Chapter 6: The Last Letter
Nobody moved.
Not Daniel.
Not me.
Not Richard.
The words stayed in the room like smoke.
Who really caused his death.
For six years, I had carried grief.
Now I was carrying something heavier.
Doubt.
I looked at Richard.
"You expect me to believe anything you say?""
He smiled.
"Your father thought the same thing.""
I hated how calm he was.
People who knew they were losing control panicked.
Richard didn't.
He looked like someone who had already planned every possible outcome.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Leave.""
Richard laughed.
"You don't get to order me around.""
"I said leave.""
"You forget who saved you.""
Daniel went silent.
And that silence told me more than words could.
I turned toward him.
"What does he mean?""
Daniel looked away.
"Daniel.""
He swallowed.
"I made a deal.""
My chest tightened.
"What kind of deal?""
Richard answered for him.
"The kind desperate people make.""
I looked between them.
Six years.
Six years of secrets.
Six years of believing I knew the people closest to me.
And I knew nothing.
Richard tapped the folder.
"Your father discovered everything.""
I didn't touch it.
"Everything about what?""
"About the money. About the transfers. About Daniel.""
My eyes moved to Daniel.
He looked ashamed.
Richard continued.
"Your father wanted to expose us.""
"Us?""
Richard smiled.
"Yes.""
The word made Daniel flinch.
"You were both involved.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"No.""
Richard looked amused.
"Tell her.""
Daniel said nothing.
"Tell her how you signed the first documents.""
Silence.
I felt something break inside me.
Not heartbreak.
Something colder.
Understanding.
Daniel finally spoke.
"I was trying to fix it.""
I stared.
"Fix what?""
"The money.""
"What money?""
He closed his eyes.
"Your father's company was losing investors. Richard offered a solution.""
"A solution?""
"I thought it was temporary.""
I laughed softly.
"People always say that when they do something wrong.""
Daniel looked at me.
"I never wanted anyone hurt.""
"But someone was.""
The room went quiet.
Because everyone knew who I meant.
My father.
Richard opened the folder.
Inside was a letter.
Old.
Folded.
My father’s handwriting was on the front.
My name.
Mara.
My hands shook.
I reached for it.
Richard watched carefully.
"Your father wrote that the night before he died.""
I opened it.
The first line made my breath stop.
*My dear Mara, if you are reading this, it means I failed to protect you.*
My vision blurred.
I kept reading.
*There are people around you who will smile while they take everything from you. Trust actions, not promises.*
I looked up.
Richard was watching me.
Daniel looked terrified.
I continued.
*Daniel is not the person he appears to be. But he is not the only one.*
My heart pounded.
The next sentence was underlined.
*The person who destroyed this family is someone you have known your entire life.*
I stopped.
Someone I had known my entire life.
Richard.
Daniel.
Who else?
Then my phone rang.
Claire.
I answered immediately.
"Mara?""
Her voice was urgent.
"Where are you?""
"At Daniel’s office.""
A pause.
Then:
"Get out.""
My stomach dropped.
"Why?""
"Mara, I found the original death investigation report.""
I gripped the phone.
"What does that mean?""
"It means your father’s death was reopened this morning.""
I looked at Richard.
He was still smiling.
Claire continued.
"And Mara...""
"What?""
"The person who requested the investigation wasn't the police.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who was it?""
A long pause.
Then Claire whispered:
"It was Daniel Reed.""
I looked at my husband.
He looked back at me.
And for the first time since the day he brought Vanessa into my home...
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I couldn't tell if Daniel was my enemy.
Or the only person trying to save me.
