Chapter 8: The Family Secret That Changed Everything
Nobody spoke after reading Olivia's letter.
The words stayed in the room.
*Pretending to be my family.*
Thomas stared at the page.
His face had lost all color.
"What does she mean?""
I looked at him.
"You don't know?""
"No.""
But something in his voice made me wonder.
Maybe he didn't know.
Or maybe he was afraid of what the answer could be.
Daniel picked up the letter carefully.
"Olivia was investigating someone close to you.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because my family is small.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Small doesn't mean safe.""
The words hit harder than they should have.
Thomas walked away from us.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Then he quietly said:
"My wife died when Olivia was young.""
I looked at him.
"I didn't know.""
"Most people don't.""
His eyes remained on the apartment.
"After that, Olivia and I only had each other.""
He swallowed.
"She was my entire world.""
Daniel looked at the letter.
"Then why would she say someone was pretending to be family?""
Thomas didn't answer.
And that was the first time I realized something.
There was a part of his life he had never told us.
"Thomas.""
He looked at me.
"Who else is close to you?""
He was silent.
Then he said:
"My brother.""
Daniel immediately looked up.
"You have a brother?""
Thomas nodded.
"Michael.""
"Where is he?""
"Vice president of Whitaker Industries.""
The room became quiet.
"Your brother works with you?""
"Yes.""
"And Olivia trusted him?""
Thomas hesitated.
"I thought she did.""
That hesitation mattered.
Daniel walked toward the desk.
"Find everything Olivia had about Michael.""
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
"You think my brother did this?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he searched through the documents.
A few minutes passed.
Then he stopped.
"Thomas.""
Something about his voice made everyone turn.
"What?""
Daniel held a folder.
On the front was one word.
MICHAEL.
Thomas froze.
"No.""
Daniel opened it.
Inside were printed emails.
Financial records.
Meeting schedules.
And photos.
Lots of photos.
Michael Whitaker meeting with people Thomas didn't recognize.
My eyes moved across the pages.
Then I saw something.
A date.
Six years ago.
The night Olivia was attacked.
I pointed.
"Look.""
Everyone leaned closer.
There was a photograph attached.
A security image.
A car.
A license plate.
Daniel immediately recognized it.
"That's the vehicle from the attack.""
Thomas stared.
His hands started shaking.
"My brother...""
He couldn't finish.
I felt terrible watching him.
Because this wasn't just about business.
This was about realizing someone you loved might have destroyed your family.
Then my phone rang again.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
Thomas whispered:
"Don't answer.""
But I did.
I don't know why.
Maybe because I was tired of being afraid.
Maybe because I needed answers.
I pressed accept.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then a woman's voice came through.
A voice I had never heard before.
But somehow...
It felt familiar.
"Emily.""
I stood frozen.
"Who is this?""
The woman took a shaky breath.
"It's Olivia.""
My heart stopped.
Thomas grabbed my arm.
"Put it on speaker.""
I did.
The room filled with silence.
"Olivia?""
Thomas's voice broke.
A pause.
Then the woman answered:
"Dad.""
Thomas covered his mouth.
I watched a billionaire collapse emotionally in front of me.
His missing daughter was alive.
Alive.
But something was wrong.
Her voice was scared.
"Emily, listen to me.""
I stepped closer.
"Where are you?""
"I can't tell you.""
"Why?""
"Because they are listening.""
Everyone looked around.
Daniel moved toward the windows.
"Who?""
Olivia whispered:
"The same person who has been controlling my father’s company.""
Thomas spoke.
"Olivia, where are you?""
Her voice cracked.
"Dad, I need you to understand.""
A pause.
Then:
"I wasn't kidnapped.""
Nobody moved.
"What?""
"I ran.""
Thomas looked destroyed.
"Why?""
The answer came quietly.
"Because I discovered who was betraying us.""
I looked at the letter.
The person pretending to be family.
Then Olivia said the words that changed everything.
"I ran because the person hunting me...""
A pause.
"...was someone I called my brother.""
Thomas closed his eyes.
Michael.
But before anyone could respond, the call changed.
Another voice appeared in the background.
A man's voice.
Cold.
Calm.
"Olivia.""
She gasped.
The line became chaotic.
Then she whispered one final sentence.
"Emily, don't let him find the journal.""
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel looked at Thomas.
"Journal?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know.""
But I did.
Because suddenly, a memory returned.
A rainy night.
A frightened girl.
A notebook pressed into my hands.
A promise.
And a voice saying:
"Keep this safe.""
I looked at everyone.
"I know where the journal is.""
They all stared at me.
Thomas stepped forward.
"Where?""
I swallowed.
Because the answer terrified me.
"At my house.""
Then my phone received one final message.
This time, there was a picture attached.
A picture of my apartment.
Taken from outside.
May you like
And beneath it were six words:
*Too late. We already found it.*
