Chapter 5: The Brother Who Wanted Everything
For the first time, I saw my father afraid.
Not angry.
Not furious.
Afraid.
That was something I had never imagined possible.
My father had faced dangerous people.
He had walked into rooms where everyone wanted him to fail.
But seeing my uncle’s face on that screen made him look like a completely different person.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“Go upstairs.””
“No.””
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Sweetheart.””
“I’m tired of everyone telling me to leave when things get serious.””
The words surprised even me.
But they were true.
For years, people had decided what I could handle.
Doctors.
Teachers.
Family.
Even my father.
I stepped closer.
“I lost my leg. I survived an accident. I survived being bullied.””
My voice shook.
“But I am not a little kid anymore.””
My father stared at me.
Then slowly nodded.
“Okay.””
Marco looked surprised.
“Boss?””
“She stays.””
My father looked at me.
“But you listen carefully. What we discover next may hurt.””
I nodded.
“I already know.””
He looked at me sadly.
“No, sweetheart. You don’t.””
The next morning, my father took me to his private office downtown.
I had been there before.
But never like this.
The building was enormous.
Glass walls.
Security everywhere.
People stopped talking when my father walked by.
They respected him.
They feared him.
But all I could see was the man who made me pancakes when I was sick.
The man who learned how to fix my prosthetic when I cried because I thought I would never walk normally again.
The man who carried me upstairs after nightmares.
We entered his office.
On the desk was a folder.
My name was written on it.
I hated seeing it.
“What is that?””
My father opened it.
“Everything Damian has done.””
Inside were reports.
Financial records.
Photos.
Messages.
I looked through them.
“How long has he been planning this?””
“Years.””
The answer was quiet.
I looked up.
“Years?””
My father nodded.
“He believed I stole his future.””
“Did you?””
My father looked at me.
“No.””
The answer was immediate.
“Your grandfather left the company to me because he believed I could protect it.””
“And Damian?””
“He believed strength belonged to him.””
I turned another page.
Then I saw something.
A picture.
My uncle standing beside the hospital.
The date was the night of my accident.
I felt cold.
“Why is he there?””
My father took the photo.
His expression changed.
“I don’t know.””
Marco entered the room.
“Boss.””
My father looked up.
“What?””
“We found the driver.””
Everything stopped.
My father stood.
“Where?””
“He’s alive.””
My heart raced.
The driver who supposedly caused everything.
The man who destroyed my life.
The man nobody had found.
“Bring him here,” my father said.
Two hours later, a man sat across from us.
He looked older than his years.
Tired.
Scared.
My father placed the photo in front of him.
“Do you recognize her?””
The man looked at me.
Then immediately looked away.
“Yes.””
My father leaned forward.
“Tell me the truth.””
The man’s hands shook.
“I was paid.””
The room became silent.
“By who?”” my father asked.
The man swallowed.
“I never saw his face.””
My father’s expression darkened.
“But you know his name.””
The man looked down.
“Yes.””
“Say it.””
The man hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Damian Kane.””
I felt like the room tilted.
My father closed his eyes.
“How much?””
The man looked confused.
“What?””
“How much did my brother pay you to kill my daughter?””
The man’s face went pale.
“I wasn’t supposed to kill her.””
Nobody moved.
My father’s voice became dangerous.
“Explain.””
The man looked at me.
“He told me to scare you.””
My blood ran cold.
“He said if you lost something important, you would finally understand what it felt like to lose everything.””
My father’s hand tightened.
“What happened?””
The driver looked at me.
“I followed the car.””
I felt sick.
“Then?””
“I saw the crash.””
His voice dropped.
“And I saw someone else there.””
My father leaned closer.
“Who?””
The man looked terrified.
“Your brother.””
Silence.
Then my father asked:
“What did Damian do?””
The driver’s eyes filled with fear.
“He walked toward the car.””
“And?””
“He looked inside.””
The man looked at me.
“Then he smiled.””
My father stood so suddenly the chair moved backward.
“No.””
The driver continued.
“He said something before leaving.””
My father stared.
“What?””
The man whispered:
“He said…”
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A pause.
“He said, ‘Let’s see how long Adrian survives after losing his daughter.’”
