Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO STOLE MY FATHER’S LEGACY
I thought I had already lost everything.
My marriage.
My home.
My trust in people.
But when Michael told me Richard Blackwell had been inside my father’s company all these years…
I realized I had been fighting the wrong battle.
This wasn’t about Daniel.
Daniel was only a piece.
Vanessa was only a piece.
Sarah was only a piece.
The real person behind everything had been standing in the shadows, watching everything fall apart.
My father’s oldest enemy.
Richard Blackwell.
“He’s the CEO now?” I asked.
Michael nodded.
“After your father died, he slowly gained control.”
I stared at him.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because my father would never allow that.”
Michael looked at me.
“Your father trusted people.”
A painful silence followed.
“And sometimes,” he continued, “the people closest to you know exactly how to hurt you.”
I looked down.
Thinking about Daniel.
Thinking about Sarah.
Thinking about everyone who smiled while hiding knives behind their backs.
“What does Richard want?”
Michael didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Everything your father built.”
I looked at the documents.
“He wants Carter Holdings.”
“He wants the name.”
“Why?”
Michael walked toward the window.
“Because your father defeated him twenty years ago.”
I frowned.
“What happened?”
Michael was quiet for a moment.
Then he began.
“Richard and your father started together.”
I listened carefully.
“They built their first company together.”
“So what changed?”
“Power.”
Michael turned around.
“Richard believed your father stole his future.”
“But did he?”
Michael shook his head.
“No.”
The answer came quickly.
“Your father saved the company from Richard’s decisions.”
I looked at him.
“What kind of decisions?”
Michael’s expression became serious.
“The kind that could have destroyed thousands of people.”
I understood.
Richard wasn’t angry because he lost money.
He was angry because he lost control.
And people who lose control often spend years trying to get it back.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A picture.
My apartment.
Taken from inside.
My blood went cold.
The message appeared below.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT NEW YORK, EMMA.
I showed Michael.
His face changed.
“When was this taken?”
I looked closer.
The picture was recent.
Very recent.
“Ten minutes ago.”
Michael immediately called security.
But before anyone answered…
Another message appeared.
This time, there was no picture.
Only words.
YOUR FATHER CHOSE MICHAEL.
HE SHOULD HAVE CHOSEN ME.
I looked at Michael.
“Richard?”
Michael didn’t respond.
Because we both knew.
A person like Richard didn’t send messages to scare people.
He sent messages to announce that he was already close.
Then Michael received a call.
He answered.
“What happened?”
A pause.
His expression hardened.
“Get everyone out.”
My heart started racing.
“What is it?”
Michael looked at me.
“Your father’s old office was broken into.”
I stood up.
“Was anything stolen?”
Michael looked at the floor.
“No.”
“Then why are you worried?”
He looked at me.
“Because whoever broke in wasn’t looking for something.”
A pause.
“They were leaving something behind.”
I felt a chill.
“What?”
Michael opened the photo sent by security.
Inside my father’s old office…
On his desk…
Was a single envelope.
May you like
With my name written on it.
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