Chapter 9 - THE MAN IN THE DARK
Michael turned toward the staircase.
“Show yourself.”
A slow laugh came from the darkness.
“You still sound like him.”
Michael’s fists tightened.
“Who are you?”
The man stepped into the light.
And Michael finally saw him.
Older than he expected.
Calm.
Well-dressed.
Almost ordinary.
That was what made him terrifying.
Sophia immediately stepped back.
“Daniel…”
Daniel smiled.
“Hello, Sophia.”
Her body shook.
Michael noticed.
She wasn’t pretending.
She was genuinely afraid.
“What do you want?”
Daniel looked at Michael.
“What I have always wanted.”
“And what is that?”
“Control.”
The answer was simple.
Honest.
Terrifying.
Daniel walked around the room.
“Your father thought money could fix everything.”
“He thought secrets could stay buried.”
“He was wrong.”
Michael held the recorder.
“You killed him.”
Daniel smiled.
“Your father made a choice.”
“What choice?”
“One that protected you.”
Michael froze.
“What?”
Daniel looked at Sophia.
“She knows.”
Michael turned.
“Sophia?”
Sophia looked away.
“Tell him.”
Daniel smiled.
“Go ahead.”
Sophia’s eyes filled with tears.
“Your father found out Daniel was planning to destroy the family.”
Michael looked confused.
“Why?”
Sophia whispered:
“Because Daniel was his son.”
Silence.
Michael felt like the world stopped.
“What?”
Daniel smiled.
“Finally.”
The truth was out.
“I was the son your father abandoned.”
Michael stared at him.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“He chose you.”
“His perfect son.”
“And he erased me.”
Sophia shook her head.
“That’s not why you did this.”
Daniel looked at her.
“No?”
“You made me believe he hated me.”
“You made me hate them.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
For the first time…
Anger appeared.
“You should be grateful.”
Sophia laughed through tears.
“Grateful?”
“You destroyed my life.”
Michael watched them.
And slowly understood.
Sophia wasn’t the mastermind.
She was manipulated.
Daniel had spent years building this moment.
Then Daniel looked at Michael.
“Your wife is carrying the future.”
Michael froze.
“What?”
“The inheritance.”
Daniel smiled.
“The folder.”
“The will.”
“Everything your father left behind.”
Michael stepped forward.
“You hurt Emily for money?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
A pause.
“I hurt Emily because she was the last piece of your father’s perfect world.”
Michael felt rage rising.
“You’re sick.”
Daniel smiled.
“Maybe.”
Then he pulled out his phone.
Michael’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you doing?”
Daniel pressed a button.
A video appeared on the screen.
It was Emily.
Inside the hospital.
Alone.
Michael’s blood ran cold.
“When did you get that?”
Daniel smiled.
“While you were busy looking for answers…”
He looked at Michael.
“I was creating new questions.”
Michael rushed forward.
But Daniel stepped back.
“You have two choices.”
“What choices?”
“Find the folder…”
“Or lose your wife.”
Michael stared at the screen.
Emily was still unconscious.
Then the hospital monitor beside her started beeping faster.
And Daniel said:
“Because this time…”
“I won’t push her.”
May you like
A cold smile appeared.
“I’ll let nature finish what I started.”
