Chapter 8: The Man Pulling Derek’s Strings
The stranger stood in my father’s living room like he belonged there.
Like he had walked into our home a hundred times.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then my father stepped forward.
“You have five seconds to explain why you’re here.””
The man smiled.
Still calm.
Still confident.
“My name is Victor Hale.””
My blood went cold.
Hale.
Another Hale.
Derek’s family.
“I thought you were dead,” Dad said.
Victor laughed quietly.
“That was the idea.””
Rachel moved closer to me.
“Emily, stay behind us.””
Victor noticed.
“Still protecting her?””
Dad’s expression changed.
“You don’t get to talk about protection.””
Victor looked around the room.
“Interesting.””
He looked at me.
“You look exactly like your mother.””
I hated that he said it.
I hated that he had a connection to her.
“Why are you here?””
Victor sighed.
“Because Derek failed.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
Failed?
Not hurt.
Not betrayed.
Failed.
Like I had been a mission.
“What was his goal?””
Victor looked at me.
“To recover what your mother stole.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“My mother stole nothing.””
Victor smiled.
“That’s what she wanted everyone to believe.””
Dad moved quickly.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Victor ignored him.
“Your mother took evidence.””
“What evidence?””
“The original financial records.””
Rachel looked at the files.
“The ones proving the fraud?””
Victor nodded.
“Exactly.””
I stared at him.
“And Derek?””
Victor smiled.
“Derek was supposed to find them.””
My stomach turned.
All those years.
All those moments.
The marriage proposal.
The wedding.
The promises.
A mission.
Nothing more.
“You married me because of my mother.””
Victor looked almost amused.
“No.””
He looked at me carefully.
“Derek married you because of your mother.””
I felt sick.
“What’s the difference?””
“Derek became obsessed.””
Nobody spoke.
Victor continued.
“At first, you were just a way to get information.””
My hands curled into fists.
“But then?””
“He started enjoying control.””
That was the first honest thing anyone had said about Derek.
Victor looked toward the door.
“He was always weak.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“Yet you used him.””
Victor shrugged.
“Everyone uses someone.””
“No,” Dad said.
“People like you do.””
Victor’s expression changed slightly.
For the first time, his confidence cracked.
Then police sirens sounded outside.
Victor looked toward the window.
He wasn’t surprised.
“I should go.””
Rachel blocked the hallway.
“You’re not leaving.””
Victor smiled.
“You think this ends with me?””
Nobody answered.
Because we all knew.
It didn’t.
Before leaving, Victor looked at me.
“Ask your father where he hid the evidence.””
My father froze.
I turned.
“Dad?””
Victor smiled.
“There’s your answer.””
Then he walked toward the door.
The police entered seconds later.
But Victor was gone.
He had disappeared through the back exit.
I turned toward my father.
“Is it true?””
He looked away.
That hurt more than anything.
“Dad.””
He sat down.
“I found the evidence after your mother died.””
“And you hid it?””
“I protected you.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You made decisions for me.””
He looked at me.
“I was trying to keep you alive.””
The anger inside me fought with the sadness.
Because I understood.
But I was tired of everyone deciding what was best for me.
Derek.
Victor.
Even my father.
“Where is it?””
Dad didn’t answer.
Then his phone rang.
Everyone looked.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A voice spoke.
Derek.
“Richard.””
My father’s face changed.
“What do you want?””
Derek sounded exhausted.
“Victor has Emily’s mother’s evidence.””
Silence.
Dad tightened his grip.
“How do you know?””
“Because I helped him find it.””
My heart stopped.
Derek continued.
“But I also know where he’s taking it.””
My father stared at the phone.
“Why should I believe you?””
A pause.
Then Derek said something nobody expected.
“Because if Victor gets that evidence, he won’t just destroy me.””
May you like
His voice broke.
“He’ll destroy Emily.””
