Chapter 10: The Enemy Inside the Walls
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What did you say?””
My attorney’s voice was urgent.
“David, listen to me carefully. I found transfers connected to your father’s accounts. Someone has been moving money for years.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know yet.””
“You just said the person is in my house.””
“I said the records show someone close to you has been involved. I didn’t say I know who.””
I looked around the room.
Margaret was sitting quietly.
Ethan was watching me.
The house suddenly felt different.
A place I had spent years believing was safe.
Now every corner felt like it was hiding something.
“Send me everything you found,” I said.
“I already did.””
My phone buzzed.
A file appeared.
“David,” my attorney continued, “do not confront anyone until you know exactly what you’re dealing with.””
The call ended.
But the warning remained.
Do not confront anyone.
The problem was, I had spent years living beside people who had been hiding the truth from me.
I wasn’t sure I could wait anymore.
I opened the file.
The first page showed a series of bank transfers.
Large amounts.
Repeated over several years.
The sender?
My father’s company.
The receiver?
A private account.
I scrolled down.
Then I froze.
The account holder’s name appeared.
Claire’s name.
But underneath it was something else.
A second authorized user.
I stared.
“No.””
Ethan noticed.
“What is it?””
I couldn’t answer.
Because the name belonged to someone I trusted.
Someone I had never questioned.
Someone who had been there after Sarah died.
Someone who had comforted me when my world collapsed.
I turned the screen toward Ethan.
His face changed.
“Uncle Robert?””
Exactly.
My father’s younger brother.
My uncle.
The man who had helped me handle my father’s estate.
The man who had told me, “Family protects family.””
Apparently, he had forgotten to mention which family.
Margaret leaned closer.
“Robert?””
I nodded.
“Do you know him?””
Her expression changed.
“Yes.””
“How?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“He worked with your father.””
“Everyone did.””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“He was closer than that.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What are you saying?””
Margaret looked at Ethan.
“Your uncle was the person Sarah was investigating.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“She believed Robert knew about Claire’s plans.””
I stood.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
“Because Sarah didn’t have enough proof.””
Ethan whispered:
“She tried to tell me.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He looked terrified.
“Mom told me not to trust Uncle Robert.””
I felt sick.
“How many things did you remember?””
He looked down.
“More than I wanted to.””
I sat beside him.
“Ethan.””
He wiped his eyes.
“I was scared, Dad.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
His voice cracked.
“I remembered people lying. I remembered adults whispering. I remembered everyone acting like Mom’s death was just something that happened.””
He looked at me.
“But I knew something was wrong.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Because he was right.
A child had seen what adults refused to see.
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
From Robert.
We need to talk.
I stared at it.
“He knows.””
Margaret looked at me.
“Knows what?””
“That I found out.””
Ethan stood.
“Don’t meet him alone.””
I looked at my son.
The same boy everyone wanted me to believe was dangerous.
The same boy they tried to remove from his own home.
And he was the one protecting me.
“You’re right.””
I replied to Robert.
Tomorrow. Public place.
His answer came instantly.
No. Come to the house. We need privacy.
I showed them.
Margaret shook her head.
“Don’t go.””
But something inside me needed answers.
Eight years of lies.
Eight years of believing the wrong people.
I couldn’t keep running.
“I need to know.””
Ethan grabbed my arm.
“Dad.””
I looked at him.
“Promise me you won’t go alone.””
I nodded.
“I promise.””
The next morning, Ethan and I arrived at the house.
Not our house.
Robert’s.
He opened the door before we knocked.
Like he had been waiting.
His face looked older than I remembered.
Tired.
Defeated.
“David.””
I stepped inside.
“You knew.””
He looked at me.
And I saw it.
Guilt.
Not surprise.
Guilt.
“I was hoping you’d never find out.””
My jaw tightened.
“Find out what?””
He closed the door.
“Everything.””
The word hung between us.
Ethan stood beside me.
Robert looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“You’re sorry?””
Robert looked away.
“Yes.””
“For what?””
The older man didn’t answer.
That made Ethan angrier.
“For what?””
Robert finally whispered:
“For failing your mother.””
My hands tightened.
“You knew.””
Robert nodded.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Before she died.””
The room spun.
“You knew Claire was involved?””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing?””
His face broke.
“I tried.””
“No.””
My voice became louder.
“You watched.””
Robert looked down.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
He looked at me.
“Your father.””
That stopped me.
“My father?””
Robert nodded.
“You don’t know what he was capable of.””
I laughed bitterly.
“I spent my whole life thinking I knew him.””
Robert sat down.
“You knew the man he wanted you to know.””
The silence was unbearable.
“Tell me everything.””
Robert looked at Ethan.
Then back at me.
“Your father and Claire weren’t just having an affair.””
“What else?””
“They were planning something.””
“What?””
Robert took a deep breath.
“To take control of the company.””
I frowned.
“My father owned it.””
“Yes.””
“Why would he need Claire?””
“Because Claire knew how to manipulate people.””
I thought of Lily.
I thought of Ethan.
I thought of myself.
“She learned from the best.””
Robert flinched.
Because he knew I meant my father.
Then he said something that changed everything.
“David, your father didn’t die naturally.””
The room went completely silent.
“What?””
Robert looked terrified.
“Someone killed him.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
He opened his mouth.
Then the front door slammed.
All of us turned.
A voice came from the hallway.
“You really should have stayed quiet, Robert.””
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because I knew that voice.
Claire.
