Chapter 8: The Last Witness
The woman on the screen introduced herself as Margaret Carter.
Elizabeth’s older cousin.
The last person alive who knew what happened thirty years ago.
And she had been waiting.
Waiting for Daniel.
“I don’t understand,” Michael said.
Margaret looked at him.
“You should.””
Her eyes softened.
“You were always supposed to know the truth.””
Michael’s voice was cold.
“Why contact us now?””
“Because Victoria found the documents.””
Elizabeth went pale.
“What documents?””
“The originals.””
Everyone froze.
Margaret continued.
“The documents proving the company was never hers.””
I looked at Michael.
“Where are they?””
Margaret smiled sadly.
“That’s why I called.””
She turned the camera slightly.
Behind her was a wall covered with old boxes.
“I have been protecting them.””
Michael stepped closer.
“You have the evidence?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you go to the police?””
Margaret sighed.
“Because Victoria wasn’t the only person involved.””
A terrible feeling returned.
“There’s someone else.””
Margaret nodded.
“Someone powerful.””
Elizabeth looked at her.
“Who?””
Margaret hesitated.
Then said:
“Michael’s father.””
The room went silent.
Michael whispered:
“My father is dead.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
Margaret looked at him.
“He wasn’t innocent.””
I watched Michael absorb that.
Another parent.
Another betrayal.
Another piece of his childhood destroyed.
“I thought he loved me,” Michael said.
Margaret’s expression softened.
“I believe he did.””
“Then why?””
“Because some people convince themselves that protecting a family means controlling it.””
The words were familiar.
Too familiar.
Victoria had said the same thing.
Michael looked at me.
“We built our whole lives around lies.””
I reached for Daniel.
“But not anymore.””
For the first time, I saw something change in Michael.
Not anger.
Not sadness.
Determination.
“What do we need to do?””
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“Bring him to me.””
I immediately shook my head.
“No.””
Michael looked at me.
“Emily.””
“He’s seven.””
Margaret nodded.
“She’s right.””
“Then why ask?””
“Because Daniel is the only person who can unlock the final evidence.””
I stared.
“What do you mean?””
Margaret held up an old metal box.
“This box belonged to Elizabeth’s father.””
Elizabeth stepped closer.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
Margaret opened it.
Inside was a small device.
And a handwritten note.
She read the note aloud.
“Only the true Carter bloodline can access the recording.””
Nobody moved.
Daniel looked at the screen.
“Why me?””
Margaret smiled gently.
“Because your DNA carries the truth.””
I hated that sentence.
Because it made my son sound like a key.
Not a child.
Michael must have felt the same.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
He shook his head.
“My son is not a weapon.””
Daniel looked at his father.
Michael knelt beside him.
“You hear me?””
Daniel nodded.
“You are not responsible for fixing adults’ mistakes.””
My heart broke.
Because that was the father Daniel had needed seven years earlier.
Then the front door opened.
We all turned.
Nobody had heard anyone arrive.
Victoria stood there.
Her face was different.
Not angry.
Afraid.
“I know what you’re doing.””
Michael stood.
“How did you find us?””
She looked at Daniel.
“I followed the only person who could destroy everything.””
I stepped in front of my son.
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“Emily…”
“No.””
She stopped.
For once, she listened.
Michael moved closer.
“You lied to me my entire life.””
Victoria whispered:
“I loved you.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“You loved owning me.””
The words shattered her.
Then she reached into her coat.
Everyone tensed.
But she didn’t pull out a weapon.
She pulled out a small envelope.
An envelope older than all the others.
“I never wanted you to see this.””
Michael stared.
“What is it?””
Victoria looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
Then she whispered:
“The truth about who your son’s father really is.””
Nobody moved.
Michael’s face went pale.
“What?””
Victoria handed him the envelope.
And before he opened it, she said the words that changed everything:
“Daniel isn’t just connected to the Carter family.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“He’s connected to the man who destroyed it.””
