Chapter 20: The Truth My Father Took To His Grave
Samuel Whitmore looked nothing like the villain I expected.
That was the first thing I noticed.
After everything I had heard, I imagined someone cold.
Someone dangerous.
Someone who looked like they had destroyed lives.
Instead, I saw a tired man carrying years of regret.
He looked at Grandma.
"Eleanor.""
Grandma's expression hardened.
"Samuel.""
There was history between them.
Painful history.
"You knew.""
Her voice shook.
"You knew he was alive.""
Samuel looked away.
"I had no choice.""
I almost laughed.
Nobody had a choice.
That was becoming the family motto.
"Stop.""
Everyone looked at me.
I stepped forward.
"No more secrets.""
Samuel looked at me.
"You deserve answers.""
"Then give them.""
He nodded.
"I will.""
We returned inside Clara's house.
Nobody trusted Samuel.
But nobody left.
Because everyone wanted the truth.
Samuel sat down.
"Your father saved my life.""
I listened.
"Twenty years ago, my father was trying to take control of Carter Industries.""
"Harold Whitmore.""
Samuel nodded.
"He believed companies were not built by people.""
He looked at me.
"They were built by ownership.""
I understood.
"He didn't care about employees.""
"No.""
"He didn't care about families.""
"No.""
"He cared about power.""
Samuel looked down.
"When I discovered what he was doing, I tried to stop him.""
"And Dad helped you.""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
Samuel took a deep breath.
"We found evidence.""
"The vault.""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't you release it?""
Samuel looked at Grandma.
"Because Harold knew.""
My heart sank.
"He knew?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
"Because someone told him.""
Again.
Someone inside.
"Who?""
Nobody moved.
Samuel said quietly:
"Victor.""
My jaw tightened.
"Victor betrayed everyone.""
"Yes.""
"Then why did he pretend to help us?""
Samuel looked at me.
"Because Victor wasn't the mastermind.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Victor wanted control.""
Samuel leaned forward.
"But someone else was giving him instructions.""
Everyone went silent.
"Who?""
Samuel looked at Grandma.
"I think Eleanor knows.""
All eyes turned.
Grandma looked devastated.
"Grandma?""
She closed her eyes.
"I suspected.""
My chest tightened.
"Who?""
She whispered:
"Your father.""
The room exploded.
"What?""
"No.""
Samuel immediately shook his head.
"Not Edward.""
Grandma looked at him.
"Then who?""
Samuel looked at me.
"The person Edward suspected.""
I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare.
"Who?""
Samuel answered:
"Someone Edward loved.""
The same words.
The same warning.
The person you trust most.
I looked around.
My family.
My mother.
Grandma.
Michael.
Clara.
Everyone had been hurt.
Everyone had secrets.
"Who?""
Samuel looked at the floor.
"Your father's wife.""
My heart stopped.
"My mother?""
Samuel shook his head.
"No.""
A pause.
"Your father's second wife.""
I froze.
"I don't have a second mother.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Grandma whispered:
"You do.""
I turned.
"What?""
She looked at me with tears.
"Your father remarried after your mother disappeared.""
The room spun.
"What are you talking about?""
My mother looked shocked.
"I didn't know.""
Grandma looked at her.
"Because nobody wanted you to know.""
I couldn't breathe.
A second wife.
A person connected to my father.
A person everyone hid.
"Where is she?""
Samuel answered.
"That's the problem.""
"What?""
"She disappeared after Edward died.""
I stared.
Another disappearance.
Another secret.
"Her name?""
Samuel looked at me.
"Laura Carter.""
The name meant nothing.
But then Clara suddenly stood.
Her face had gone pale.
"No.""
Everyone looked at her.
"You know her?""
Clara slowly nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who is she?""
Clara looked at me.
"Daniel...""
Her voice trembled.
"Laura wasn't just your father's wife.""
The room became silent.
"She was my daughter.""
Nobody moved.
I couldn't understand.
"What?""
Clara looked broken.
"Laura was my child.""
I stared at her.
"My father's second wife was your daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did nobody know?""
Clara looked at the floor.
"Because Laura was the reason everything started.""
I felt a chill.
"What did she do?""
Clara didn't answer.
Instead, Samuel reached into his bag.
He pulled out an old photograph.
He placed it on the table.
I picked it up.
It showed my father.
Laura.
And another person.
A child.
My hands started shaking.
Because the child looked exactly like me.
"Daniel.""
Samuel's voice was quiet.
"Your father had another secret.""
I stared at the photograph.
"No.""
May you like
Clara whispered:
"You have a sister.""
