Chapter 7: The Truth Hidden In The Box
Gabriel couldn’t move.
The man standing beneath the broken station clock looked nothing like the monster from his childhood memories.
That was the most terrifying part.
He looked ordinary.
A gray coat.
Silver hair.
A calm expression.
The kind of man people would trust without hesitation.
But Daniel’s reaction told Gabriel everything.
This was the man who had shaped their lives.
“Thomas Vale,” Gabriel said.
The stranger smiled faintly.
“So you do remember.””
Daniel stepped between them.
“Stay away from him.””
Thomas looked at Daniel with disappointment.
“After all these years, that’s the first thing you say to me?””
Gabriel looked between them.
“You know each other.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“I know him better than anyone.””
Thomas sighed.
“You were always emotional, Daniel.””
“Because I was a child when you destroyed our family.””
The words echoed through the empty station.
Gabriel felt his hands tighten.
“Tell me what happened.””
Thomas looked at him.
“You really want to know?””
“Yes.””
The older man slowly walked closer.
“Your father was going to expose me.””
Gabriel’s expression changed.
“Expose you for what?””
“For stealing from the company.””
Daniel nodded.
“I found the records.””
Thomas glanced at him.
“And that’s why I had to separate you two.””
Gabriel stared.
“You admit it?””
Thomas didn’t deny it.
“I needed your father to lose everything.””
The calmness of his voice made Gabriel’s stomach turn.
“You destroyed my family.””
Thomas tilted his head.
“No. Your father destroyed himself when he trusted the wrong people.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You’re lying.””
Thomas smiled.
“You still defend him after everything?””
Gabriel looked at Daniel.
“What does he mean?””
Daniel hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than any answer.
“Daniel.””
His brother closed his eyes.
“I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
Daniel looked at Gabriel.
“The night you disappeared…”
His voice cracked.
“I believed him.””
The confession hit hard.
Gabriel stepped back.
“What?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Thomas convinced me that our father was going to abandon us. He showed me fake documents. He made me believe he was protecting us.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was fourteen.””
Daniel’s eyes filled with regret.
“I was scared. I thought I was saving you.””
Gabriel looked away.
For years, he had imagined his brother as a hero.
Now he was discovering the truth was more complicated.
Thomas watched silently.
Then he said:
“This is why families fail.””
Gabriel turned toward him.
“You don’t get to talk about family.””
Thomas smiled.
“Actually, Gabriel, I know more about your family than you do.””
He reached into his coat.
Then he pulled out a small envelope.
Gabriel recognized it immediately.
The same type of envelope Marta had kept for decades.
“What is that?””
Thomas held it out.
“Something your father left behind.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don’t take it.””
Thomas looked amused.
“Still protecting him?””
Gabriel ignored them.
“What’s inside?””
Thomas stared at him.
“The reason your father trusted me.””
Gabriel slowly reached for it.
But before he touched it, his phone vibrated.
Claire.
He answered.
“Gabriel, where are you?””
“An old train station.””
Her voice immediately changed.
“Leave.””
He froze.
“What?””
“Leave right now.””
“Why?””
There was silence.
Then Claire said:
“Because I found out who purchased the property records.””
Gabriel looked toward Thomas.
“Who?””
Claire lowered her voice.
“The buyer wasn’t Daniel.””
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed.
“Then who?””
A pause.
Then:
“Gabriel Whitmore.””
His own name.
He felt confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Claire continued.
“Someone used your identity to transfer ownership of several properties, including the corner where Marta and Luis work.””
Gabriel looked at Thomas.
The old man was watching him carefully.
“You’re saying someone made it look like I ordered this?””
“Yes.””
Gabriel understood.
The entire situation had been designed perfectly.
Make him believe Daniel was responsible.
Make Daniel look like the enemy.
Make him fight his own family.
Thomas had planned everything.
Gabriel ended the call.
“You wanted me to hate him.””
Thomas smiled.
“I wanted you to stop looking in the wrong direction.””
Daniel looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas stepped closer.
“It means your little reunion has been a distraction.””
Gabriel’s expression hardened.
“From what?””
Thomas looked toward the exit.
“From the person who actually controls your company.””
The words hung in the air.
Gabriel frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
Thomas smiled.
“Is it?””
Then he said a name.
A name Gabriel knew better than anyone.
May you like
A name that made his entire world shift.
“Your mother.””
