Chapter 14 - The Final Battle
Victor walked slowly into the room.
Two men stood behind him.
Security.
Maybe worse.
He looked at me.
“Emily Mercer.”
I said nothing.
He smiled.
“You look exactly like Daniel described.”
My anger rose.
“You knew him.”
“Yes.”
“You killed him.”
His smile disappeared.
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Too smoothly.
“I didn’t kill Daniel.”
“Then who did?”
Victor looked at the recorder in my hand.
“You really think that will save you?”
Margaret stepped forward.
“The police already have copies.”
Victor laughed.
“Do they?”
That made us stop.
He pulled out his phone.
A video appeared.
A live feed.
My house.
My old house.
Someone was inside.
My heart dropped.
“What did you do?”
Victor smiled.
“I gave Richard one final chance.”
I felt sick.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Victor stepped closer.
“He’s not loyal.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He was never loyal to me either.”
The room went silent.
Victor looked almost amused.
“Your father only cares about himself.”
Then he revealed the truth.
Richard had secretly recorded everything.
Every conversation.
Every payment.
Every plan.
Because Richard never intended to share anything.
He wanted evidence to betray Victor later.
My father had betrayed everyone.
Even the people he joined.
Margaret looked at me.
“He’s been playing both sides.”
I nodded.
Of course he had.
That was Richard.
Always looking for the person with the most power.
Victor’s phone rang.
He answered.
A few seconds passed.
Then his face changed.
“What?”
Silence.
Then anger.
“They found the files?”
He looked at me.
And I understood.
Margaret had been right.
Desperate people made mistakes.
While Victor was focused on threatening me…
She had already sent everything.
Every document.
Every recording.
Every piece of evidence.
The police were coming.
Victor turned toward the door.
Too late.
Sirens filled the distance.
For the first time…
I saw fear on his face.
And then another voice came from behind him.
“Victor.”
Everyone froze.
Richard stood in the doorway.
My father.
But he looked different.
Older.
Broken.
“You ruined everything.”
Victor stared.
“You?”
Richard looked at me.
And for the first time in my entire life…
He looked ashamed.
“Emily…”
I stepped back.
“Don’t.”
One word.
And he stopped.
Because he finally understood.
He had lost the daughter who always forgave him.
The police entered seconds later.
Victor was arrested.
The evidence was enough.
But Richard…
Richard looked at me as they placed handcuffs on him.
“I’m sorry.”
I stared at him.
The apology I had wanted my entire life.
And somehow…
It meant nothing anymore.
May you like
Because some wounds don’t heal because someone finally says sorry.
They heal because you stop waiting for them to change.
