Chapter 10: The Enemy Inside My Father’s Empire
For the first time since Daniel Ashford pushed me out of our mansion, I felt something worse than heartbreak.
Fear.
Not fear for myself.
Not even fear for my reputation.
Fear for my father.
Because Daniel was predictable.
A selfish man who wanted power.
A man who believed money could erase consequences.
But someone inside my own family's organization?
That was different.
That meant the danger had never been outside the walls.
It had been inside.
I returned to Carter Global Holdings that evening with the recording device still in my hand.
My father immediately noticed something was wrong.
He had spent his entire life reading people.
And apparently, I was no exception.
"What happened?""
I closed the office door behind me.
"We have a problem.""
His expression changed.
"What kind of problem?""
I placed the device on his desk.
"Someone has been helping Daniel.""
My father's eyes narrowed.
"Who?""
I hesitated.
"Victoria said Daniel mentioned the name Carter.""
The silence that followed was heavy.
My father didn't react dramatically.
That was what made it terrifying.
He simply looked at the device.
Then at me.
"Are you sure?""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"But she looked scared.""
My father leaned back.
"Fear can make people say many things.""
"I know.""
I sat across from him.
"But something feels wrong.""
My father studied me.
Then he pressed the recording button.
Daniel's voice filled the room.
"I need Emily gone before the investors find out.""
My father's jaw tightened.
He listened until the end.
When the recording finished, he remained silent.
"That confirms Daniel wanted to remove you.""
I nodded.
"But not who helped him.""
My father stood and walked toward the window.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then:
"There are only a few people who could interfere with our internal operations.""
I looked at him.
"Who?""
He didn't answer immediately.
That scared me more.
Finally, he said:
"My executive team.""
The words felt impossible.
The Carter family had built an empire based on loyalty.
People worked with my father for decades.
They trusted him.
He trusted them.
But power had a way of changing people.
"Could it be someone close to you?""
My father looked at me.
"Anyone can become someone else when enough money is involved.""
That night, my father ordered a private investigation.
No public announcements.
No accusations.
No warnings.
Because if someone inside was betraying him, the worst thing we could do was let them know we were searching.
The next morning, the company continued as usual.
But behind closed doors, everything changed.
Employees were questioned.
Financial records were reviewed.
Access logs were examined.
And slowly...
A pattern began to appear.
The first name that surfaced shocked everyone.
Michael Carter.
My uncle.
I stared at the report.
"No.""
My father remained silent.
"That can't be right.""
Michael was my father's younger brother.
The man who attended every family gathering.
The man who helped raise me after my mother died.
The man who always told me:
"You are the heart of this family.""
My father looked at the documents.
"I don't want to believe it either.""
"Then why is his name here?""
The investigator explained.
"Mr. Michael Carter accessed confidential financial information related to Ashford Group six months before the first investigation began.""
My stomach tightened.
Six months.
That was before Daniel threw me away.
Before everything exploded.
My father closed the file.
"We need more proof.""
I looked at him.
"What if it is him?""
My father didn't answer.
Because he knew.
If Michael betrayed us, it wasn't just a business problem.
It was a family wound.
That afternoon, I received another surprise.
Daniel appeared outside Carter Global Holdings.
Security immediately tried to remove him.
But my father allowed him inside.
I couldn't understand why.
Until Daniel entered the office.
He looked different.
Not powerful.
Not arrogant.
Desperate.
"Emily.""
I didn't respond.
Daniel looked at my father.
"Mr. Carter.""
My father remained cold.
"What do you want?""
Daniel swallowed.
"I need to talk.""
"You have lawyers.""
"This isn't about court.""
I looked at him.
"Then what is it about?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
"Someone is trying to destroy me.""
I almost laughed.
"Someone?""
His expression changed.
"Emily, listen to me.""
"No.""
My voice was calm.
"You don't get to come here and act like the victim.""
"I know what I did.""
That surprised me.
For once, he didn't immediately defend himself.
"I know I hurt you.""
He looked at me.
"I know I made terrible choices.""
I waited.
"But someone has been manipulating me too.""
My father crossed his arms.
"Who?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"I don't know.""
A dangerous silence followed.
"That's convenient," I said.
Daniel looked at me.
"I'm serious.""
He lowered his voice.
"The person helping me knew things about Carter Global that only someone close to your family would know.""
My heart skipped.
My father noticed.
"You knew this before today?""
Daniel looked at him.
"I suspected.""
"And you said nothing?""
Daniel looked away.
"I thought I could handle it.""
There he was.
The old Daniel.
The man who believed he could control every situation.
My father stepped closer.
"You allowed someone to use my company information?""
Daniel didn't answer.
That was enough.
My father pointed toward the door.
"Leave.""
Daniel looked at me one last time.
"Emily.""
I didn't look away.
"Find out the truth.""
Then he left.
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And for the first time...
I wondered if Daniel Ashford was not the biggest enemy in this story.
