Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW THE TRUTH
Victor refused to explain everything in the mansion.
He insisted we meet somewhere private.
Rachel objected.
“We're not going anywhere without knowing what you're planning.”
Victor smiled.
“Good.”
He handed her a file.
“Then read this.”
Rachel opened it.
Her expression changed.
“What is this?”
“Your father's final corporate audit.”
She read silently.
Then looked at me.
“Daniel, your father suspected someone inside the company was stealing millions.”
“Who?”
Victor answered.
“Your mother.”
My stomach turned.
“She was stealing from him?”
“Not alone.”
Victor looked at Marcus.
My brother's face turned white.
“Marcus helped her.”
Marcus shook his head.
“I was eighteen.”
“You were nineteen,” Victor corrected.
“You signed documents.”
Marcus looked at me.
“I didn't understand them.”
“You understood enough to cash the checks.”
Marcus started crying.
I felt nothing.
Not anger.
Not sympathy.
Just exhaustion.
Four years away.
Four years believing I was sacrificing for my family.
And all along, they had been destroying everything behind my back.
Victor continued.
“Your father discovered the theft.”
“What happened next?”
“He planned to expose them.”
I stared at him.
“But he died.”
Victor's face became serious.
“That's what we were told.”
I froze.
“What do you mean?”
Victor leaned forward.
“Your father's death was ruled natural.”
“Wasn't it?”
“No.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Rachel stared at him.
“Are you saying Mr. Caldwell was murdered?”
Victor didn't answer directly.
“I'm saying the official story has holes.”
My mother suddenly screamed:
“Enough!”
Everyone turned.
She was trembling.
“You promised never to talk about this.”
Victor looked at her.
“I promised your husband.”
She covered her face.
I stared at her.
“What did you do?”
She shook her head.
“I didn't kill him.”
“Then who did?”
Silence.
Victor looked at me.
“Your father was going to change his will.”
My heart pounded.
“He planned to remove your mother from control of everything.”
“So?”
“So someone couldn't allow that.”
My mother began sobbing.
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing everything.”
I stepped closer.
“And now?”
She looked at Lily.
“Now I know what I've done.”
I turned away.
I couldn't look at her.
That evening, Rachel arranged emergency protection for Emily and Lily.
She also filed motions to freeze the remaining assets.
By midnight, several accounts were locked.
The next morning, news broke.
LOCAL FAMILY EMPIRE FROZEN AMID FRAUD INVESTIGATION
My phone wouldn't stop ringing.
Reporters.
Lawyers.
Former employees.
People I hadn't heard from in years.
Then one call came from a number I recognized.
My father's old assistant.
Her name was Margaret.
She said only one thing:
“Daniel, I have something your father left behind.”
We met at a coffee shop.
Margaret was seventy-two.
Her hands trembled as she placed a small box on the table.
“I've kept this for twelve years.”
I opened it.
Inside was a flash drive.
“What is this?”
“Your father told me to give it to you only if your mother ever lost control.”
I looked at her.
“What does it contain?”
She whispered:
“The truth about his death.”
I stared at the drive.
Then I looked up.
“Why didn't you give it to me sooner?”
She began crying.
“Because your mother found out where I lived.”
My blood went cold.
“What did she do?”
“She threatened my granddaughter.”
Rachel immediately moved closer.
“Mrs. Harris, we can protect you now.”
Margaret nodded.
But before she left, she leaned toward me.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
She whispered:
“Your father knew Marcus would betray you.”
I looked at my brother.
Marcus was sitting outside in a police car.
Margaret continued.
“But he believed you would forgive him.”
I couldn't answer.
She touched my hand.
“Your father said you were the only person in the family who still had a good heart.”
Then she walked away.
I looked at the flash drive.
For years, I had wanted answers.
May you like
Now I had them.
And I wasn't sure I was ready to hear them.
