Chapter 16: The Man Who Claimed to Help Me
I stared at the screen.
Daniel Carter.
The name of the man who had walked into our house claiming he wanted to protect me.
The man who had revealed secrets.
The man who had brought back my mother.
The man who had warned us about Lucas.
The man who was apparently trying to take my inheritance.
Nobody spoke.
The silence was louder than any accusation.
Daniel looked at my phone.
Then he looked away.
That small movement told me everything.
“Daniel,” my dad said quietly.
My uncle didn’t answer.
“Explain.””
Daniel sighed.
“I knew this would happen.””
My heart sank.
“You knew?””
He looked at me.
“Emma…”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Not another person telling me they did something terrible because they were protecting me.””
His face tightened.
“I never wanted this.””
“Then why did you try to transfer my money?””
He looked at the phone.
“I didn’t.””
The words came too quickly.
My dad stared.
“The bank says your name approved it.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Because someone used my identity.””
The room became still.
I frowned.
“Someone used your identity?””
“Yes.””
“Convenient.””
The words came out sharper than I intended.
But I was tired.
Everyone had a reason.
Everyone had a secret.
Everyone had a version of the truth.
Daniel looked hurt.
“I understand why you don’t trust me.””
“Do you?””
I looked around the room.
“My entire life, people have been making decisions for me.””
My voice cracked.
“My mom disappeared. My dad hid the truth. Tara lied.
Lucas manipulated everyone. And now you show up with another secret.””
Nobody spoke.
Because nobody could argue.
Daniel lowered his head.
“I deserve that.””
My dad picked up the phone.
“When did this transfer happen?””
I looked at the notification.
“Ten minutes ago.””
Daniel immediately looked at Rachel.
“Did you tell anyone?””
Rachel shook her head.
“No.””
“Did you contact anyone?””
“No.””
My dad looked at Tara.
She shook her head.
“I haven’t spoken to Lucas.””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“This was planned.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course it was.””
Daniel ignored the comment.
“Someone wants us fighting each other.””
“Why?””
“Because while we’re distracted, they move the money.””
My dad looked at him.
“You keep saying someone.””
Daniel nodded.
“Because there is someone.””
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
And that hesitation made my heart race.
“You know.””
My dad’s face changed.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Yes.””
My father went completely silent.
I looked between them.
“Who?””
Neither answered.
Finally, Rachel whispered:
“Your grandfather’s lawyer.””
I frowned.
“The one you said intercepted messages?””
Daniel nodded.
“His name is Victor Hale.””
My dad shook his head.
“He died.””
Daniel looked at him.
“No.””
Everyone froze.
“What?””
Daniel took out his phone.
“I thought he did too.””
He opened a file.
A photograph appeared.
A man standing outside a building.
Older.
Gray hair.
But alive.
My stomach dropped.
“How?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because Victor Hale never died.””
The room went silent.
Rachel covered her mouth.
“I saw the obituary.””
“Fake.””
My dad stared at the photo.
“Why would someone fake his death?””
Daniel answered:
“To disappear while continuing to control everything.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“So he’s been behind all of this?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Not all.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?””
He looked toward Tara.
“Tara wasn’t working with him.””
She looked surprised.
“Thank you.””
“But Lucas was.””
Everyone went quiet.
My dad frowned.
“How do you know?””
Daniel opened another file.
“This was sent to me yesterday.””
He turned the phone around.
It was a photo of Lucas.
Standing beside Victor Hale.
The date was recent.
Very recent.
My hands shook.
Lucas wasn’t acting alone.
But then I noticed something.
A small detail in the corner of the photo.
A reflection in the glass behind them.
Someone else was there.
Someone watching them.
I zoomed in.
And my heart stopped.
Because I recognized the person.
Someone I never expected.
Someone who had been pretending to help us all along.
I whispered:
“Dad…”
Everyone looked at me.
“The person in the reflection…”
I pointed at the screen.
“It’s not Victor.””
My dad leaned closer.
The color drained from his face.
May you like
Because the person standing behind Lucas…
Was someone from our own family.
