Chapter 13 - THE PERSON BEHIND THE BETRAYAL
Daniel stared at the screen.
His mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing.
The person standing beside his father in the recording…
Was not Robert Voss.
Was not Victoria.
Was someone closer.
Someone who had been part of his family for decades.
Someone who had attended birthdays.
Family dinners.
Important meetings.
Someone who had comforted him after his father’s funeral.
Michael Hayes.
His father’s most trusted lawyer.
Daniel felt the air leave his lungs.
“No…”
Robert watched his reaction carefully.
“That hurts, doesn’t it?”
Daniel turned slowly.
“You’re lying.”
Robert smiled.
“Am I?”
The video continued.
Richard Whitmore looked exhausted.
Behind him, Michael stood quietly.
Richard spoke into the camera.
“Michael knows everything.”
Daniel froze.
His father continued.
“If something happens to me, it means someone betrayed me from inside my own circle.”
The screen flickered.
Then the recording stopped.
Daniel looked at Robert.
“You edited it.”
Robert laughed.
“Of course you would say that.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Where is the original?”
Robert smiled.
“You really think I brought you here to answer questions?”
Suddenly, the warehouse lights went out.
A loud crash came from behind.
Daniel turned.
A door opened.
Someone rushed inside.
“Daniel!”
He recognized the voice.
Victoria.
She ran toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
Daniel stared.
“You followed me?”
“I knew Robert would bring you here.”
Before Daniel could respond, a sound echoed.
A gunshot.
Everyone froze.
The bullet hit the wall inches away from Daniel.
Robert’s men had entered.
Victoria grabbed Daniel’s arm.
“Move!”
They ran behind a stack of old containers.
Daniel looked at her.
“You knew this was a trap?”
“Yes.”
“Then why come?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Because I already destroyed enough of your life.”
Another gunshot.
She continued:
“I wasn’t going to let him destroy the rest.”
For a moment, Daniel saw something he never expected.
Not the woman who lied.
Not the woman who betrayed him.
But someone trying to fix the damage she caused.
The warehouse became chaos.
Security alarms screamed.
Police sirens approached from outside.
Robert looked toward the exit.
“You called them?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Then everyone turned.
A voice came from the entrance.
“Actually, I did.”
Michael Hayes walked inside.
Daniel froze.
The same man from the video.
The same man he thought was the traitor.
Michael looked at Robert.
“It’s over.”
Robert laughed.
“You?”
Michael walked forward.
“Yes.”
Daniel stared.
“What is happening?”
Michael looked at him.
“I’m sorry, Daniel.”
“For what?”
“For letting you believe I betrayed your father.”
The answer confused him.
Michael continued:
“I was undercover.”
Silence.
Robert’s expression changed.
“You’re lying.”
“No.”
Michael looked at the police behind him.
“I spent three years building the case against you.”
Daniel looked between them.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
Michael’s eyes became heavy.
“Because your father asked me not to.”
Daniel froze.
“My father?”
Michael nodded.
“He knew if you knew the truth, Robert would come after you.”
Robert suddenly moved.
He grabbed a gun from his jacket.
But before he could raise it—
Victoria stepped forward.
“Don’t.”
Everyone stopped.
Robert looked at her.
“You?”
Victoria’s voice was calm.
“You ruined my family.”
Robert smiled.
“You’re still blaming me?”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“I’m blaming myself for believing you.”
The police moved quickly.
Robert was arrested.
But Daniel knew one thing.
The night was not over.
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Because there was still one unanswered question.
What exactly happened the night his father died?
