Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Daniel spent the next twelve hours searching for answers.
Every piece of evidence created another question.
Victoria had lied.
That was undeniable.
But why?
Was she a criminal?
A victim?
Or both?
At midnight, Daniel returned to the mansion.
He found his mother awake.
“You should be sleeping.”
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“So should you.”
He sat beside her.
“Mom, tell me everything.”
She looked toward the fireplace.
“Your father and Thomas Hale were close friends.”
Daniel listened carefully.
“They started businesses together.”
“What happened?”
“Robert Voss happened.”
Evelyn’s expression hardened.
“Robert was jealous. He wanted what your father had built.”
Daniel nodded.
“He framed Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“He destroyed his company.”
“Yes.”
“And my father?”
“Your father tried to help him.”
Daniel looked shocked.
“Then why does everyone think we ruined them?”
“Because Robert made sure everyone believed it.”
Silence.
Daniel finally understood.
Victoria’s anger had been pointed at the wrong person.
She had spent five years destroying the son of the man who tried to save her family.
But one question remained.
“Why did she still attack you?”
Evelyn looked down.
“Because she believed I knew the truth.”
Daniel frowned.
“She thought you were protecting Dad?”
“Yes.”
Then Evelyn said something that made him freeze.
“Victoria came to me before she married you.”
Daniel stood.
“She did?”
“She asked me questions.”
“What questions?”
“About your father.”
Daniel felt a chill.
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth.”
“What truth?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your father left evidence.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“What evidence?”
“A recording.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“A recording of what?”
Evelyn’s voice dropped.
“The night before he died.”
The room became silent.
“Where is it?”
Evelyn looked toward the hallway.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel followed her gaze.
Then he noticed something.
A small red light blinking near the bookshelf.
A hidden camera.
His expression changed.
“Mom…”
Evelyn looked confused.
“What?”
“That camera.”
She stared.
“I didn’t put that there.”
Daniel slowly walked toward it.
Someone had been watching them.
Someone had been listening.
He reached behind the bookshelf.
And found a tiny recording device.
Still active.
Still transmitting.
Daniel looked at the blinking light.
Then his phone received a message.
One sentence.
From an unknown sender.
Stop searching, Daniel. Your father died because he searched too.
Daniel looked at the screen.
Then at the device.
And for the first time…
May you like
He realized the enemy was not hiding in the past.
The enemy was still watching him.
