“I don’t know.””
I shook my head.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I understand why you don’t.””
“Then explain.””
Daniel took a breath.
“She wrote that if anything happened to her, I needed to find Sarah before anyone else did.””
My anger softened for a second.
“Why didn’t you come sooner?””
His silence answered.
“Daniel.””
He looked away.
“Because I was afraid.””
I stared.
“Afraid of what?””
“Of what I would discover.””
That wasn’t enough.
Not anymore.
“You knew my mother was in danger.””
“Yes.””
“You knew my father was alive.””
“Yes.””
“You knew there were people watching me.””
“Yes.””
My voice cracked.
“And you still stayed away?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I thought staying away was protecting you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Because it sounds better than admitting they failed you.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You don’t get to speak about her.””
Richard smiled.
“Why? Because I’m the villain?””
He pointed at the notebook.
“You should ask him about page seventeen.””
Daniel’s face changed.
A small reaction.
But I saw it.
“What is on page seventeen?””
Nobody answered.
I grabbed the notebook.
I flipped through the pages.
Numbers.
Names.
Accounts.
Then I found it.
Page seventeen.
A handwritten note.
My mother’s handwriting.
My hands trembled.
Daniel knows more than he admits.
I looked up.
Daniel went pale.
“What does that mean?””
He didn’t answer.
“Daniel.””
Finally, he whispered:
“She suspected me.””
The words hurt.
“Why?””
“Because I lied to her.””
The room became silent.
Michael stepped closer.
“What did you lie about?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I told Eleanor I didn’t know who was involved.””
A pause.
“But I did.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
Daniel looked toward Richard.
Then back at me.
“My father.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“You knew?””
Daniel nodded.
“I knew my father was involved in illegal activity.””
“Then why didn’t you stop him?””
Daniel looked broken.
“Because I thought I could fix it quietly.””
Michael shook his head.
“You covered it.””
“No.””
“You protected your family name.””
Daniel didn’t deny it.
And that was the worst part.
I felt tears forming.
“My mother trusted you.””
“I know.””
“She died because you hesitated.””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than another lie.
Richard took a step forward.
“See?””
He looked at me.
“That’s the truth about powerful people.””
But before he could say more, Victoria spoke.
“Enough.””
Everyone turned.
She stood holding the old photograph.
“Richard, you always had one weakness.””
His smile faded.
“What?””
“You thought Eleanor was alone.””
Richard stared.
Victoria continued.
“She wasn’t.””
She reached into her coat.
And pulled out a small device.
A recording device.
Richard’s face changed.
“What is that?””
Victoria smiled.
“Insurance.””
Daniel looked shocked.
“When did you get that?””
“When I realized someone was going to try to control the story again.””
She pressed a button.
Richard’s own voice filled the room.
The recording from moments earlier.
Every confession.
Every threat.
Every word.
Richard’s face went white.
“You recorded me?””
Victoria nodded.
“You talked too much.””
For the first time, Richard looked afraid.
The police officers outside moved toward the door.
Richard backed away.
But before they reached him, he looked at me.
“This isn’t over.””
I stared at him.
“Yes.””
I held up the notebook.
“It is.””
Richard smiled faintly.
“No.””
He pointed at Daniel.
“Ask him what happened the night your mother died.””
The room froze.
Daniel’s face changed.
May you like
And Richard whispered:
“He was there.””
