Chapter 10 - The Shot That Changed Everything
The sound of the gunshot echoed through the room.
Emma screamed.
“Dad!”
Michael fell backward.
For one terrifying second, nobody moved.
Then Daniel rushed forward.
“Call an ambulance!”
Sarah dropped to her knees.
“Michael!”
But Max didn’t run.
He stood there.
Still.
Watching.
Emma looked at him with pure disbelief.
“You shot him.”
Max’s face showed pain.
Not anger.
Pain.
“I had no choice.”
Emma stared at him.
“No choice?”
Her voice shook.
“You came into my wedding. You destroyed everything. You pointed a gun at my father.”
She looked at Michael lying on the floor.
“And you say you had no choice?”
Max lowered the gun.
“Emma, listen to me.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I listened to everyone for eight years.”
She pointed at Daniel.
“I listened to him.”
Then she looked at her mother.
“I listened to her.”
Finally, she looked at Max.
“And I listened to you.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“But nobody ever told me the truth.”
The paramedics arrived minutes later.
Michael was alive.
The bullet had missed his heart.
But before they took him away, he grabbed Emma’s hand.
“Don’t…”
His voice was weak.
“Don’t trust anyone until you know the whole story.”
Emma looked at him.
“Dad, what does that mean?”
Michael looked toward Max.
“Ask him.”
Then he lost consciousness.
Max disappeared before the police arrived.
Again.
Leaving behind more questions.
More secrets.
And more pain.
Two hours later, Emma sat in the hospital waiting room.
Her wedding dress was still stained with dust from the broken window.
Her makeup was ruined.
Her dream day was gone.
Daniel sat beside her.
For once, he didn’t try to explain.
He just sat there.
Finally, Emma spoke.
“Tell me about Max.”
Daniel looked at her.
“The truth?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Max Carter was your father’s closest friend.”
“Not family?”
“No.”
Daniel paused.
“He was the man who saved your father’s life.”
Emma frowned.
“Then why did he shoot him?”
Daniel looked down.
“Because eight years ago, Max believed your father betrayed him.”
Emma felt confused.
“Betrayed him?”
Daniel nodded.
“They were investigating your company’s theft.”
“Your father?”
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Someone else.”
“Who?”
Daniel took a deep breath.
“The person who had access to everything.”
Emma waited.
Then Daniel said:
“The person who controlled the company after your father disappeared.”
A cold feeling moved through her.
“Who?”
Daniel looked toward the hospital hallway.
“Your uncle.”
Emma froze.
“My uncle died years ago.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That’s what everyone was told.”
Before Emma could answer…
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A familiar voice whispered:
“Emma.”
Her heart stopped.
“Max?”
The voice continued.
“If you want to know why your father disappeared…”
A pause.
“Come alone.”
The call ended.
And a location appeared on her screen.
A place she knew.
May you like
Her childhood home.
The old Carter mansion.
