Chapter 14: The Friend Who Betrayed Everyone
The room felt smaller.
Everyone was looking at Robert.
The man who had guided me.
The man who had helped me understand Grandpa.
The man who had stood beside me when everything started falling apart.
Now his name was sitting inside a folder filled with secrets.
I couldn't understand it.
"Robert?""
He didn't answer.
"Tell me this isn't what it looks like.""
His eyes closed briefly.
That tiny movement hurt.
Because it meant there was something.
Something he hadn't told me.
"Daniel...""
"No.""
My voice was quiet.
"Please don't say you were protecting me.""
He looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw guilt.
"I never wanted you involved.""
I laughed softly.
"That seems to be everyone's favorite excuse.""
My mother looked at Robert.
"How long?""
He didn't respond.
"How long did you know?""
Robert finally spoke.
"Since the beginning.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"The beginning of what?""
He looked at the documents.
"The beginning of the company.""
Nobody moved.
Grandma whispered:
"Robert...""
He looked at her.
"I'm sorry, Eleanor.""
The sadness in his voice was real.
That made it worse.
I wanted him to be a villain.
Villains were easier.
But people who hurt you while loving you were harder to understand.
"Explain.""
Robert sat down.
"I was never your grandfather's enemy.""
"Then why is your name there?""
He looked at the folder.
"Because I made a mistake.""
Another mistake.
Another person who thought they could fix things.
I was beginning to hate that phrase.
"What mistake?""
Robert looked at my mother.
"Your mother knows.""
Everyone turned.
My mother took a deep breath.
"Robert discovered the financial problems before anyone else.""
I frowned.
"But he helped Grandpa.""
"Yes.""
"Then what's wrong?""
She looked at me.
"He also hid information.""
"Why?""
Robert answered.
"Because I thought I was protecting the company.""
I almost laughed.
Of course.
Another person protecting.
Another secret.
"What information?""
Robert looked toward Victor.
"Victor wasn't the only person moving money.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who else?""
He didn't answer.
My mother did.
"Your grandfather.""
I froze.
"What?""
She continued quickly.
"Not for himself.""
I felt confused.
"Then why?""
Robert explained.
"There were people trying to destroy the company.""
"Competitors?""
He shook his head.
"Worse.""
"Who?""
"Investors who wanted control.""
I listened.
"Your grandfather moved money to protect employees. To keep the company alive.""
"Then why hide it?""
"Because legally, it looked suspicious.""
"So everyone thought he was stealing?""
Robert nodded.
"Yes.""
The entire story changed again.
Grandpa wasn't hiding money.
He was protecting people.
But someone had twisted the truth.
"Who exposed it?""
Nobody answered.
I already knew.
Victor.
But something still didn't fit.
"Then why did Victor blame my father?""
Robert looked at the floor.
"Because your father discovered the truth.""
"What truth?""
Robert's face became serious.
"That Victor wasn't acting alone.""
The room went silent.
My mother whispered:
"Daniel...""
I looked at her.
"There was someone helping Victor.""
"Who?""
She hesitated.
Then said:
"Someone inside the family.""
My heart sank.
Again.
Family.
Always family.
"Who?""
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I stared at it.
Everyone watched.
I answered.
A voice spoke immediately.
"Daniel.""
I recognized it.
Victor.
"What do you want?""
"You need to leave.""
My eyebrows tightened.
"What?""
"Leave the company. Leave the investigation. Walk away.""
"Why?""
His voice became serious.
"Because you don't understand what you're looking for.""
I looked around the room.
"Then explain.""
A pause.
Then:
"Because the person who betrayed your grandfather is closer than you think.""
The call ended.
I looked at everyone.
Then the lights flickered.
The same thing happened again.
Like before.
A warning.
A message.
Someone was watching.
My mother suddenly stood.
"Where is Grandma?""
I looked around.
She wasn't there.
A cold feeling entered my chest.
"Grandma?""
No answer.
We searched the building.
Nothing.
Then I saw it.
The back door.
Open.
And on the ground outside...
Was Grandma's necklace.
May you like
The one she never took off.
My heart stopped.
