Chapter 4: The Secret Behind My Father
I spent that night searching for answers.
Not online.
Not through rumors.
Through my father.
But every time I asked about Project Eden, he changed the subject.
That scared me.
My father never avoided questions.
The next morning, I found him in his office.
He was reading documents.
When he saw my face, he knew.
“You found out.””
I stood there.
“What is Project Eden?””
The room became silent.
My father slowly closed the folder.
“Where did you hear that name?””
“Dad.””
He looked away.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
He sighed.
“Yes.””
I felt betrayed.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I wanted to keep you away from that world.””
“What world?””
He stood.
“The world where powerful people destroy anyone who threatens them.””
I stared at him.
“Does Richard Whitmore know something about you?””
My father didn’t answer.
Then he walked to a locked cabinet.
He opened it.
Inside was a folder.
Old.
Worn.
He placed it on the desk.
“Fifteen years ago, I was hired by several companies to investigate financial fraud.””
He opened the folder.
“I discovered that Richard Whitmore was moving money through illegal accounts.””
My eyes widened.
“Why didn’t you expose him?””
“Because I needed proof.””
He turned the page.
“And before I could finish, someone tried to destroy the evidence.””
“Who?””
My father looked at me.
“Someone inside my own company.””
I felt a chill.
“Then why did the Whitmores target me?””
“Because Victoria found out I still had the original files.””
I looked at the folder.
“They thought hurting me through you would force me to give them up.””
My hands curled into fists.
“They used me.””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
A knock interrupted us.
One of his guards entered.
“Mr. Carter, we have a problem.””
My father looked up.
“What happened?””
“The Whitmores filed a police report.””
I froze.
“For what?””
The guard hesitated.
“They’re accusing Emma of assault.””
I almost laughed.
“They’re saying I assaulted them?””
The guard nodded.
“They also claim your security team threatened them.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“They’re trying to reverse the story.””
A phone rang.
My father answered.
A few seconds later, his face changed.
“Send me the recording.””
He ended the call.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Someone from the Whitmore house contacted us.””
“Who?””
He turned the phone toward me.
The message appeared.
It was from Daniel.
“I have proof my family planned everything. But if I reveal it, they will destroy me.””
I stared at the screen.
Daniel was finally choosing a side.
But my father looked worried.
“Emma.””
I looked up.
“Something is wrong.””
“What?””
He pointed at the message.
“Your husband didn’t send this from his phone.””
My blood ran cold.
“Then who did?””
My father zoomed in on the details.
And the answer made everyone in the room go silent.
May you like
The message had been sent from inside the Whitmore mansion.
From a phone registered under my name.