Chapter 10: The Man Who Erased My Father
The stranger’s words didn’t make sense.
Not because they were impossible.
Because somehow, everyone in the room believed them.
Darius’s face had lost all color.
Marcus looked like he had been punched.
And Rachel…
Rachel looked terrified.
“Who are you?”” I asked.
The man slowly turned toward me.
For a second, he smiled.
Not kindly.
Like he was looking at something he owned.
“My name is Victor Carter.””
My breath stopped.
Carter.
My mother’s last name.
“My grandfather?””
He nodded.
“I’m your mother’s father.””
I stared at him.
That was impossible.
My grandfather had been dead for thirteen years.
I remembered the funeral.
I remembered the black dress.
I remembered my mother crying.
Victor noticed my confusion.
“You were told I died.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Darius.
Then Rachel.
“No.””
My voice shook.
“No, my grandfather died.””
Victor smiled slightly.
“Your family has always been very good at hiding things.””
The anger came faster than fear.
“Don’t talk about my family.””
He tilted his head.
“Why? Because you finally learned they lied to you?””
Darius stepped forward.
“Leave.””
Victor looked at him.
“You still play the hero.””
Darius’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t get to come here.””
Victor laughed quietly.
“After twenty-one years, you still think you’re the one who protected her?””
I looked between them.
“You two know each other.””
Darius didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Darius.””
His eyes met mine.
“I’m sorry.””
Two words.
But they carried too much.
“What happened?””
Victor walked farther into the room.
“I’ll tell her.””
“No,” Darius said.
Victor ignored him.
“Your mother was going to expose me.””
I frowned.
“For what?””
“For stealing from the Carter family.””
Rachel looked down.
“Not just the family,” Victor said.
“The company.””
My mind spun.
Everyone had taken something.
Money.
Truth.
Time.
“You manipulated Claire.””
Victor shrugged.
“She was emotional.””
“She was your daughter.””
“And she was weak.””
The room went cold.
I couldn’t believe someone could say that about their own child.
“You don’t get to call her weak.””
Victor looked at me.
“You have her stubbornness.””
“I’ll take that as a compliment.””
His expression hardened.
“You have no idea what you’re involved in.””
Darius stepped between us.
“She knows enough.””
Victor looked amused.
“Does she?””
He reached into his coat and pulled out a folder.
My stomach tightened.
Not another folder.
Not another secret.
He placed it on the table.
“Inside are the documents proving Darius helped Claire hide Emily from Marcus.””
Marcus immediately grabbed it.
He opened the folder.
His eyes moved across the pages.
Then stopped.
I watched his expression change.
“Is this real?””
Darius looked away.
“What does it say?””
Marcus’s voice was quiet.
“It says Darius signed an agreement accepting full responsibility for Emily.””
I looked at Darius.
“And?””
Marcus swallowed.
“It says Marcus Hale had no legal claim.””
My heart sank.
“You did this.””
Darius closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The pain hit harder than I expected.
Because I wanted him to deny it.
I wanted him to say Victor was lying.
But he didn’t.
“I did.””
“Why?””
His voice broke.
“Because Victor threatened Claire.””
Victor smiled.
“Careful.””
Darius ignored him.
“He said if Marcus came back, he would use his influence to take Emily away from everyone.””
I looked at Victor.
“You threatened my mother?””
He didn’t deny it.
“I protected the family name.””
I felt disgust.
“You mean yourself.””
Victor’s expression changed.
“You’re young. You think love solves everything.””
“No.””
I looked at Darius.
Then Marcus.
“I think people who love you don’t destroy your life and call it protection.””
For the first time, Victor looked uncomfortable.
Then he pulled out another document.
“This is the reason I came.””
He slid it toward me.
“What is it?””
“Your mother’s final statement.””
My hands froze.
“My mother?””
“She wrote it before she died.””
Darius looked alarmed.
“You never had that.””
Victor smiled.
“I kept many things.””
I picked up the paper.
The first line made my heart stop.
My daughter,
If Victor ever finds this letter, he will try to use it against you.
I looked up.
Victor’s face changed.
The confidence disappeared.
I kept reading.
He will tell you that Darius betrayed you. He will tell you Marcus abandoned you. He will tell you everyone failed you.
My hands shook.
But the truth is simpler.
My mother’s final words stared back at me.
The truth is that the only person who never stopped fighting for you was Darius.
I looked at Darius.
His eyes filled with tears.
Victor stepped forward.
“Don’t believe everything she wrote.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
Because for the first time…
May you like
He looked afraid.
“Because there’s another page.””
