Chapter 7: The Father Who Chose a Monster
For years, I believed my father was the strongest person I knew.
He was the man who taught me how to ride a bicycle.
The man who stood outside my bedroom during thunderstorms when I was little.
The man who told me, “No matter what happens, Sarah, family protects family.””
I spent my entire life believing those words.
Until I realized they were only true when he was talking about Erica.
Not me.
The hospital room felt smaller than before.
My father sat in the corner, staring at the floor.
The confidence was gone.
The powerful businessman.
The respected executive.
The man who could make entire rooms go quiet with one look.
Gone.
Now he looked like someone who had finally been caught.
Detective Harper held Michael’s phone carefully.
“Mr. Collins, I need you to explain why your account is connected to a fabricated assault video.””
My father didn’t answer.
“Mr. Collins.””
Still nothing.
Then my mother spoke.
“Robert…”
Her voice was barely audible.
He looked at her.
And something passed between them.
Something I didn’t understand.
Something that told me this conversation had started long before tonight.
“Tell her,” my mother whispered.
My father’s face tightened.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.””
“I know exactly what I’m saying.””
That was the first time I had ever seen my mother challenge him.
Detective Harper stepped closer.
“Tell us what?””
My father finally looked at me.
And I wish he hadn’t.
Because there was something worse than anger in his eyes.
Shame.
“Sarah…”
I looked away.
“Don’t.””
My voice surprised everyone.
Even me.
“Don’t say my name like you’re the victim.””
His expression cracked.
“I made mistakes.””
I laughed softly.
“Mistakes?””
The word tasted bitter.
“You created fake evidence to send my husband to prison.””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
“You helped Erica steal from me.””
Silence.
“You watched me lying on your floor.””
My voice shook.
“And you called it protecting your family.””
My father lowered his head.
Michael stood beside me.
Not touching me.
Not interrupting.
Just there.
Letting me speak.
Detective Harper looked at my father.
“Why?””
That question seemed to break something inside him.
He leaned back.
“I was trying to save the company.””
I stared.
“What?””
My father rubbed his face.
“Daniel had information.””
Michael’s expression changed.
“What information?””
My father looked at him.
“You already know.””
“No,” Michael said coldly.
“I want you to say it.””
A long pause.
Then my father whispered:
“He knew about the missing money.””
Detective Harper frowned.
“Missing money from your company?””
My father nodded.
“I covered it.””
My stomach turned.
My father continued.
“Not for myself.””
Nobody believed him.
Not even him.
“I thought I could fix it.””
Michael’s voice was calm.
“You moved company funds into private accounts.””
“I was going to replace it.””
“With what?””
My father didn’t answer.
Because everyone knew.
He had no answer.
Detective Harper looked at her notes.
“So Daniel was blackmailing you.””
My father nodded.
“He said if I didn’t help him marry Erica and secure access to the family assets, he would expose everything.””
I felt sick.
My father didn’t protect Erica because she was innocent.
He protected her because she was useful.
“She was part of the plan,” I whispered.
My father closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Even Erica looked horrified.
“You knew?”” she asked.
My father looked at her.
“You think I wanted this?””
Erica laughed bitterly.
“You protected me.””
“No.””
My father’s voice cracked.
“I protected myself.””
That was the truth.
The ugliest truth.
For the first time, Erica and I were standing on the same side of something.
We were both realizing my father never saw us as daughters.
Only as pieces.
Detective Harper turned toward Erica.
“And you?””
Erica looked down.
“I helped.””
The admission came quietly.
“I signed some documents.””
My eyes closed.
Of course.
Of course there was more.
She cried.
“I didn’t think anyone would get hurt.””
I looked at her.
“You poured boiling tea on me.””
Her tears fell faster.
“I know.””
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“You don’t.””
She looked up.
“You don’t know what you did.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Michael’s phone buzzed again.
Everyone froze.
Another message.
This time from Daniel.
Detective Harper opened it.
Her face changed.
“What?””
Michael asked.
She turned the screen toward him.
It was a photograph.
A photograph of my hospital room.
Taken from outside the window.
My blood turned cold.
“He’s here,” Michael said.
The detective immediately moved toward the door.
The officers followed.
But Michael stopped them.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at him.
He zoomed in on the image.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
I whispered.
He pointed at the reflection in the glass.
A shadow.
A person standing behind the photographer.
“No.””
His voice was barely audible.
“What?””
Michael looked at my father.
“He wasn’t alone.””
Detective Harper frowned.
“Who was with him?””
Michael stared at the reflection.
Then said the name that made my entire body freeze.
“My former partner.””
I looked at him.
“Your partner?””
Michael nodded slowly.
“The only person who knew about my evidence system.””
The person who helped build his career.
The person he trusted.
The person who could erase evidence.
The detective grabbed the radio.
“All units, secure the hospital exits.””
But before anyone moved, the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the entire floor went dark.
May you like
And in the darkness…
my hospital door slowly opened.
