Chapter 12 - The Truth Finally Comes Out
I wanted to attack him.
Every part of me wanted to run forward.
But Noah’s terrified eyes stopped me.
A father’s anger is powerful.
But a father’s fear is stronger.
“Let him go.”
Richard smiled.
“Give me the drive.”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
“You still don’t understand.”
He walked around Noah.
“You think this is about money?”
I stayed silent.
“It’s about control.”
The words echoed.
Richard continued.
“Your father built something valuable.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“He trusted the wrong people.”
I looked at Diane.
Then my mother.
“What does she have to do with this?”
My mother closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
The words broke something inside me.
“Sorry for what?”
She looked at me.
“For hiding the truth.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Daniel…”
“No.”
I stepped back.
“You don’t get to say sorry after all these years.”
Richard laughed.
“This is beautiful.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“Your family falling apart.”
“You did this.”
“Yes.”
He smiled.
“And I almost won.”
Almost.
That word mattered.
Because it meant he hadn’t won.
I looked at Alex.
A tiny movement.
A signal.
He understood.
I looked back at Richard.
“You want the USB?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
I held it up.
Everyone stared.
I slowly walked forward.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Then I threw it.
Not at Richard.
At Alex.
He caught it.
Immediately, Richard shouted:
“Get him!”
Everything exploded.
Diane screamed.
My mother ran toward Noah.
Alex moved faster than anyone.
He reached the control panel on the wall.
The warehouse lights flashed.
Then sirens started.
Richard’s face changed.
“What did you do?”
Alex smiled.
“Jason wasn’t stupid.”
Richard froze.
“What?”
“The USB wasn’t the evidence.”
He held up his phone.
“It was a trigger.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
Alex looked at me.
“Your brother knew someone would try to steal it.”
Richard stepped backward.
“No.”
Alex continued.
“He uploaded everything.”
The warehouse doors suddenly opened.
Police officers rushed inside.
Richard’s face turned white.
“No.”
For the first time, he looked afraid.
But the nightmare wasn’t over.
Because as officers grabbed Richard, Diane walked toward me.
She was crying.
“Daniel.”
I stepped back.
“Don’t.”
She stopped.
“I need to tell you something.”
“I’m done listening.”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“You need to know why I did what I did.”
I stared at her.
“You starved my daughter.”
She nodded.
Tears falling.
“I know.”
“Then why?”
She looked toward Lily’s picture on my phone.
And whispered:
“Because I was trying to save her from something much worse.”
I felt a chill.
“What?”
Diane looked at me.
And said the one sentence I never expected:
“Your daughter was never Richard’s target.”
May you like
She paused.
“Your daughter was the reason he started everything.”
