Chapter 8: The Truth Vincent Hid
The room felt smaller.
The walls felt closer.
I stared at my phone.
Then at Elena.
Then back at the phone.
“How did you know?””
My voice was barely above a whisper.
Vincent didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
“Emma.””
“No.””
I stood up.
“You knew I found something.””
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
My anger finally broke through.
“You keep telling me everyone is protecting me, but nobody actually tells me anything.””
Elena watched silently.
Vincent’s voice lowered.
“Where are you?””
I laughed.
“Now you’re worried?””
“Emma.””
“Answer me.””
A long pause.
Then:
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Your father told me where the tape was hidden.””
I felt betrayed all over again.
“When?””
“Before he got sick.””
“Before?””
My voice cracked.
“So you knew this entire time?””
“I knew he wanted you to find it when you were ready.””
I looked at the tape.
“And you decided I wasn’t ready?””
“Yes.””
The answer was quiet.
But it made me furious.
“You don’t get to decide that.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
I ended the call.
The silence afterward was worse.
Elena looked at me.
“You understand now.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Your anger is justified.””
“Don’t do that.””
“Do what?””
“Act like you understand me.””
She nodded.
“Fair.””
That surprised me.
Most powerful people never admitted anything.
Elena sat on the edge of the old bed.
“My father was a monster.””
I didn’t respond.
“But he was also my father.””
Her voice softened.
“When I was a child, I thought he was brilliant.””
She looked around the room.
“Everyone feared him. Everyone listened to him.””
A bitter smile crossed her face.
“Children mistake fear for respect.””
I stayed quiet.
“My father believed people were pieces on a chessboard.””
“And Vincent?””
“He was the piece he could never control.””
I looked at the tape.
“What’s on it?””
Elena looked at me.
“The conversation that ended my father’s empire.””
I swallowed.
“And started Vincent’s.””
“Yes.””
I sat down.
“Why does Vincent matter so much?””
Elena hesitated.
“Because your father didn’t just save Vincent.””
“What else?””
“He saved him from becoming like his father.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Vincent’s father was becoming exactly like Adrian. Obsessed with power. Obsessed with control.””
I thought about the man I knew.
The billionaire.
The intimidating businessman.
The man who got people to obey with a glance.
“You think Vincent is different?””
Elena looked at me.
“I think your father did.””
That answer stayed with me.
I looked at the document again.
“Why is my name on this?””
Elena’s expression changed.
“That is the question you should ask Vincent.””
I hated that answer.
But I knew she was right.
An hour later, Vincent arrived.
Not with security.
Not with assistants.
Just him.
He looked exhausted.
Like he hadn’t slept.
“Emma.””
I didn’t move.
“Explain.””
He stopped.
“I will.””
“Now.””
He nodded.
“The company transfer.””
He looked at the document.
“That was your father’s idea.””
“Why?””
“Because he discovered Adrian was trying to take control of everything.””
“And?””
“Your father created a legal backup.””
“A backup?””
“In case I failed.””
I stared.
“In case you failed?””
Vincent looked away.
“My father’s company was falling apart. Adrian had people everywhere.””
“So my father put ownership in my name?””
“Yes.””
“Why me?””
“Because nobody would suspect a child.””
I froze.
“A child?””
Vincent nodded.
“Your father was trying to hide the shares where nobody would look.””
I felt sick.
“My whole life…”
I couldn’t finish.
Vincent stepped closer.
“I never used those shares.””
“But you knew.””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing.””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
His answer came quietly.
“Because your father asked me to wait.””
I laughed.
“Everyone keeps using my father as a reason.””
“Because he was right.””
I stared at him.
“No.””
The word surprised even me.
“No?””
“No.””
I stood.
“My father loved me. I know that.””
Vincent listened.
“But he was wrong too.””
Silence.
“I deserved the truth.””
Vincent lowered his head.
“Yes.””
That admission stopped me.
Because Vincent Moretti did not seem like a man who apologized.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?””
A pause.
“Are you sure?””
He looked at me.
Then Elena.
“What happened?””
Vincent ended the call.
“Victoria Langford disappeared.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She left Chicago.””
“Why?””
Vincent looked at the cassette.
“Because she knows what’s on that tape.””
Elena stood.
“She’s running.””
Vincent shook his head.
“No.””
He looked toward the window.
“She’s not running.””
A cold feeling entered the room.
“She’s preparing.””
Then Vincent said something that made my blood freeze.
“Victoria was never the real threat.””
I stared.
“Then who is?””
Vincent looked at Elena.
And Elena whispered:
“My father.””
A moment later, every light in the house went out.
The room became completely dark.
Then my phone lit up.
One new message.
From an unknown number.
*Thank you for finding my evidence, Emma.*
I stopped breathing.
Another message appeared.
*Now bring it to me.*
May you like
Then the final message.
*Or your father dies before he tells you the rest.*
