Chapter 6: The Enemy Behind the Curtain
The hospital room remained silent after my father spoke the name.
Not the comfortable kind of silence.
The kind that came before something broke.
Vincent stared at my father.
“Say that again.””
My father looked exhausted.
But certain.
“Adrian Vale.””
The color drained from Vincent’s face.
I looked between them.
“Who is Adrian Vale?””
Neither man answered immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
Because I had learned something about powerful people.
The names they feared were always more important than the names they mentioned.
Finally, Vincent spoke.
“My father’s closest friend.””
I waited.
“And the person who betrayed him.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“But you said your father died.””
“He did.””
“Then how could this person still matter?””
Vincent looked at the hospital window.
“Because everyone thought he died too.””
A chill moved through me.
“What?””
My father closed his eyes.
“Adrian Vale disappeared after the investigation.””
Vincent nodded.
“We believed he ran.””
“And you think he didn’t?””
Vincent looked at me.
“I know he didn’t.””
The certainty in his voice made my skin crawl.
My father tried to sit up.
The doctor immediately stopped him.
“Mr. Carter, you need to rest.””
“No.””
His voice was weak.
But determined.
“Emma needs to know.””
The doctor looked at Vincent.
Then at me.
Finally, he stepped outside.
My father took a breath.
“Twenty-five years ago, I found out Adrian was moving money through fake companies.””
I listened carefully.
“He wasn’t stealing from the company.””
Vincent’s expression darkened.
“He was building something.””
My father nodded.
“A network.””
I frowned.
“A network of what?””
My father looked at me.
“Control.””
That word stayed in the air.
“Adrian didn’t care about money. Money was just how he moved people.””
Vincent stepped closer.
“He wanted influence.””
My father nodded.
“He believed every person had a price.””
I thought about Victoria.
Her confidence.
Her arrogance.
Her certainty that she could destroy anyone.
“So Victoria’s family worked for him?””
“Yes,” my father said.
“Then why is she attacking me now?””
My father looked at the envelope.
“Because she thinks you have the recording.””
I stared.
“But I don’t.””
My father looked away.
That answer was worse.
“What?””
He was quiet.
Then he said:
“You don’t know you have it.””
My heart stopped.
“Dad.””
“When I realized how dangerous the evidence was, I couldn’t keep it anywhere connected to me.””
I swallowed.
“So where did you put it?””
His eyes moved to me.
“In the only place nobody would search.””
My confusion grew.
“Where?””
He gave a sad smile.
“Your childhood home.””
I blinked.
“That house was sold years ago.””
“Yes.””
“Then it’s gone.””
“No.””
My father shook his head.
“I bought it back.””
I stared.
“You bought the house back?””
“Not officially.””
My confusion turned into frustration.
“Dad, what are you talking about?””
He looked at Vincent.
“He helped me.””
Vincent nodded slowly.
“Your father asked me to protect the property.””
I looked at him.
“You knew?””
“I knew there was something hidden there.””
“And you never told me?””
“Your father made me promise.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps making promises about my life.””
Nobody spoke.
Because it was true.
My father looked hurt.
“Emma.””
I softened immediately.
Because no matter what secrets existed…
he was still my father.
“I’m sorry.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“I know.””
“And I was wrong.””
A knock came at the door.
Everyone turned.
A nurse stood there.
“Mr. Moretti?””
Vincent stepped forward.
“Yes?””
“There’s someone here asking for Emma Carter.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
The nurse hesitated.
“She wouldn’t give a name.””
Vincent immediately moved between me and the door.
“Where is she?””
“Waiting downstairs.””
My father’s face changed.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
He whispered:
“She found you.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
My father looked terrified.
“Adrian Vale’s daughter.””
The hallway suddenly felt much smaller.
Vincent’s expression hardened.
“Impossible.””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
Then he looked at me.
“Emma, listen carefully.””
I moved closer.
“What?””
“If she offers you a deal…”
His voice cracked.
“Don’t accept.””
“Why?””
My father grabbed my hand.
“Because she doesn’t want the recording.””
A pause.
“She wants you.””
I felt my heartbeat in my ears.
Before I could ask why, my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
I opened it.
And my blood went cold.
*You don’t know who your father really was.*
Another message appeared.
*But I do.*
Then the final one.
*Meet me alone, Emma. Or Vincent Moretti loses everything he built.*
I looked up.
Vincent was watching my face.
“What did it say?””
I locked the phone.
Because I already knew.
The secret my father buried twenty-five years ago wasn’t just about Vincent.
May you like
It was about me.
And someone had finally come to collect it.
