Chapter 5 - The Video My Father Left Behind
Henry connected the flash drive to an old computer in the library.
The screen flickered.
A video began playing.
My father appeared.
He looked older than I remembered.
His hair had turned almost completely silver.
But his eyes were as steady as ever.
"If you're watching this, Emily..."
"Then I was right."
I stopped breathing.
"I hope with all my heart that I was wrong."
"But if this recording is playing..."
"Someone close to you has betrayed your trust."
My mother quietly covered her face.
My father continued.
"There is something you never knew about Ryan."
The room became perfectly still.
"Eight months before you met him..."
"He asked me for a job."
I stared at the screen.
"He didn't know who I was."
"He only knew I owned several companies."
"I interviewed him myself."
The video shifted to security footage.
A younger Ryan sat confidently across from my father.
"I don't care about loyalty," Ryan said in the recording.
"I care about opportunity."
"If marrying the right woman helps me get ahead..."
"I'd do it."
The room fell silent.
I felt physically sick.
Henry slowly paused the video.
"Miss Carter..."
"There is more."
I nodded.
"Keep playing."
The next clip showed my father ending the interview.
"My daughter deserves someone better."
Ryan laughed.
"Your daughter?"
"I've never even met her."
"I probably never will."
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
My mother whispered through tears.
"He really knew."
"He knew from the beginning."
Henry looked at me.
"Your father investigated him afterward."
"But then..."
"You met Ryan by chance."
"Your father believed people could change."
"He gave him the benefit of the doubt."
I stared at the blank screen.
For six years...
I had defended Ryan.
Now I understood why my father had looked so worried on my wedding day.
That evening, my phone finally rang.
Ryan.
I answered.
Neither of us spoke at first.
Finally, he sighed.
"Emily..."
"Can we please start over?"
"You've made your point."
"My point?"
I almost laughed.
"You watched my sick mother cook for your entire family."
"You called that normal."
Ryan lowered his voice.
"I made mistakes."
"I'll fix them."
"No."
"You'll miss what you lost."
I ended the call.
Thirty seconds later...
Security informed Henry that Ryan's family was still parked outside the estate.
Waiting.
May you like
Watching.
As if patience alone could unlock the gates.
