Chapter 8: The Video Nobody Expected
The school stopped talking about me.
They talked about my father.
That was somehow worse.
Because I knew how quickly people changed.
Yesterday, I was the blind girl who needed help.
Today, I was the daughter of a man everyone feared.
But this wasn't about my cane anymore.
It was about Vincent Moretti.
The video spread through Bellmont within minutes.
Teachers confiscated phones.
Students whispered in hallways.
Parents called the school.
Nobody knew what was real.
Nobody knew what was fake.
When I arrived home, my father was already waiting.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
"Emily.""
I didn't answer.
"Did you see the video?""
I nodded.
His expression changed.
"How much?""
"The title.""
"Good.""
"Good?""
He looked away.
"I didn't want you seeing it without me.""
That made me angry.
"Why?""
He looked surprised.
"Because I thought I could protect you.""
"You can't protect me from everything.""
He went quiet.
I immediately regretted my words.
But they were true.
My father had spent my entire life building walls around me.
And now I was realizing walls could also hide things.
"What's in the video?""
He sat down.
"I don't know.""
"You don't know?""
"It was edited.""
"So it's fake?""
"Parts may be.""
"Which parts?""
He didn't answer.
That hurt more.
"Dad.""
He looked at me.
"There are things from my past that I never wanted you to know.""
I whispered,
"Because you were ashamed?""
He didn't deny it.
That night, Elena analyzed the file.
I sat nearby, listening.
After an hour, she finally spoke.
"It's not a complete video.""
My father asked,
"Explain.""
"Someone cut several sections together.""
"To make me look guilty?""
"Yes.""
"What sections?""
Elena paused.
"That is the problem.""
My father became still.
"What?""
"The original footage exists somewhere.""
I heard him stand.
"Find it.""
The next day, something unexpected happened.
Adrian came to my house.
I knew because I heard his voice outside.
"Mr. Moretti, I need to talk to Emily.""
My father didn't let him in immediately.
"Why?""
"Because I know something.""
A long silence.
Then my father opened the door.
Adrian sounded different.
No arrogance.
No laughter.
Just fear.
"I saw the original video.""
My father asked,
"Where?""
"The group chat.""
I sat up.
"What original video?""
Adrian came closer.
"The one they edited.""
My father crossed his arms.
"Why tell us?""
Adrian was quiet.
"Because I thought this was a game.""
Nobody spoke.
"I thought we were just embarrassing people.""
His voice cracked.
"But then I saw the old files.""
"What files?""
"The ones about your family.""
My father became alert.
Adrian continued.
"Chloe didn't create the list.""
"Who did?""
"I don't know.""
"Try again.""
Adrian swallowed.
"I saw a folder.""
"What was inside?""
"Pictures. Addresses. Schedules.""
My stomach turned.
"Of students?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Adrian whispered,
"To find the easiest way to hurt them.""
My father closed his eyes briefly.
Then asked,
"When did you see this?""
"Two weeks ago.""
"Why didn't you speak?""
Adrian sounded ashamed.
"Because I was scared.""
My father looked at him.
"Of Chloe?""
A pause.
"No.""
"Then who?""
Adrian didn't answer.
That was enough.
My father already knew.
"Whoever created this is more powerful than you thought.""
Adrian nodded.
Before he left, he stopped.
"Emily.""
I turned toward him.
"I'm sorry.""
I didn't respond.
Because sorry didn't erase what happened.
But it was the first time he sounded like he understood that.
After he left, my father received a call.
I heard only his side.
"Hello?""
Silence.
Then:
"Where did you get this number?""
Another pause.
His voice changed.
"What do you mean you know Emily?""
My heart stopped.
He looked at me.
The color had disappeared from his face.
"Who is this?""
Silence.
Then my father whispered:
"That name is impossible.""
I stood.
"Dad?""
He didn't respond.
The person on the phone said something else.
My father lowered the phone slowly.
"What did they say?""
He looked at me.
And for the first time in my life...
May you like
I saw fear in my father's eyes.
"They said they knew your mother.""
