Chapter 6: The Truth Walter Hid
The message stayed on the screen for only five seconds.
Then the monitor went black.
But those words remained.
*He knows why Emily disappeared.*
I looked at Walter.
He didn’t move.
The room was filled with the sound of the alarm, but he seemed completely frozen.
Not shocked.
Not confused.
Guilty.
That was the only word I could think of.
Guilty.
“Walter?””
He didn’t answer.
“Walter, what does that mean?””
Charles looked between us.
“Is there something you haven’t told her?””
Walter closed his eyes.
For a moment, I thought he might lie.
But then he slowly sat down.
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“Yes?””
“There is something I never told anyone.””
The anger that had been building inside me finally broke through.
“You brought me into this.””
My voice echoed through the office.
“You let me become a target. You let people think I was involved in your disappearance. You let me risk my sister’s safety.””
“I know.””
“And you still had secrets?””
Walter looked at me.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
It wasn’t because anything was funny.
It was because I was exhausted.
“Protect me?””
I pointed toward the black screen.
“Someone just threatened my sister because of you.””
Walter looked down.
“You’re right.””
That made me even angrier.
I wanted him to defend himself.
I wanted him to say I misunderstood.
But he didn’t.
He accepted the blame.
And somehow that made it harder.
Charles stepped closer.
“Walter, you need to tell her.””
Walter stared at the floor.
“I met Emily the night she disappeared.””
The room went silent.
My anger faded into confusion.
“What?””
Walter took a slow breath.
“Six months ago, Emily came to my office.””
“Why?””
“She wanted to talk about Madden Global.””
I listened carefully.
“She told me she found evidence that someone inside the company was stealing from us.””
“Derek?””
Walter nodded.
“Among others.””
“Then why didn’t you believe her?””
His face tightened.
“Because I thought she was angry.””
“Angry?””
“She had spent years blaming me for choosing the company over her.””
He looked away.
“When she came to me with accusations, I thought she was trying to hurt the people who had helped build my business.””
I stared at him.
“So you ignored her.””
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“She left my office furious.””
“What happened after?””
Walter’s hands tightened.
“That night, she called me.””
“Did you answer?””
A painful silence.
“No.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Why?””
“Because I was in a meeting.””
He looked like he hated himself for saying it.
“She called three times.””
Nobody spoke.
“I ignored all three.””
I looked away.
Some mistakes were impossible to undo.
“What did the voicemail say?””
Walter looked at me.
“I deleted it.””
My eyes widened.
“You deleted it?””
“I was angry.””
He swallowed.
“I thought she was trying to pressure me into believing her.””
Charles looked down.
“I didn’t know about this.””
Walter nodded.
“Because I never told anyone.””
I stood up.
“So after that?””
“After that, she disappeared.””
The room felt colder.
“And you spent six months searching for her.””
“Yes.””
“But you never told anyone she contacted you that night.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Walter’s voice became quiet.
“Because if people knew I ignored her…”
He stopped.
I finished the sentence for him.
“They would know you failed her.””
His eyes closed.
“Yes.””
For a moment, I saw the billionaire disappear.
Not the man from the news.
Not the man who owned companies.
Just a father who had one moment to answer his daughter.
And didn’t.
My anger didn’t disappear.
But something else appeared.
Understanding.
A knock suddenly came from the hallway.
Everyone froze.
Charles moved toward the door camera.
Nobody was there.
Then the camera screen turned on by itself.
A woman appeared.
Emily.
This time, it wasn’t a recording.
It was live.
Walter stood instantly.
“Emily?””
Her face filled the screen.
She looked older than the photograph.
Tired.
Afraid.
But alive.
“Dad.””
Walter’s hand covered his mouth.
The emotion on his face was something I had never seen before.
“Where are you?””
Emily looked around nervously.
“I can’t stay long.””
“Are you safe?””
She hesitated.
“No.””
Walter stepped closer.
“I’m coming to get you.””
“No.””
The word was immediate.
“Dad, listen to me.””
Her eyes moved.
Then she looked directly at me.
“Amara?””
I froze.
“How do you know my name?””
Emily ignored the question.
“You have to trust him.””
I looked at Walter.
That was the last thing I expected her to say.
“He needs your help.””
“Your father?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“Derek.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
Emily continued.
“Derek is not the only person involved.””
Walter looked confused.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying the person controlling everything is someone you never suspected.””
A sound came from her side.
She turned.
Someone was nearby.
“Emily?””
Her face became frightened.
“I have to go.””
“Wait!””
Walter moved closer to the screen.
“Where are you?””
She looked at him.
And for a second, she looked like the little girl he had lost.
Then she whispered:
“I’m sorry, Dad.””
The screen went black.
Walter stared at the empty monitor.
“No.””
He hit the side of the screen.
“Emily!””
Charles grabbed his shoulder.
“Walter.””
“No.””
His voice broke.
“I finally found her.””
I watched him.
And I understood something.
For all the power he had.
For all the money.
For all the influence.
There was one thing he could never buy.
More time.
My phone rang.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
Again.
I almost didn’t answer.
Then I remembered Lily.
I picked up.
“Hello?””
A man’s voice answered.
“Amara Bennett.””
My body went still.
“Who is this?””
“You’re asking the wrong questions.””
I looked at Walter.
He immediately knew something was wrong.
“Where is my sister?””
A pause.
Then the man laughed softly.
“Your sister is fine.””
“Let me talk to her.””
“You don’t get to make demands.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?””
“I want you to stop helping Walter Madden.””
My eyes moved to Walter.
“Why?””
“Because he’s lying to you.””
I looked at Walter.
“About what?””
The man was silent for a moment.
Then he said:
“Ask him who was in the car the night Emily disappeared.””
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Walter.
He looked like he had heard something impossible.
“Walter?””
The man continued.
“He knows exactly what happened that night.””
The call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly.
Charles looked worried.
“What did they say?””
I didn’t answer.
I stared at Walter.
“Who was in the car?””
He didn’t speak.
The silence was enough.
I stepped back.
“Walter.””
His face changed.
Like he knew the moment he had been avoiding had finally arrived.
“I need you to understand something.””
“What?””
He looked at me.
“I didn’t hurt Emily.””
I believed him.
But that wasn’t the question.
The question was why he sounded like someone who had spent six months trying to convince himself of the same thing.
“Then tell me the truth.””
Walter looked toward the window.
Rain began falling again.
Softly at first.
Then harder.
Finally, he whispered:
“The night Emily disappeared…”
A pause.
“I wasn’t alone.””
My heart stopped.
“Who was with you?””
Walter looked at me.
And the answer destroyed everything I thought I knew.
“Your manager.””
I stared at him.
“Derek?””
Walter nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Then he said the one thing I never expected.
“Derek wasn’t trying to find me.””
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A pause.
“He was making sure I never came back.””
