Chapter 16: The Father Who Chose the Truth
Richard stood beside Victoria, holding the folder tightly against his chest.
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
Richard.
The man who had looked heartbroken when he discovered his wife’s affair.
The man who had apologized for keeping secrets.
The man who seemed like the only person in Daniel’s family who still had a conscience.
He looked at me with tired eyes.
“I know how this looks.””
I laughed softly.
“How it looks?””
My voice shook.
“You walked into this house with Victoria after everything I’ve learned.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Emma, listen—”
“No.””
I looked at her.
“I have listened to everyone for days.””
My eyes moved to Richard.
“And every time, someone tells me they were protecting me.””
Nobody spoke.
Because they knew.
That excuse had become meaningless.
Richard lowered the folder.
“I came here because you deserve the full truth.””
“Then why are you standing beside her?””
His expression changed.
“Because she asked me to come.””
I looked at Victoria.
That surprised me.
She looked different again.
Not powerful.
Not angry.
Desperate.
“I didn’t come here to hurt you,” Victoria said.
I shook my head.
“You don’t get to say that anymore.””
She looked down.
“I know.””
The room became silent.
Then Richard opened the folder.
“These are the original trust documents.””
My uncle immediately stepped forward.
“Richard, don’t.””
Richard looked at him.
“No more.””
The firmness in his voice surprised everyone.
“No more hiding.””
He placed the documents on the table.
“Your mother discovered the truth twenty years ago.””
I looked at him.
“About the trust?””
“Yes.””
“And about Victoria?””
“Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“What happened after that?””
Richard looked toward Victoria.
“She wanted to meet Amelia.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“I did.””
I stared.
“You told me she never knew.””
“She didn’t.””
Victoria’s voice broke.
“But I found her.””
The confession hit me.
“When?””
“Months before she died.””
My uncle looked away.
I turned toward him.
“You knew?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I felt betrayed all over again.
“What happened when they met?””
Victoria sat down.
“She hated me.””
Her voice was quiet.
“And she had every reason.””
I listened.
“She told me she spent her whole life wondering why her mother abandoned her.””
A tear fell down Victoria’s cheek.
“She asked me why I chose myself over her.””
The room was silent.
“What did you say?””
Victoria looked at me.
“I said I was sorry.””
“And?””
“She told me sorry couldn’t give her back her childhood.””
I looked away.
Because she was right.
Victoria continued.
“Your mother refused the trust. She refused the money. She told me she wanted nothing from the family that caused her pain.””
“Then why did she die?””
Nobody answered.
That was the question everyone had avoided.
Finally, Richard spoke.
“Because she found out about the plan.””
My heart tightened.
“The plan to control me?””
“Yes.””
Richard looked at my uncle.
“He and Victoria had already started discussing how to access the trust.””
My uncle shook his head.
“I never wanted Emma hurt.””
“But you allowed it.””
My uncle said nothing.
Richard continued.
“Your mother was going to expose them.””
I looked at Victoria.
“And you stopped her?””
Victoria started crying.
“No.””
The answer came quickly.
“I didn’t.””
“Then who?””
Everyone became still.
Richard looked at the folder.
“There was another person.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
He looked toward the door.
No one was there.
But his expression told me enough.
“Your mother’s accident was arranged by someone who believed they had the most to lose.””
I whispered:
“Daniel?””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who?””
Richard looked at Victoria.
And Victoria whispered:
“Me.””
The room exploded into silence.
I stared at her.
“What?””
She covered her face.
“I didn’t order it.””
Her voice broke.
“But I caused the situation.””
I couldn’t move.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria looked at me.
“I threatened your mother.””
The words felt impossible.
“I told her if she exposed me, I would destroy everything she cared about.””
She swallowed.
“I didn’t know someone else would take it further.””
My hands trembled.
“Who?””
Victoria looked at Richard.
Richard closed his eyes.
Then he said:
“The person who arranged the accident wasn’t trying to protect Victoria.””
A pause.
“They were trying to protect themselves.””
My phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
From Daniel.
*“Emma, don’t believe them.””*
Then another message.
*“My father is lying.””*
I looked up.
Because suddenly, I realized something.
May you like
Everyone was still fighting over the truth.
And I was still the only person who didn’t know all of it.
