Chapter 12: The Person Nobody Suspected
The boardroom exploded.
Everyone was talking at once.
Questions.
Accusations.
Confusion.
But I only heard one thing.
Michael had just accused Victor of creating fake evidence.
The same man who claimed my family had secrets.
The same man who said my grandmother was lying.
Now he was being exposed.
Victor looked furious.
"You think anyone will believe you?""
Michael remained calm.
"I don't need them to believe me.""
He looked at me.
"I need Daniel to see.""
Victor laughed.
"See what?""
"The truth.""
I looked between them.
"Then show me.""
Michael nodded.
He opened the folder.
Inside were copies of financial records.
Old emails.
Signed agreements.
"This is from twenty years ago.""
Everyone leaned closer.
"The documents Victor released today were created using information from these records.""
Robert studied them.
Then his expression changed.
"These dates...""
Michael nodded.
"Exactly.""
I looked confused.
"What?""
Robert pointed.
"The documents claim certain transactions happened after the company records were already closed.""
Michael looked at me.
"They couldn't have happened.""
Because the dates were impossible.
The evidence was fake.
Victor had been exposed.
But Victor didn't look worried.
That bothered me.
He looked angry.
Not afraid.
Like he still had something.
"You think this proves anything?""
Michael stared.
"It proves you forged evidence.""
Victor smiled.
"No.""
He looked at me.
"It proves Michael is still trying to cover his mistake.""
The room became quiet.
My heart sank.
"What mistake?""
Victor turned toward me.
"Ask him.""
Everyone looked at Michael.
Michael didn't move.
"What mistake?""
Victor smiled.
"Your uncle was the reason the company almost collapsed.""
My stomach tightened.
Michael looked down.
"That's not true.""
"Isn't it?""
Victor stepped forward.
"You were responsible for the accounts.""
"Yes.""
"You had access to everything.""
"Yes.""
"And money disappeared under your watch.""
Michael closed his eyes.
For the first time, he looked defeated.
Not guilty.
Defeated.
I turned to him.
"Michael?""
He didn't answer.
That scared me.
"Tell me.""
Finally, he spoke.
"I made a mistake.""
The room went silent.
"What mistake?""
"I trusted someone.""
"Who?""
He looked at Victor.
"Victor.""
Everyone froze.
Victor's smile vanished.
Michael continued.
"I thought he was my friend.""
A bitter laugh.
"I gave him access because I trusted him.""
I looked at Victor.
"And he used you.""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
Victor stepped forward.
"Don't rewrite history.""
Michael ignored him.
"But I did something wrong too.""
My chest tightened.
"What?""
"I covered it up.""
The confession shocked everyone.
"Why?""
"Because I thought I could fix it.""
He looked at me.
"I thought if I solved it quietly, nobody would get hurt.""
I remembered my father's letter.
Protecting people from the truth creates bigger pain.
"You failed.""
Michael nodded.
"Yes.""
The honesty surprised me.
"Your grandfather found out.""
"What happened?""
"He was angry.""
"Because you betrayed him?""
"No.""
Michael looked at me.
"Because I lied.""
The room was silent.
"He told me the truth was more important than reputation.""
I looked down.
That sounded exactly like Grandpa.
Then Victor interrupted.
"Enough.""
Everyone turned.
His calm mask was gone.
"You want the truth?""
He looked at me.
"Fine.""
He pointed at Michael.
"Your uncle made mistakes.""
Then at Robert.
"Your grandfather covered them.""
Then at me.
"And your grandmother hid everything.""
The room went quiet.
"Because they all knew one thing.""
He stepped closer.
"The person who destroyed your family was never an outsider.""
My heart pounded.
"Who?""
Victor smiled.
And this time, there was no confidence.
Only cruelty.
"Your father.""
Nobody moved.
I felt like the air disappeared.
"No.""
Victor continued.
"He started this.""
"You're lying.""
"Am I?""
He looked at Michael.
"Ask him.""
I turned.
Michael looked away.
That hurt more than anything.
"Michael.""
He slowly looked up.
"Tell me.""
He didn't answer.
"Tell me my father wasn't responsible.""
Silence.
Then Michael whispered:
"Daniel...""
My hands started shaking.
"What?""
He looked broken.
"Your father wasn't the person who caused the problem.""
I exhaled.
Relief.
Then he continued.
"He was the person who discovered it.""
I froze.
"Then why did Victor say—"
"Because Victor needed someone to blame.""
Michael looked at me.
"And because the real person behind everything...""
He stopped.
Everyone waited.
"Was someone your father loved.""
My heart sank.
"Who?""
Michael looked toward the door.
Nobody noticed it open.
Nobody noticed the person standing there.
Until Michael said the name.
"Your mother.""
I turned.
And standing in the doorway...
Was a woman I hadn't seen in fifteen years.
My mother.
May you like
Alive.
And looking at me with tears in her eyes.
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