Chapter 10: The Woman Who Knew Everything
The photograph slipped from my father’s hand.
It landed on the floor.
But he didn’t move.
He just stared.
Like his mind was refusing to accept what his eyes had already seen.
“My mother…”
The words barely left his mouth.
I looked between him and the photograph.
My grandmother.
Standing beside the wreckage.
The same woman who hugged me every Christmas.
The same woman who held my hand when I learned how to walk with my prosthetic.
The same woman who told me I was stronger than anyone she knew.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
“Dad, say something.””
His eyes remained fixed on the picture.
Marco picked it up carefully.
“Boss…”
My father finally moved.
“Where did you get this?””
Dr. Samuel Carter looked nervous.
“I kept it hidden after the accident.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew if Damian found out I had proof, I wouldn’t survive.””
My father turned toward him.
“You’re saying my mother was there.””
“Yes.””
“And Damian was there.””
“Yes.””
“And both of them knew?””
Samuel looked down.
“Yes.””
The room felt smaller.
I couldn’t breathe.
My grandmother.
The person who sat beside me after every surgery.
The person who told me she wished she could take my pain away.
She knew.
“Why?”” I whispered.
Everyone looked at me.
“Why would she do this?””
Nobody answered.
Then my father picked up the photograph.
His hands were shaking.
Not with anger.
With heartbreak.
“My mother lost everything when my father died,” he said quietly.
I listened.
“She blamed me.””
“Why?””
“Because my grandfather left me control of the company.””
I frowned.
“But that wasn’t your fault.””
“No.””
He looked at the picture.
“But she believed Damian deserved it.””
I remembered my grandmother’s words.
Your uncle believes strength belongs to him.
At the time, I thought she was warning us.
Now I wondered if she was explaining herself.
“Samuel,” my father said.
The doctor looked up.
“What exactly happened that night?””
Samuel took a breath.
“The crash was staged.””
“We know that.””
“No.””
Samuel shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
He pointed at the photograph.
“The crash was only supposed to be the beginning.””
My father stared.
“Explain.””
“Damian wanted you injured. Not dead.””
“Why?””
“Because he needed you vulnerable.””
Samuel looked at me.
“And he needed your daughter to disappear from your life.””
My stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?””
The doctor hesitated.
“He wanted you to believe you failed her.””
I felt cold.
My father went silent.
Samuel continued.
“He knew your daughter was the only person who could make you abandon everything.””
My father looked at me.
That was true.
I was his weakness.
But also his reason to keep going.
“Damian believed if you blamed yourself enough, you would step away.””
“And my grandmother?””
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
“She helped create the situation.””
My father’s voice became dangerous.
“How?””
“She arranged for the wrong people to be involved.””
Silence.
Then my father’s phone rang.
He answered.
A few seconds later, his expression changed.
“What?””
He listened.
“Are you certain?””
Another pause.
Then:
“Don’t touch anything. I’m coming.””
He ended the call.
“What happened?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“The flash drive.””
Marco’s face was pale.
“Boss…”
My father looked toward the door.
“Someone accessed it.””
“Who?””
My father didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
We rushed back to the office.
The security team surrounded the computer.
The flash drive was gone.
The only person who had entered the room was—
I stopped.
“No.””
My father looked at me.
“What?””
I remembered.
Before we left for Samuel’s house, someone had come into the office.
Someone who knew where everything was.
Someone who had a reason to take the evidence.
My grandmother.
My father’s phone rang again.
This time, he answered immediately.
A voice came through.
An old voice.
A familiar voice.
My grandmother.
“Adrian.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Mother.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Why?””
A long silence.
May you like
Then she said:
“Because you were never supposed to survive.””
