Chapter 24: The Enemy Inside the House
The Montgomery estate had always represented power.
Luxury.
Security.
A place where people like my family looked from the outside and wondered what it would be like to belong.
But when I arrived there that morning, I saw something different.
Fear.
Everyone was afraid.
Adrian.
Silas.
The entire family.
Because they had finally realized what my family had discovered months ago.
The danger wasn't approaching.
It was already inside.
Silas met us in his office.
His expression was serious.
“We reviewed the access records.””
“And?””
He looked at Adrian.
Then me.
“The person who opened the trust documents had authorization.””
I frowned.
“Meaning?””
“They were not hacking.””
My stomach tightened.
“They were allowed.””
Silas nodded.
Someone inside the organization had access.
Someone trusted.
“Who?””
Silence.
Then Adrian spoke.
“There are only four people with that level of access.””
Silas nodded.
“Myself.””
“Me.””
“My sister.””
“And our legal advisor.””
I looked between them.
“Who is the legal advisor?””
Silas hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
I knew the name before he said it.
“Daniel Whitmore.””
I froze.
Whitmore.
Linda’s family name.
“Her brother?””
Silas nodded.
The room became silent.
The connections were everywhere.
Linda.
Daniel.
Thomas.
Patricia.
My mother.
The past was not separate.
It was one giant web.
Daniel agreed to meet.
That surprised me.
But just like Thomas, he wasn't afraid.
People who believed they were untouchable rarely were.
He arrived at the estate wearing a perfect suit.
Calm.
Confident.
Professional.
“I assume this is about the documents.””
I looked at him.
“You know exactly why you’re here.””
He smiled slightly.
“Rebecca’s daughter.””
I hated the way he said it.
Like I was a title.
Not a person.
“You knew my mother.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about the trust.””
“Yes.””
“You knew about Thomas.””
His smile disappeared slightly.
“Yes.””
I leaned forward.
“Then explain.””
Daniel sat down.
“Your mother was brilliant.””
“That’s not an explanation.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“But it is important.””
He folded his hands.
“Rebecca understood something.””
“What?””
“That people with money attract people who want money.””
I stared.
“She trusted almost nobody.””
“Except you?””
He smiled faintly.
“Not exactly.””
That bothered me.
“What does that mean?””
“Your mother trusted me professionally.””
Not personally.
That distinction mattered.
“So why were you involved?””
“Because she hired me.””
“To protect the trust?””
“Yes.””
“Then why alter documents?””
His expression changed.
“I didn't.””
I watched him carefully.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
That answer surprised me.
“I expect you to find the person who did.””
Later, we discovered something shocking.
Daniel wasn't the person who changed the documents.
But someone used his account.
Someone who had access.
Someone who knew exactly how to make him look guilty.
The same way they made me look guilty.
The same way they had manipulated everyone.
A pattern.
A strategy.
Someone was framing people.
One by one.
I looked at Adrian.
“They’re cleaning the board.””
He frowned.
“What?””
“Think about it.””
I pointed to the evidence.
“Patricia was exposed.””
“Yes.””
“Thomas is being investigated.””
“Yes.””
“Linda was made to look guilty.””
“Yes.””
“And now Daniel.””
Adrian’s expression changed.
“They’re removing everyone who knows the truth.””
Exactly.
Someone wasn't trying to win.
They were trying to erase every person who could expose them.
That evening, my father called.
His voice was urgent.
“Jenna.””
“What happened?””
“I found something.””
I stood immediately.
“What?””
“Something your mother left.””
“Where?””
“In my office.””
My heart raced.
“What is it?””
A pause.
Then:
“A recording.””
I froze.
“Another one?””
“Yes.””
“Dad, listen to me.””
“What?””
“Do not play it alone.””
Silence.
“Why?””
“Because whoever has been watching us knows we found the first one.””
I heard him breathe.
Then:
“Jenna.””
“Yes?””
“I already played it.””
My stomach dropped.
“What did you hear?””
Silence.
Long.
Terrifying.
Then my father whispered:
“Your mother was talking to someone.””
“Who?””
His voice cracked.
“Me.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She knew everything.””
“About Thomas?””
“Yes.””
“About Patricia?””
“Yes.””
“Then what did she say?””
My father’s voice became almost impossible to hear.
“She said if anything happened to her…”
I waited.
“She wanted me to protect you.””
I closed my eyes.
“And?””
A pause.
“She said she knew I might be the reason you needed protection from.””
The words destroyed me.
My father.
My mother.
The truth.
Everything I believed was changing again.
Because my mother had known.
She had known my father’s weaknesses.
She had known the danger.
And she had still trusted him with one final responsibility.
Protect me.
I looked out the window.
The person who destroyed my family was still somewhere out there.
But now I understood something.
The biggest battles weren't always against strangers.
Sometimes they were against the parts of people you loved that they refused to face.
May you like
And the final truth about my family…
was still waiting.
