Chapter 14: The Last Choice
Marcus did not think.
He moved.
The moment he saw the photograph, every instinct inside him changed.
The anger.
The confusion.
The pain.
All of it disappeared.
There was only one thing left.
Protect Nia.
“Everyone away from the windows,” he said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The officer immediately understood.
He moved people toward the center of the room.
“Where was this taken?””
Marcus looked at the photo again.
Nia was sitting upstairs on her bed.
The angle was impossible.
The camera had been inside the house.
Not outside.
Someone had been in their home.
Aaron looked terrified.
“He has access.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
“Richard always had access to everything.””
The officer looked at him.
“Explain.””
Aaron swallowed.
“He installed security systems in several properties connected to his companies.””
Marcus felt sick.
“You’re saying he can access my cameras?””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked toward the security panel.
The same cameras he trusted.
The same cameras that revealed Vanessa.
The same cameras Richard may have been watching.
Then the screen flickered.
Everyone turned.
The monitor turned black.
A moment later, an image appeared.
Richard.
Live.
Sitting in a dark room.
He smiled.
“Hello, Marcus.””
Nobody spoke.
The officer stepped forward.
“You’re being recorded.””
Richard laughed.
“Good.””
Marcus stared.
“You’re inside my house.””
“No.””
Richard smiled.
“I’m inside your life.””
Marcus felt rage rise.
“You used everyone.””
Richard shrugged.
“Everyone had something they wanted.””
He looked toward Elena.
“Vanessa wanted your family.””
Then Daniel.
“Daniel wanted money.””
Then Aaron.
“Aaron wanted forgiveness.””
Finally, he looked at Marcus.
“And I wanted justice.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“Justice?””
Richard leaned closer.
“You think Elena told you everything?””
Marcus looked at her.
She looked afraid.
Richard smiled.
“Of course not.””
Elena whispered:
“Stop.””
Richard ignored her.
“Ask her about the night she found the documents.””
Marcus turned.
“Elena?””
She looked away.
Richard continued.
“She didn’t just discover Vanessa’s theft.””
Marcus waited.
“She discovered Vanessa was working with me.””
Elena’s face changed.
Marcus noticed.
“That’s not true.””
Richard smiled.
“It is.””
Elena stepped closer.
“Don’t listen.””
Richard laughed.
“You still protect her.””
Marcus looked at Elena.
“What is he talking about?””
She didn’t answer.
The silence hurt.
“Tell me.””
Elena closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
Marcus felt the word before he understood it.
“Yes.””
She looked at him.
“Vanessa and Richard worked together.””
“I know.””
“But I didn’t know at first.””
Marcus waited.
“I found out after I disappeared.””
“How?””
“Because Richard contacted me.””
The room went quiet.
“He told me Vanessa had betrayed him.””
Marcus shook his head.
“So you spoke to him?””
“Yes.””
“How many times?””
Elena hesitated.
Marcus felt the answer.
“Too many.””
Richard smiled.
“There’s the truth.””
Elena looked at the screen.
“You’re twisting it.””
“No.””
Richard leaned back.
“I’m showing him what you hide.””
Marcus looked at Elena.
“Did you trust him?””
“No.””
“Did you make a deal with him?””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Another secret.
Another person deciding what he deserved to know.
“What deal?””
Elena whispered:
“I agreed to give him information.””
Marcus stared.
“What information?””
“About my father’s company.””
The room went silent.
Nia looked confused.
Marcus felt like the world was shifting again.
“Why?””
“Because he threatened you.””
Elena’s eyes filled.
“He said if I didn’t cooperate, he would expose everything and hurt you.””
Richard smiled.
“Still pretending you’re the hero.””
Elena looked at the screen.
“You destroyed my family.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at Marcus.
“She did.””
Marcus looked between them.
He didn’t know what was true anymore.
Then Nia’s voice came quietly.
“Dad?””
He looked at her.
She was scared.
Not because of Richard.
Because she saw him breaking.
Marcus immediately walked toward her.
“I’m here.””
She grabbed his hand.
“You said people who love us tell the truth.””
The words stopped him.
Because he had told her that years ago.
After Elena died.
He had promised her honesty.
Marcus looked at Elena.
Then at the screen.
He understood something.
Everyone had made mistakes.
Everyone had hidden things.
But the truth was still the only way forward.
Richard spoke again.
“Come to me, Marcus.””
The officer immediately shook his head.
“No.””
Richard smiled.
“Bring Elena.””
Marcus froze.
“Why?””
“Because she has the final piece.””
Elena looked terrified.
“What piece?””
Richard answered:
“The recording.””
Marcus looked at Elena.
“What recording?””
She whispered:
“The original accident recording.””
The room went silent.
Richard continued:
“The one proving exactly who caused the crash.””
Marcus stared.
“Where is it?””
Elena looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
Richard smiled.
“But I do.””
A location appeared on the screen.
An abandoned warehouse.
Marcus knew immediately.
A trap.
The officer stepped forward.
“You’re not going.””
Marcus looked at Nia.
Then Elena.
Then the screen.
Richard had spent years controlling everyone through fear.
He wanted one final move.
One final choice.
But Marcus knew something Richard didn’t.
He was no longer alone.
He looked at the officer.
“We go together.””
Richard smiled.
“Good.””
The screen went black.
And seconds later, every light in the house shut off.
Darkness surrounded them.
Then from upstairs…
May you like
A scream.
“Nia!””
