Chapter 28: The Final Lie Grandma Told Me
The video stopped.
The screen went black.
But nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Nobody spoke.
The name remained in my mind.
Grandma.
The person my father accused.
The woman who raised me.
The woman who held me when I cried.
The woman who made sure I never felt alone.
The woman who had spent my entire life telling me that family was everything.
I looked at her.
She didn't look surprised.
That was the part that broke me.
She looked tired.
Like she had been waiting for this moment.
"Grandma.""
My voice cracked.
She closed her eyes.
"I know.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Everyone looked at me.
"No, I need you to explain.""
She nodded slowly.
"I will.""
"Are you the reason Dad died?""
The question hung in the air.
My mother covered her mouth.
Emily looked horrified.
Michael looked down.
Grandma didn't answer immediately.
And that silence hurt more than anything.
Finally, she whispered:
"No.""
I stared.
"No?""
She looked at me.
"I did not kill your father.""
"Then why did Dad say your name?""
She looked at the frozen video screen.
"Because he knew the truth was complicated.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everything is always complicated.""
I stood.
"I need a straight answer.""
Grandma nodded.
"You deserve one.""
She walked to the table.
Slowly.
Like every step carried years of pain.
"I was there that night.""
The room became silent.
My heart sank.
"The night Dad died?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because Edward asked me to come.""
I stared.
"Why would he ask you?""
"Because he trusted me.""
I almost laughed.
"Then why accuse you?""
"Because I was the only person who knew everything.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Grandma looked at everyone.
"Your father discovered the truth about Harold.""
"Yes.""
"He discovered Victor's involvement.""
"Yes.""
"He discovered Michael's mistake.""
Michael closed his eyes.
"But he also discovered something else.""
"What?""
Grandma looked at me.
"He discovered I had made a deal.""
My stomach tightened.
"A deal with who?""
She swallowed.
"Harold.""
The room exploded.
"What?""
"No.""
"Grandma...""
Everyone reacted at once.
She raised her hand.
"Listen.""
Nobody spoke.
"I did make a deal with Harold.""
I felt like the floor disappeared.
"Why?""
"Because of you.""
I froze.
"Me?""
She nodded.
"Harold threatened the family.""
"What did he threaten?""
"Your life.""
The words hit me.
"He knew about you. About Emily. About everyone.""
She looked at my sister.
"He threatened to destroy everything.""
"So you worked with him?""
"No.""
Her answer was immediate.
"I pretended to.""
I stared.
"What?""
"I needed access.""
"Access to what?""
"The evidence.""
My mother stepped forward.
"You were spying on him.""
Grandma nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't you tell anyone?""
"Because I didn't know who I could trust.""
Nobody spoke.
The irony was painful.
The entire family had reached the same conclusion.
Trust was their greatest weakness.
"I thought I could control the situation.""
Grandma's voice broke.
"I was wrong.""
"What happened that night?""
She looked at the floor.
"Edward found out.""
"About the deal?""
"Yes.""
"And he thought you betrayed him.""
"At first.""
I frowned.
"At first?""
"He realized the truth.""
"Then why did he record that message?""
"Because he knew someone would use my actions against me.""
My mind raced.
"Who?""
Grandma looked toward the door.
Nobody there.
Then she whispered:
"The person who created the entire disaster.""
"Harold?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
The room froze.
"Then who?""
Grandma's eyes filled with tears.
"The person who was controlling Harold.""
I felt cold.
Again.
Another layer.
Another hidden enemy.
"Who?""
She looked at me.
"I don't know.""
I stared.
"What?""
"I spent years trying to find out.""
"Then why did Dad say it was you?""
"Because he wanted to protect me.""
That made no sense.
"Protect you?""
She nodded.
"He knew if people believed I was guilty, they would stop searching.""
I shook my head.
"I don't understand.""
"Daniel.""
She reached for the letter.
"Your father knew someone was watching.""
She pointed at the screen.
"That video was never supposed to accuse me.""
"Then what was it supposed to do?""
"Make the real person react.""
A chill moved through me.
"What?""
"Your father knew that if my name appeared, the person behind everything would make a mistake.""
My phone suddenly buzzed.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
A message.
You finally understand.
Then another.
But you still don't know the truth.
A third message appeared.
The person who saved your family is the person you hate most.
I stared.
Then a final message.
A location.
My grandfather's original house.
The place where everything started.
Grandma saw it.
Her face changed.
"No.""
"What?""
She stood.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
Her voice shook.
"Because nobody knows that place exists.""
Everyone looked at each other.
Except one person.
Emily.
Her face had gone pale.
"Daniel.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
May you like
She whispered:
"Someone does.""
