Chapter 17: The Truth About My Father
The recording played through the warehouse speakers.
My own voice filled the room.
“I don’t understand.””
Emma’s voice answered.
“Michael, you have to listen.””
The sound was old.
Distorted.
But clear enough.
“You are not responsible for what your father did.””
My heart stopped.
Daniel watched my reaction.
He wanted me to hear this.
He wanted me broken.
“What did my father do?”” I whispered.
Emma looked at me.
Pain filled her eyes.
“Michael…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Not another secret.””
Everyone stayed silent.
I needed the truth.
For once.
No more protecting me.
No more lies.
The recording continued.
Emma said:
“Your father wasn’t just losing money.””
My younger voice asked:
“Then what happened?””
Emma replied:
“He was trying to expose Daniel.””
I looked at Daniel.
His smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
The recording continued.
“Daniel destroyed your father’s company because he found evidence.””
My hands went cold.
“What evidence?””
Emma answered:
“The same evidence I found.””
The warehouse became silent.
I looked at Daniel.
“You destroyed my father.””
He didn’t deny it.
“You think your father was innocent?””
The question shocked me.
“What?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Your father built his empire by ruining people.””
“That’s a lie.””
“Is it?””
Robert looked away.
Nathan had told me pieces.
Everyone had.
But nobody had told me everything.
Daniel continued.
“Your father wasn’t a hero. He was just better at hiding things.””
I looked at Emma.
“Is that true?””
She looked heartbroken.
“Some of it.””
That hurt.
Because she was the one person I wanted to trust.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
My voice cracked.
“But nobody protects me from the truth.””
Emma lowered her eyes.
“You were my husband.””
“And you left me.””
The words came out before I could stop them.
Emma looked like I had physically hurt her.
“I didn’t leave you.””
“Six years.””
“I spent six years trying to get back.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
She looked toward Daniel.
Because the answer was standing there.
Daniel.
“He threatened Lily.””
My anger changed into fear.
“What?””
Emma nodded.
“He knew I would come back if I thought you were safe.””
I looked at Lily’s picture.
Daniel had used my daughter.
Again.
Mason stepped closer.
“Michael.””
I looked at him.
“I found the evidence.””
Everyone turned.
Mason reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small drive.
Daniel’s face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“No.””
Mason held it tightly.
“My father hid this.””
Daniel moved.
Emma raised the gun.
“Don’t.””
Daniel stopped.
Mason looked at me.
“This is what everyone was looking for.””
I stared at the drive.
“What’s on it?””
Mason swallowed.
“Everything.””
Robert stepped forward.
“Michael, you need to understand. If that drive gets out—”
“It destroys you.””
Robert looked down.
“Yes.””
Daniel laughed suddenly.
A cold, desperate laugh.
“You think a little drive changes anything?””
Mason looked at him.
“It proves everything.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Then he looked at me.
“It proves what your father was willing to do.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
He looked at Emma.
“Tell him.””
Emma went silent.
My heart sank.
“What?””
She whispered:
“Michael…”
I waited.
“Your father didn’t die because of Daniel.””
The room froze.
“He died because…”
She stopped.
And Daniel finished for her.
“Because someone in your family betrayed him.””
I felt numb.
“Who?””
Daniel smiled.
The answer was already coming.
May you like
And when he said the name, I realized every secret in my life had been connected from the beginning.
“Nathan.””
