Chapter 8: The Last Person I Expected
The video froze.
The face was visible.
But I didn't need to see more.
I knew the voice.
I knew the way they moved.
I knew the person standing beside Robert.
It was Laura.
The lawyer.
The same woman who called me.
The same woman who told me Emma wasn't the one who requested the divorce.
The same woman who appeared to help us.
I stepped back.
"No.""
Emma looked at me.
"You know her?""
I nodded slowly.
"She handled the divorce paperwork.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Then she was never helping us.""
The room became silent.
My mind replayed every conversation.
Every question.
Every detail I had shared.
She knew everything.
Our fears.
Our plans.
Our evidence.
We had invited the enemy into the center of our investigation.
My phone rang.
Laura.
Nobody spoke.
Everyone stared at me.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was calm.
"David.""
I didn't say anything.
"You found the files.""
I looked at the screen.
"You knew.""
A pause.
Then she sighed.
"I hoped you wouldn't.""
My anger exploded.
"You destroyed my family.""
"No.""
Her voice became colder.
"Your family was already destroyed.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because your father made a mistake.""
"What mistake?""
"He trusted the wrong people.""
I laughed bitterly.
"That's your excuse?""
"No.""
Her voice changed.
"I'm telling you the truth.""
I looked at Emma.
Then Daniel.
"Where are you?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she said:
"Ask your wife about the night your father died.""
Everything stopped.
Emma went pale.
"What did you say?""
Laura continued.
"Ask her what she saw.""
I looked at Emma.
"What is she talking about?""
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"David...""
My heart sank.
"Not you too.""
She shook her head.
"It's not what you think.""
I closed my eyes.
I couldn't hear those words anymore.
Emma sat down.
"I was there.""
The room froze.
"What?""
"The night your father died.""
I stared at her.
"You told me you weren't.""
"I lied.""
The pain came back instantly.
"Why?""
She looked broken.
"Because your father asked me to.""
Nobody spoke.
"My father?""
She nodded.
"He knew something was going to happen.""
Daniel looked confused.
"Why didn't you tell him?""
Emma looked at me.
"Because your father made me promise.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"Why would he involve you?""
She reached into her bag.
Pulled out a small envelope.
"Because he knew if something happened, you would need someone you trusted.""
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
My father's handwriting.
Again.
"David, if Emma is with you when you read this, trust her. She knows the truth.""
I looked at Emma.
The woman I thought had betrayed me.
The woman who had hidden things from me.
The woman my father trusted.
The letter continued.
"Robert did not act alone. The person closest to him is the person you must fear most.""
I looked at the date.
It was written two days before my father's death.
My hands shook.
"What happened that night?""
Emma cried quietly.
"Your father called me because he knew he was in danger.""
"From who?""
She looked at the video.
"Robert.""
"Then why hide it?""
"Because Robert threatened me.""
My stomach dropped.
"He said if I told you, he would destroy you.""
"How?""
She looked at me.
"He had evidence.""
"What evidence?""
Emma looked away.
"Evidence that could make you look responsible for everything.""
Before I could respond, Daniel's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His face changed.
"What?""
He turned the screen toward us.
A news alert.
Breaking news.
"CEO David Carter accused of financial fraud.""
I stared at the headline.
My name.
My company.
My life.
Destroyed in seconds.
Daniel looked at me.
"Robert made his move.""
Then another message arrived.
From Laura.
May you like
Only one sentence.
"Now everyone will believe you are the villain.""
