Chapter 12 - THE TRUTH ABOUT DANIEL'S FATHER
Rachel told them everything.
Daniel's father had discovered the fraud.
He had planned to expose Thomas.
But Thomas had people everywhere.
Police.
Bankers.
Lawyers.
Even politicians.
So Daniel's father created a false trail.
He made it appear that Lily's family had stolen money.
Then he hid the real ledger.
Rachel had been instructed to take Lily and the twins away.
But Thomas found them.
The night Daniel remembered was the night everything collapsed.
Thomas confronted Daniel's father.
A gun was fired.
Daniel's father was shot.
Daniel had witnessed it.
But Thomas struck Daniel in the head.
The trauma erased much of his memory.
Lily's mother had escaped with Emily.
Rachel took Lily and the twins.
And Daniel's father died.
Rachel whispered:
“He wasn't killed by Thomas.”
Daniel stared.
“Then who?”
Rachel looked at Lily.
“Your mother.”
Lily froze.
“What?”
“She shot him.”
Daniel stood.
“Why?”
“Because Thomas was about to kill him.”
Rachel's voice broke.
“She fired once. She thought she killed Thomas.”
“But she didn't.”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
“Thomas survived.”
“And my father?”
“He died protecting your mother.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
The truth was unbearable.
His father had not betrayed him.
His mother had not abandoned him.
The entire story he had built his life around was wrong.
Then Rachel said:
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“Your father knew Grant would eventually come after you.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Grant was eighteen.”
“He was already working for Thomas.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“Why?”
Rachel answered:
“Because Thomas wasn't the real mastermind.”
Silence.
Daniel whispered:
“Who was?”
Rachel looked at him.
“Your mother.”
Everyone froze.
Lily stepped forward.
“My mother?”
Rachel shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Then who?”
Rachel said:
“The person who ordered your father's death was someone neither of you ever suspected.”
She reached into a drawer.
Pulled out an old photograph.
And handed it to Daniel.
He looked at the man standing beside Thomas.
His stomach dropped.
It was Daniel's uncle.
May you like
His father's younger brother.
Richard Mercer.
