Chapter 9: The Letter My Father Never Wanted Me to Find
I didn't open the letter immediately.
I should have.
Every part of me wanted to know what my father had written.
But standing there with Victor Carter watching me made something feel wrong.
Very wrong.
"Where did you get this?""
Victor didn't answer.
"Victor.""
He smiled slightly.
"You have your grandfather's stubbornness.""
"I asked where you got it.""
"From someone who wanted you to have it.""
"Who?""
He looked at the envelope.
"Your father.""
My chest tightened.
"My father has been dead for years.""
"Yes.""
"Then how?""
Victor looked around.
"Some messages are written before people know when they will be needed.""
I hated how mysterious he sounded.
"You're avoiding the question.""
He smiled.
"You are smarter than your siblings.""
I immediately disliked the compliment.
"Don't talk about my family.""
"Why? Because I know them?""
"No. Because you don't.""
Victor looked amused.
"Daniel, I knew your family before you were born.""
I took the envelope.
"What do you want?""
"Nothing.""
Nobody said nothing honestly.
Especially people like Victor.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"No.""
He nodded.
"Actually, I expect you not to trust me.""
That surprised me.
"Then why are you here?""
"Because your grandmother has told you half the story.""
"And you know the other half?""
"Yes.""
I looked at the letter.
"What is the other half?""
Victor's expression became serious.
"Your father wasn't protecting the company.""
A pause.
"He was protecting you.""
Before I could ask more, he walked away.
I hated that.
I hated that he gave me more questions instead of answers.
I returned to Robert's office.
He immediately noticed the envelope.
"Where did you get that?""
"Victor.""
His face changed.
"Daniel.""
"I know.""
"Don't open it.""
The command surprised me.
"Why?""
"Because Victor does not give anything without a reason.""
I looked at the envelope.
"Maybe he wants me to know the truth.""
Robert sighed.
"Maybe.""
I opened it.
The paper inside was folded carefully.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
But the name at the top was enough.
Daniel.
My hands shook.
"Son,
If you are reading this, then something has happened that I hoped would never happen.""
I stopped.
I had not heard my father's voice in years.
But somehow, I could imagine him saying these words.
"I have spent my life trying to protect you from things you were too young to understand.""
I continued.
"But protecting someone from pain sometimes creates a bigger pain later.""
My eyes blurred.
"I made mistakes.""
I swallowed.
"I trusted the wrong people.""
A pause.
"I also made the mistake of thinking I could fix everything alone.""
I looked at Robert.
He was watching silently.
The letter continued.
"Your grandfather knew the truth. He was angry with me, but he never stopped loving me.""
I breathed out slowly.
"So why didn't he tell me?""
Because Grandpa was protecting him.
The same thing Grandma did.
The same thing everyone did.
Protecting.
Hiding.
Keeping secrets.
The letter continued.
"Daniel, there is something you need to know about Victor.""
I leaned closer.
"He did not destroy the company.""
My eyes widened.
"What?""
Robert stepped forward.
I kept reading.
"Victor was trying to expose someone else.""
Someone else?
"Someone inside our family.""
My heart started racing.
The letter continued.
"I don't know if you will ever discover the truth, but if you do, remember this.""
I held my breath.
"The person who appears guilty is not always the person who caused the damage.""
I looked at Robert.
Neither of us spoke.
Then came the final paragraph.
"Daniel, trust your instincts. Trust the people who prove themselves through actions, not words.""
I folded the letter slowly.
Victor's words echoed in my head.
Your grandmother has told you half the story.
I looked at Robert.
"Who was my father protecting?""
He didn't answer.
That scared me.
"Robert.""
Finally, he spoke.
"There was one person your grandfather suspected.""
"Who?""
He looked down.
"Your uncle.""
I froze.
"My uncle?""
Robert nodded.
"Your father's brother.""
I tried to remember.
I barely knew him.
He had disappeared when I was little.
Nobody talked about him.
"Where is he now?""
Robert looked at the window.
"That's the problem.""
"What?""
"He came back.""
The room went cold.
"When?""
Robert looked at me.
"Three days ago.""
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
I answered.
A man's voice came through.
"Daniel Carter?""
"Yes.""
"I think we need to talk.""
"Who is this?""
A pause.
Then:
"I'm the man your grandfather spent his final years trying to stop.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who are you?""
The voice answered:
"My name is Michael Carter.""
My uncle.
May you like
And then he said something that changed everything.
"Your grandmother has been lying to you.""
