Chapter 12: The Evidence Hidden for Twenty Years

I opened the email.

There was no message.

Only one attachment.

A video file.

My first instinct was not to play it.

Every discovery lately had changed my life.

Every truth came with a price.

But Clara stood beside me.

“We need to know.””

I nodded.

I clicked.

The screen showed a dimly lit office.

An old recording.

The quality was poor, but the voice was clear.

My father.

Younger.

Angrier.

I felt my stomach twist.

“I’m not asking for permission anymore.””

The younger version of my father paced across the room.

Another man sat behind a desk.

Daniel Whitmore.

Clara’s father.

“I built half of this company,” my father said.

Daniel looked exhausted.

“You helped build it. That doesn’t make it yours.””

My father slammed his hand on the desk.

“You promised me partnership.””

“I gave you partnership.””

“I wanted ownership.””

The recording continued.

Daniel stood.

“You transferred company funds without authorization.””

My breath stopped.

The conversation was exactly what Clara described.

But then came something I never expected.

My father smiled.

Not an angry smile.

A confident one.

“You still don’t understand.””

Daniel looked confused.

“What?””

“I already won.””

The video glitched.

Then my father placed a document on the desk.

Daniel picked it up.

His face changed.

“What did you do?””

My father leaned forward.

“I made sure nobody would believe you.””

The recording ended.

I sat frozen.

Clara covered her mouth.

“That’s impossible.””

“No,” I whispered.

“It’s real.””

I looked at her.

“Why would someone send this now?””

Before she could answer, my phone rang.

Michael.

I answered immediately.

“You sent the video?””

“Yes.””

“Why now?””

“Because your father knows I’m alive.””

“How?””

“Because someone told him.””

I looked at Clara.

Michael continued.

“He has been searching for me for years.””

“Why?””

“Because I have the final piece.””

“What piece?””

“The original evidence.””

My heart raced.

“The evidence your father tried to destroy?””

“Yes.””

I looked at the video.

“What is it?””

“A recording.””

“Of what?””

Michael’s voice became quiet.

“Your father admitting everything.””

I looked at Clara.

“Where is it?””

Michael didn’t answer.

Then he said:

“Safe.””

“That’s not an answer.””

“It’s the only answer that keeps me alive.””

The call ended.

I turned to Clara.

“We need to find him.””

She nodded.

But before we could move, my front door opened.

I froze.

I hadn’t heard anyone knock.

My mother walked inside.

Behind her was Vanessa.

Both looked terrified.

Not angry.

Terrified.

My mother looked at the computer screen.

Then at me.

“You found it.””

I stepped forward.

“How did you get in?””

She ignored the question.

“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””

I laughed.

“That’s what everyone says when they don’t want me to know the truth.””

Vanessa looked at me.

“Please.””

The desperation in her voice surprised me.

“Please what?””

She swallowed.

“Please stop digging.””

“Why?””

My mother looked at Clara.

Then whispered:

“Because your father isn’t the only one who made mistakes.””

I stared at her.

“What does that mean?””

Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.

Then she said:

“Because the person who helped him twenty years ago…”

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She paused.

“…was me.””