Chapter 9: The Truth That Destroyed Everything
Nobody spoke after Thomas Carter’s confession.
Not because they had nothing to say.
Because every answer created more questions.
Olivia stared at the man in front of her.
The man she had buried in her heart years ago.
The man who was suddenly standing alive in front of her.
Her father.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
Thomas closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
She almost wished he had given an excuse.
A reason.
Something easier to fight against.
Instead, he accepted the truth.
“I hated you for that.””
Thomas nodded.
“I know.””
“How?””
“Because I watched you.””
Her expression hardened.
“You watched me?””
“Yes.””
“That was supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
His voice broke slightly.
“It was supposed to keep you alive.””
Olivia looked away.
She wanted to understand.
She wanted to forgive.
But understanding and forgiveness were not the same thing.
“You don’t get to disappear and decide that was love.””
Thomas lowered his head.
“You’re right.””
The answer surprised her.
Again.
He did not defend himself.
He did not explain.
He simply accepted the damage.
Brooks watched silently.
Because he knew something Olivia did not.
Thomas Carter had always been willing to sacrifice himself.
But this was different.
This was the first time he had to face what his sacrifice had cost someone else.
Thomas walked toward the table.
“There is something you need to know.””
Olivia laughed softly.
“Of course there is.””
The sadness in her voice hurt him.
He deserved it.
Thomas placed a file on the table.
“This is everything.””
Whitmore stepped closer.
“Everything about the network?””
Thomas nodded.
“The people who manipulated operations. The people who buried information. The people who decided who became a hero and who became a problem.””
Brooks looked at the file.
“How deep does it go?””
Thomas looked at him.
“Deeper than you think.””
The answer chilled everyone.
Olivia opened the file.
Inside were names.
Hundreds.
Some she recognized.
Some she did not.
But one name caught her attention.
A name she knew.
Someone she trusted.
Someone who had trained her.
Her hand froze.
“No.””
Thomas noticed.
“You know him?””
Olivia looked up.
“This can’t be right.””
“Who?””
She pointed.
“General Marcus Vale.””
The room changed.
Brooks immediately became serious.
“Are you sure?””
“I trained under him.””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“That’s why this is dangerous.””
Olivia looked confused.
“What do you mean?””
“Because the people closest to you are the easiest people to use.””
She stared at the name.
Memories came back.
Training sessions.
Advice.
Encouragement.
A man who always seemed to believe in her.
Could all of it have been fake?
“No.””
Thomas looked at her.
“Olivia.””
“No.””
Her voice became stronger.
“You don’t understand.””
“I understand exactly.””
“He helped me.””
“Yes.””
“He believed in me.””
“Yes.””
“Then maybe you’re wrong.””
The words hung between them.
Thomas did not become angry.
That bothered her.
Because he looked sad.
“Your biggest weakness has always been believing people are exactly who they appear to be.””
Olivia looked away.
“And your biggest weakness was believing you could protect everyone alone.””
Thomas had no answer.
Because she was right.
For the first time, they were not a father and daughter separated by time.
They were two people who had both made mistakes.
A sudden sound interrupted them.
A communication device on Whitmore’s belt activated.
Everyone turned.
A voice came through.
“Colonel, you need to hear this.””
Whitmore answered.
“What is it?””
The voice hesitated.
“We found the source of the breach.””
“And?””
Another pause.
“The person who accessed Olivia Carter’s records.””
Olivia looked at Brooks.
Then Thomas.
“Who?””
The voice finally answered.
“It was authorized using Major Ethan Brooks’ credentials.””
Nobody moved.
Slowly, every eye turned toward Brooks.
The man in the photograph.
The man Thomas trusted.
The man who had helped bring Olivia here.
Brooks stared at the device.
“I didn’t do that.””
But nobody responded.
Because the evidence was there.
And somewhere between the lies, the secrets, and the hidden messages, one terrifying possibility appeared.
Maybe the person protecting Olivia...
was the same person who had been exposing her.
Thomas looked at his daughter.
“Now you understand why I warned you.””
Olivia looked at Brooks.
For the first time since meeting him, she wondered:
May you like
Was Ethan Brooks her father’s greatest ally?
Or his greatest mistake?
