Chapter 12: The Last Promise
After Faith left, nobody moved.
The silence was unbearable.
Everyone was looking at Charles.
Including me.
For thirty years, I had trusted him.
He was Richard’s closest friend.
The person who stood beside me after the funeral.
The person who helped me keep the company alive.
The person who told me he would always protect my family.
Now I wondered.
Protect us from what?
Or protect what he had done?
“Charles.””
My voice sounded unfamiliar.
He looked at me.
“Eleanor…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I need the truth.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
Claire stood beside me.
“Did you know about Faith?””
“Yes.””
The answer came immediately.
My heart sank.
“You knew?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Since she was born.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
“You knew my daughter existed.””
Charles looked at her.
“Yes.””
“And you helped keep her away from me?””
His face showed pain.
“I thought I was protecting her.””
Victoria laughed.
“Everyone thinks that.””
Charles looked broken.
“I made mistakes.””
I stared at him.
“What mistakes?””
He took a long breath.
“The biggest one was believing Richard could fix everything.””
I waited.
“He came to me thirty years ago.””
“Why?””
“He was terrified.””
“Of what?””
Charles looked at Claire.
“Of losing her.””
My daughter looked confused.
“Me?””
He nodded.
“Richard believed Daniel would use Claire to destroy everyone.””
I frowned.
“Daniel?””
“Yes.””
Charles continued.
“Daniel knew about Victoria. He knew about Faith. He knew Richard had hidden the truth.””
“So Daniel blackmailed him?””
“Exactly.””
I looked at the documents.
“And you helped Richard?””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“How?””
Charles sat down.
“We created a plan.””
My voice became cold.
“A plan that involved lying to me.””
“Yes.””
Claire stepped forward.
“How could you?””
Charles looked at her.
“I thought when the danger passed, we would tell you.””
“But it never passed.””
“No.””
His voice became quiet.
“Because Richard died.””
Nobody spoke.
Then I asked the question I had been afraid to ask.
“Did Daniel kill him?””
Charles looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
That answer was worse than yes.
“Then who does?””
Charles looked toward the door Faith had left through.
“Someone who was there that night.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
Charles reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small key.
“I kept this for ten years.””
He placed it on the table.
“Richard gave it to me before he died.””
I stared at it.
“What does it open?””
“The final file.””
“Where?””
Charles looked at me.
“The original Whitmore archives.””
I picked up the key.
“Why didn’t you give it to me before?””
“Because Richard made me promise.””
I looked at him.
“What promise?””
Charles whispered:
“That I would only give it to you when you were ready to learn who really betrayed you.””
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
Everyone looked.
Unknown number.
A photo appeared.
My breath stopped.
It was Richard.
Alive.
Standing outside a building.
The date was yesterday.
Claire gasped.
“Dad?””
I stared at the screen.
Impossible.
My husband had been dead for ten years.
Then another message appeared.
May you like
Three words.
*He never died.*
