Chapter 7: My Father’s Final Message
I didn’t accuse Claire immediately.
That surprised me.
A week earlier, I would have.
But now I had learned something important.
Everyone had secrets.
And the truth was buried under layers of fear.
I read my father’s letter again.
The words felt heavier every time.
*Claire Hayes.*
Her name was written there.
But not with an accusation.
With a warning.
I looked up.
“Dad wrote your name.””
Claire closed her eyes.
“I knew he would.””
That answer shocked me.
“You knew?””
She sat down slowly.
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Because Daniel told me.””
I stared at her.
“When?””
“The night before he died.””
The room became silent.
“Then tell me everything.””
She looked toward the fireplace.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then she began.
“Your father knew Marcus was stealing money. But Marcus wasn’t working alone.””
“Who was helping him?””
Claire swallowed.
“Someone inside the company.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
I shook my head.
“That’s not enough.””
“It’s the truth.””
She stood and walked toward the cabinet.
She pulled out a small wooden box.
“I kept this because Daniel told me that if something happened, I should give it to you.””
Inside was a flash drive.
My heartbeat increased.
“What is that?””
“Your father’s backup.””
We took it to my laptop.
The drive contained dozens of files.
Financial records.
Emails.
Photographs.
Then one video file.
Created two days before his death.
I clicked it.
My father appeared on screen.
Older.
Tired.
But still himself.
For a second, I couldn’t breathe.
“Ethan,” Dad said.
My eyes burned.
“If you’re watching this, something happened.””
I covered my mouth.
Hearing his voice was worse than seeing his handwriting.
“I need you to understand something. I didn’t leave you because I stopped loving you. I made choices because I wanted to keep you alive.””
My chest tightened.
Dad looked directly into the camera.
“Marcus Vale is dangerous. But he isn’t the only problem.””
The video paused.
Then he continued.
“There is someone close to me who knows everything.””
I looked at Claire.
She looked terrified.
Dad continued.
“Someone I trusted.””
The video ended.
I sat there silently.
“That’s it?””
Claire nodded.
“That’s all I saw.””
I looked at her.
“You saw this before?””
“Yes.””
“And you still hid it?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I was trying to follow your father’s instructions.””
“What instructions?””
She whispered:
“Wait until Ethan is ready.””
I stood.
“Ready?””
She nodded.
“Your father believed if you found out too early, you would go after Marcus.””
I laughed bitterly.
“And now?””
“Now you’re already involved.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A photo appeared.
My father’s grave.
Taken that morning.
Underneath was a message:
*Stop digging.*
My hands went cold.
Someone had been watching me.
I showed Claire.
She immediately stood.
“We need to leave.””
“What?””
“Now.””
“Why?””
Her voice dropped.
“Because whoever sent that knows we found the drive.””
The lights suddenly went out.
The entire house went dark.
Claire grabbed my arm.
“Ethan.””
“What?””
She pointed toward the window.
A shadow moved outside.
Someone was standing in the backyard.
Watching us.
Then my laptop screen turned back on by itself.
A new video file appeared.
Created moments ago.
May you like
The title was simple.
*WATCH ME BEFORE YOU TRUST HER.*