Chapter 9: The Man From My Past
The room became completely silent.
Everyone looked at me.
But I couldn’t look away from the screen.
The man standing beside Victoria in the footage.
The man handing her the small bottle.
The man whose face had just been revealed.
It was my father.
Thomas Reed.
A man I hadn’t seen in eight years.
My knees almost gave out.
“No,” I whispered.
Alexander looked at me.
“You know him?””
I couldn’t answer immediately.
Memories came rushing back.
My father’s old workshop.
His rough hands fixing broken machines.
His promise that he would always protect me.
And the day he disappeared without saying goodbye.
I had spent years believing he abandoned me.
But now he was standing in the middle of the biggest nightmare of my life.
“Yes,” I finally said.
My voice barely worked.
“That’s my father.””
Everyone reacted.
Victoria looked surprised.
Not because she knew.
Because she realized I knew.
Alexander stepped closer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I didn’t know he was involved.””
The officer looked at the screen.
“Can you explain his connection to this?””
I shook my head.
“I don’t know.””
But a terrible thought entered my mind.
Maybe I did know.
Maybe I had ignored the signs.
The officer paused the footage.
“Who is Thomas Reed?””
I swallowed.
“He used to work with Alexander’s father.””
Alexander looked at me.
“My father?””
I nodded.
“Years ago, my father was the head mechanic at one of your family’s private properties.””
Alexander frowned.
“I never heard that name.””
“That’s because he left after an accident.””
“What accident?””
I looked down.
“He was blamed for equipment failure that damaged one of your family’s projects.””
Alexander stared.
“My father never told me.””
“Because he was ashamed.””
The room became quiet again.
Then Victoria spoke.
“He wasn’t ashamed.””
Everyone looked at her.
She continued.
“He was angry.””
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“You knew him?””
Victoria hesitated.
“Yes.””
The truth kept getting darker.
“How?”” Alexander asked.
Victoria looked uncomfortable.
“Because Daniel introduced us.””
My stomach tightened.
This was bigger than any of us imagined.
Victoria continued.
“Daniel found Thomas because he believed your father had hidden information.””
Alexander stepped forward.
“What information?””
Victoria looked at the screen.
“The original company documents.””
Nobody moved.
“What documents?”” Alexander asked.
“The documents proving ownership.””
The officer immediately understood.
“So this was about inheritance.””
Victoria nodded.
“Daniel believed if he found those papers, he could challenge Alexander’s control over the company.””
Alexander looked furious.
“And my son?””
Victoria looked away.
“Thomas believed Noah was the reason Alexander would never change his decision.””
I felt sick.
“My father thought hurting Noah would help him?””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
“He thought he was stopping something else.””
Alexander’s voice became cold.
“Explain.””
Victoria took a breath.
“Thomas was told that Noah was not your biological son.””
The words felt like a weapon.
Everyone looked at Alexander.
He didn’t move.
Then he looked at me.
“Did you know anything about this?””
“No.””
My answer came instantly.
“I swear.””
The officer stepped forward.
“We need to find Thomas Reed.””
But before anyone could move, Alexander’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
He answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a familiar voice came through.
An older voice.
A tired voice.
My father.
“Alexander Whitmore.””
My entire body went cold.
Alexander turned on speaker.
“Thomas.””
A long pause.
“I know you found the footage.””
Nobody spoke.
“Where are you?”” Alexander asked.
“I’m somewhere I should have gone years ago.””
My eyes filled with tears.
“Dad?””
The voice became quiet.
“Emma?””
Hearing my name from him after eight years almost broke me.
“Why?”” I whispered.
“Why were you there?””
Silence.
Then he said something I never expected.
“Because I was trying to stop them.””
Alexander looked confused.
“Stop who?””
My father’s voice changed.
“Everyone involved.””
The line crackled.
“Victoria. Daniel. Catherine.””
Alexander tightened his grip on the phone.
“You helped them.””
“No.””
My father sounded desperate.
“I got close because I needed proof.””
“Then why did you give Victoria the bottle?””
A pause.
Then:
“I didn’t.””
Everyone froze.
The room went silent.
My father continued.
“Someone took it from me.””
“Who?””
Another pause.
Then his voice dropped.
“The person who started all of this.””
Alexander looked around.
“Who?””
My father answered.
And the name he said changed everything.
“It was your father.””
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Because Alexander’s father had been dead for years.
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And yet somehow...
he was the beginning of the entire conspiracy.
