Chapter 12 - The Last Recording
The message stayed on the wall.
Four words.
YOUR FATHER LIED.
Emma stared at it.
She didn’t know what to believe anymore.
Her entire life felt like a puzzle where every person had hidden a piece.
Daniel.
Her mother.
Max.
Her father.
Everyone had a secret.
Everyone had an excuse.
But someone was still trying to kill them.
And that meant someone was afraid.
Afraid of the truth.
Max searched the room.
“He knew we were coming.”
Emma looked at him.
“Who?”
Max didn’t answer.
She stepped closer.
“Who knew?”
Max finally said:
“Richard.”
Daniel looked shocked.
“But Richard is dead.”
Max looked at him.
“No.”
Silence.
“He never died.”
Emma felt numb.
“How?”
Max sat down.
“Because your father helped him disappear.”
Emma stared.
“What?”
Daniel looked at Max.
“Explain.”
Max looked at Emma.
“Your father found out Richard wasn’t just stealing money.”
“What else?”
“He was working with someone outside the company.”
“Who?”
Max hesitated.
Then said:
“Someone who wanted Carter Industries destroyed.”
Emma looked at the documents.
“Why would Dad help him disappear?”
Max sighed.
“Because your father believed Richard could expose the bigger enemy.”
Emma shook her head.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Max nodded.
“Because your father made one mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He trusted the wrong person.”
The room became quiet.
Then Max pulled out a small device.
“A final recording.”
Emma stared.
“Another one?”
Max nodded.
“Your father left it with me.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why didn’t you show it before?”
Max looked at him.
“Because I didn’t know who was telling the truth.”
He pressed play.
The screen showed Michael.
But this time…
He wasn’t afraid.
He was angry.
“Emma.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“If you’re watching this, then the people around you have already started blaming each other.”
Michael took a deep breath.
“I need you to know something.”
He looked directly at the camera.
“Your mother did not betray me.”
Emma closed her eyes.
A tear rolled down her face.
Michael continued.
“Daniel did not betray me.”
Daniel looked down.
“And Max did not betray me.”
Everyone became silent.
“Then who did?”
Michael leaned closer.
“The person who caused all of this…”
The video glitched.
The screen froze.
Everyone waited.
Then the recording continued.
Michael whispered:
“The person you trusted most.”
Emma’s heart started racing.
Because she knew what he meant.
The video showed a final image.
A document.
A signature.
A name.
Emma stepped closer.
Her face turned pale.
May you like
Because the signature belonged to…
Her.
