Chapter 7: The Girl Who Found The Truth

The basement door creaked open.

Michael didn’t move.

Neither did I.

For a moment, we just stared at the darkness below.

Then I heard it.

A small voice.

“Daddy?””

My heart nearly stopped.

“Lily!””

I pushed past Michael.

He grabbed my shoulder.

“Don’t make this harder.””

I turned around.

The man who had once carried my daughter on his shoulders.

The man who had been her favorite uncle.

I looked him in the eyes.

“You touched my daughter.””

His hand slowly dropped.

I ran downstairs.

The basement smelled like old paper and damp wood.

At the bottom of the stairs, I found Lily sitting beside a wooden cabinet.

She was holding a folder.

Her face was pale.

“Daddy.””

I pulled her into my arms.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.””

She held onto me tightly.

“Uncle Michael said I had to help him find it.””

I looked at the folder.

“What is this?””

Lily shook her head.

“Mommy said it was important.””

I opened it.

Inside were photographs.

Documents.

And a letter.

A letter addressed to me.

My father’s handwriting.

*Daniel, if you are reading this, then Michael has already tried to take what belongs to you.*

My hands trembled.

I kept reading.

*I made mistakes. The biggest was believing my son would forgive being second.*

I looked at Michael standing at the top of the stairs.

His face was empty.

*Michael was brilliant. More brilliant than me. But ambition without love becomes something dangerous.*

I swallowed.

The letter continued.

*The company was never my greatest possession. My family was. And I failed to protect it.*

A tear fell onto the paper.

Then I saw the final paragraph.

*Emily knows the truth. I trusted her because she was the only person who challenged me. If anything happens to her, do not trust anyone who tells you she left willingly.*

I looked at Lily.

Then at Michael.

“You knew.””

Michael walked slowly down the stairs.

“You don’t understand.””

“No.””

I held the letter tighter.

“I understand everything.””

Michael stopped.

“You think I wanted this?””

“You locked Emily away.””

His face tightened.

“Vanessa did that.””

I froze.

“What?””

Michael looked away.

“I never told her to imprison Emily.””

“But you knew.””

Silence.

That was the answer.

He knew.

He let it happen.

A noise came from upstairs.

Footsteps.

Multiple footsteps.

Michael looked toward the basement entrance.

My blood ran cold.

“Who else is here?””

Michael didn’t answer.

Then Vanessa appeared at the top of the stairs.

But she wasn’t alone.

A man stood behind her.

An older man.

Someone I recognized.

Someone I hadn’t seen in years.

My father’s former lawyer.

“Daniel,” the lawyer said.

I stared.

“You’re dead.””

He smiled.

“No.””

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