Chapter 14: The Truth About Emma
The name on the screen stayed there.
Richard Oleso.
Adrian's father.
But beneath it was something else.
A file marked:
*PROJECT ECHO - FINAL SUBJECT*
Adrian stared.
"What is this?""
James stepped closer.
"I don't know.""
But his voice sounded like he did.
Adrian noticed.
"You do.""
James looked away.
"James.""
Finally, he spoke.
"Your father wasn't only investigating Victoria.""
"Then what was he doing?""
James swallowed.
"He was investigating himself.""
The answer made no sense.
Until Emma's voice returned through the speakers.
"Your father spent years trying to undo what he created.""
The screen came back.
Emma was sitting in a dark room.
"You want to know why I hated him?""
Adrian didn't answer.
She continued.
"Because I believed he chose you.""
The words were quiet.
Not angry.
Just wounded.
"He had a perfect son.""
She smiled sadly.
"And a daughter he hid.""
Adrian looked at the screen.
"I didn't know you existed.""
"I know.""
The honesty surprised him.
Emma looked down.
"That's the worst part.""
Silence.
"I hated someone who never knew he was supposed to find me.""
For the first time, I heard pain in her voice.
Not manipulation.
Real pain.
Adrian stepped closer.
"Emma.""
She looked up.
"My father didn't abandon you.""
"You don't know that.""
"I do now.""
He pointed at the documents.
"Because I found the records.""
Emma's expression changed.
"What records?""
James picked up a folder.
"Your father was trying to legally take you away from Victoria.""
Emma went still.
"No.""
"He filed paperwork.""
"No.""
"He was preparing evidence.""
Emma shook her head.
"Stop.""
"He was coming for you.""
Her face changed.
For a moment, she looked like the little girl in the photograph.
Confused.
Scared.
Then angry.
"Why didn't he come?""
Nobody answered.
Because that was the question nobody could escape.
Why?
James looked down.
"Because Victoria found out.""
Emma closed her eyes.
"She told me he left.""
Adrian's voice softened.
"She lied.""
"I know that now.""
The words came quietly.
"But knowing doesn't change what happened.""
A door opened somewhere in the facility.
We all turned.
Emma appeared at the end of the hallway.
Not on the screen.
Actually there.
She looked nothing like the villain I expected.
She looked tired.
Broken.
But dangerous.
Adrian stared.
"Emma.""
She looked at him.
"My brother.""
The word sounded strange.
Like she had never said it before.
Adrian slowly stepped forward.
"I don't want to fight you.""
Emma smiled sadly.
"That's what he would have said.""
"Who?""
"Our father.""
She looked around the facility.
"He built this place thinking he could save everyone.""
Her expression darkened.
"But people like Victoria always find a way to turn kindness into control.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did you help her?""
Emma looked at me.
A long silence followed.
"Because I was eight years old when she told me my father abandoned me.""
She stepped closer.
"And she was the only person who stayed.""
The answer hurt because it made sense.
Not justified.
But understandable.
Then Emma looked at Adrian.
"Do you want to know the final secret?""
Adrian nodded.
"What?""
She walked to a locked door.
"This.""
She opened it.
Inside was a room filled with monitors.
And on every screen was the same thing.
Surveillance footage.
Of the Whitmore mansion.
For years.
Adrian's face changed.
"You watched us.""
Emma nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
She looked at him.
"Because I needed to know if my brother was anything like our father.""
"And?""
Emma looked at him for a long moment.
"You are.""
Adrian frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Before she could answer, every monitor suddenly changed.
A live video appeared.
Victoria.
Sitting somewhere unknown.
Smiling.
Adrian froze.
"How?""
Emma looked horrified.
"She found us.""
Victoria leaned toward the camera.
"Hello, children.""
The word made Emma step back.
Because she knew.
Victoria wasn't talking to Adrian.
She was talking to her.
"You really thought you could run from me forever?""
Emma's face went pale.
Then Victoria smiled.
"But you forgot something.""
The screen showed another camera feed.
Lily.
Standing alone.
My heart stopped.
"Where is she?""
Victoria laughed.
"That's the question, isn't it?""
Adrian moved toward the screen.
"Lily!""
Victoria smiled.
"Come find her.""
The video ended.
May you like
Emma whispered one sentence.
"She took her.""
