Chapter 6: The Fall of Arthur Bennett
The world stopped.
For a second, I thought I had heard him wrong.
"What did you say?""
The security officer repeated himself.
"Mr. Bennett has been taken into custody.""
I looked at Robert.
He wasn't surprised.
That terrified me.
"What happened?""
The officer lowered his voice.
"The police received evidence of financial fraud.""
My hands went numb.
"That's impossible.""
"I know.""
The officer paused.
"But someone submitted documents.""
My eyes moved to Robert.
He smiled faintly.
Not a proud smile.
A victorious one.
"You did this.""
Robert didn't deny it.
"Your father should have seen it coming.""
I ended the call.
Then I walked toward him.
Vanessa stepped between us.
"Michael, don't.""
I looked at her.
"Move.""
She shook her head.
"Please.""
"Move.""
She moved.
Robert watched me calmly.
"You think anger makes you powerful.""
"No.""
I stared at him.
"Truth does.""
He laughed.
"Truth?""
He pointed toward the wedding venue.
"Do you know what people believe?""
I said nothing.
"They believe what they see.""
He stepped closer.
"Tonight they saw your father exposed.""
I looked back at the ballroom.
Through the glass doors, guests were still gathered.
Still whispering.
Still watching.
The same people who had praised him were now probably enjoying his downfall.
Robert continued.
"Reputation is everything.""
I looked at him.
"And yours?""
His smile faded.
"What about mine?""
I held up the fake document.
"You think nobody will look into how you got this?""
For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"You made one mistake.""
He frowned.
"What?""
"You thought my father was weak because he was kind.""
I turned away.
"And you thought I was stupid because I loved someone.""
I walked back inside.
The ballroom was completely different now.
Hours earlier, it had been filled with celebration.
Now it felt like a courtroom.
People stared.
Phones were out.
Whispers followed me.
"Is it true?""
"Was Arthur Bennett arrested?""
"I can't believe it.""
I ignored them.
I found Claire near the entrance.
She looked devastated.
"What happened?""
She handed me a tablet.
"Someone leaked documents claiming your father manipulated charity funds.""
I looked through them.
The accusations were detailed.
Too detailed.
Dates.
Numbers.
Transactions.
It looked real.
But I knew my father.
He would rather lose everything than steal a dollar.
"Who filed this?""
Claire hesitated.
"An anonymous source.""
"Can we trace it?""
She nodded.
"We're trying.""
I looked at the screen.
Then something caught my eye.
A small detail.
A transaction date.
I froze.
"Wait.""
Claire looked at me.
"What?""
I pointed.
"This date.""
She leaned closer.
"September 14th.""
"Exactly.""
I looked at her.
"My father wasn't in the country that week.""
Claire checked another document.
Her eyes widened.
"You're right.""
I took a breath.
"So the documents are fake.""
She nodded.
"But someone knew enough information to make them believable.""
I looked around the room.
At Vanessa.
At Robert.
At everyone who had underestimated my family.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From my father.
I opened it immediately.
Only one sentence.
*Michael, do not trust anyone until you find the red folder.*
I stared at the screen.
A red folder.
I looked at Claire.
"Do you know what he's talking about?""
She became pale.
"Yes.""
"What is it?""
She looked toward the ballroom doors.
"The one piece of evidence your father kept hidden.""
"Evidence of what?""
She swallowed.
"Evidence that Robert Carter has been trying to destroy your family for fifteen years.""
I felt my heartbeat increase.
"Why?""
Claire's voice dropped.
"Because Robert wasn't just after your father's money.""
She looked at me.
"He was responsible for the accident that almost killed your father.""
I froze.
"My father had an accident?""
Claire nodded.
"And he never told you.""
The room suddenly felt colder.
"Where is the red folder?""
Claire looked terrified.
"Your father hid it somewhere only you could find.""
I looked down at the message again.
*Find the red folder.*
Then the lights in the ballroom suddenly went out.
Everyone screamed.
A few seconds later, emergency lights turned on.
And on the giant screen above the stage...
A video began playing.
A video of my father.
Speaking words I had never heard before.
"If you're watching this, Michael...""
My father's voice echoed through the silent room.
"...then someone has finally come for everything I built.""
The screen flickered.
May you like
Then he said something that made everyone stop breathing.
"And the person who betrayed us is closer than you think.""
