Chapter 9: The File Hidden Under The Floor
I turned toward the café window.
At first, I saw nothing.
People walking.
Cars passing.
Normal life continuing.
But then I noticed the black sedan parked across the street.
The same type of car that had stopped at my wedding.
The same kind of car that made my mother go pale.
“Who is that?”” I asked.
Daniel didn’t answer.
Nia did.
“My mother.””
I looked at her.
“You knew she was coming?””
“No.””
But her face said she wasn’t surprised.
That was almost worse.
Daniel stepped closer.
“We need to move.””
I looked at him.
“Why should I trust you?””
His expression hardened.
“Because five minutes ago, someone attempted to access your father’s old property.””
My stomach tightened.
“How do you know?””
“Because I was watching.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone is watching me.””
Daniel didn’t argue.
Because he knew it was true.
We left through the back entrance.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I was running from my own family’s secrets.
We drove to a small storage building outside the city.
Daniel parked behind the building.
“This was your father’s private archive.””
I stared at the rusted door.
“He had an archive?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t my mother know?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She did.””
My anger returned.
“Then why am I only finding out now?””
“Because your father trusted the wrong people.””
Inside the building were dozens of boxes.
Documents.
Old computers.
Photographs.
Everything my father had hidden.
Everything someone had tried to erase.
Daniel walked to the back wall.
“There is something you need to see.””
He pulled up a section of wooden flooring.
Underneath was a locked container.
My heart started pounding.
“What is that?””
“The reason your father died.””
He opened it.
Inside was a small recording device.
And a file.
The file had three names.
My father.
Victoria.
Evelyn.
I stared.
“Why is my mother’s name there?””
Daniel looked away.
“Because your father wasn’t investigating her.””
“Then who?””
He handed me the recorder.
“Listen.””
I pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then my father’s voice.
Older.
Tired.
Afraid.
“If Marcus ever hears this, it means I failed to protect him.””
My eyes burned.
Hearing his voice after so many years broke something inside me.
The recording continued.
“Evelyn is innocent. She will try to convince Marcus she knows everything, but she doesn’t.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What does that mean?””
He didn’t answer.
My father continued.
“The person responsible has been close to my family for years.””
A pause.
Then:
“The person responsible is someone Marcus trusts completely.””
The recording stopped.
I pressed the button again.
Nothing.
“That’s it?””
Daniel nodded.
“But there is another part.””
He pointed to the file.
I opened it.
Inside was one final document.
A DNA report.
My hands froze.
The name at the top was mine.
The comparison was between me…
and my father.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?””
His face was serious.
“Your father discovered something before he died.””
“What?””
Daniel looked at the report.
Then at me.
“He discovered you were not his biological son.””
I stopped breathing.
The room went silent.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From my mother.
Only four words.
*Come alone. I know.*
I looked at Daniel.
“What does she know?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
May you like
“She knows the truth about your birth.””
And then the lights in the building suddenly went out.
