Chapter 14 - THE LAST DRIVE

By noon, police obtained the necessary authorization.

I hated every second of it.

My father had already been disrespected enough.

But if Daniel had hidden evidence there, I needed the truth.

The drive was exactly where Victoria said.

Inside a weatherproof container beneath a decorative stone near the grave.

Not inside the coffin.

Thank God.

Marcus’s forensic team opened the files.

Emails.

Transfer records.

Audio.

Scans of forged documents.

And videos.

Daniel had recorded meetings with Cole and Patricia because Daniel trusted nobody.

Ironically, his paranoia destroyed them all.

One video showed Patricia instructing Cole to move money.

Another showed Daniel discussing forged signatures.

A third showed Victoria refusing to participate in one specific transfer.

That mattered.

She was guilty of some things.

But not everything.

Then we found the file that ended Daniel’s last possible lie.

Video date: the night my father died.

Daniel stood outside the mansion talking to Cole.

Cole said, “Your father-in-law knows everything.”

Daniel replied, “Then we need more time.”

“Patricia is handling him.”

Daniel looked toward the house.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.”

Minutes later, Daniel entered through the side door.

The next camera showed him in the hallway.

He found my father on the floor.

Alive.

Weak.

Reaching toward him.

My father whispered something.

Daniel bent closer.

“Call…”

My father struggled.

“Ambulance…”

Daniel looked toward the staircase.

Then toward the front door.

And walked away.

I stopped the video.

I couldn’t watch more.

Marcus quietly turned the screen off.

“There’s enough.”

I wiped my face.

I had finally cried.

Not for Daniel.

For my father.

For the eleven minutes.

For the second chance that had been standing over him and chose to walk away.

Months later, prosecutors built the case.

Patricia eventually pleaded guilty to charges related to the drugging, financial crimes, and obstruction.

Daniel fought everything.

Men like Daniel always believe the next argument will save them.

It didn’t.

The evidence was overwhelming.

Cole cooperated and received a reduced sentence.

Victoria pleaded guilty to financial offenses connected to the shell companies but received credit for cooperation.

She also testified against Daniel and Patricia.

The stolen money was traced.

Most of it was recovered.

The mansion remained mine.

The trust remained mine.

The company remained mine.

And Patricia’s allowance?

Gone permanently.

At Daniel’s sentencing, he looked at me across the courtroom.

He looked older.

Thinner.

Ordinary.

He asked to speak.

The judge allowed it.

Daniel turned toward me.

“Emily, I know you think I never loved you.”

I said nothing.

“I did.”

Still nothing.

“I made terrible decisions.”

I looked at him.

“No, Daniel.”

He stopped.

“You made thousands of decisions.”

The courtroom went quiet.

“That’s what you still don’t understand.”

His face fell.

“A mistake happens once. You lied every morning. You stole every week. You manipulated people for years. You watched my father suffer. And when I finally stopped giving you what you wanted, you hit me.”

Daniel lowered his head.

I finished quietly.

“That wasn’t one mistake. That was who you chose to become.”

The judge called for silence.

Daniel was led away.

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