Chapter 9: The Last Betrayal
Nobody wanted to open the file.
Because everyone knew.
Whatever was inside would destroy something.
My father stared at the screen.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Dad?””
He shook his head.
“I don’t want this to be true.””
Claire looked confused.
“Thomas, what is it?””
He didn’t answer.
I clicked the file.
The video started.
An older man appeared.
I didn’t recognize him.
But my father did.
His face went pale.
“Grandfather.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
My father sat down.
“That’s my father.””
The video played.
The old man looked directly at the camera.
“Thomas, if you are watching this, then everything has failed.””
My father covered his mouth.
The man continued.
“You were never supposed to inherit the company.””
My heart raced.
“What is he saying?””
Dad didn’t answer.
The video continued.
“I built this company. I made every decision. And when Thomas became successful, he forgot who helped him.””
My father whispered:
“That’s not true.””
The old man continued.
“Daniel deserved more.””
I looked at Dad.
“So your grandfather was behind this?””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
The video suddenly showed documents.
Transfers.
Payments.
Names.
Daniel wasn’t stealing alone.
He was being funded.
By my grandfather.
The betrayal was deeper than any of us imagined.
Claire sat down.
“My God.””
My father looked broken.
“He used his own sons against each other.””
The video ended.
But one final message appeared.
The money is not the only thing hidden.
Dad stared.
“What does that mean?””
Then the screen showed another file.
A photograph.
My mother.
Standing with someone.
Someone I knew.
Someone I trusted.
My heart stopped.
It was my father’s best friend.
The man who had attended every birthday.
Every holiday.
The man who comforted me after my mother died.
Dad whispered:
“Robert.””
Claire looked shocked.
“He was involved too?””
The front door suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
A voice came from the hallway.
“I was wondering when you would figure it out.””
Robert stepped inside.
Older than I remembered.
Calm.
Confident.
My father stood.
“You.””
Robert smiled.
“You always were slow.””
Dad moved toward him.
“You killed my wife.””
Robert shook his head.
“No.””
Everyone froze.
“Daniel did the dirty work.””
My father clenched his fists.
“Then why?””
Robert looked at me.
“Because your mother found out.””
“Found out what?””
Robert smiled.
“That your father’s company was never really his.””
Dad stared.
“What?””
Robert walked closer.
“Your grandfather left everything to someone else.””
The room became silent.
“Who?””
Robert looked at me.
And said:
“You.””
I felt frozen.
“What?””
Robert smiled.
“Your mother discovered the truth. The company, the money, everything was legally placed under your name.””
My father stared.
“No…”
Robert nodded.
“That’s why they wanted your mother gone.””
My father looked at me.
All these years.
Everything had happened because of something connected to me.
Robert stepped closer.
“And now I need what belongs to me.””
Dad moved in front of me.
“You’ll never touch him.””
Robert laughed.
“That’s what your wife said.””
A chill ran through me.
Then Robert pulled something from his pocket.
A document.
“Sign this.””
My father looked at it.
“No.””
Robert smiled.
“Then your son learns what happened to his mother.””
The room went silent.
Because my father realized something.
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Robert wasn’t here for money.
He was here to finish what he started.