Chapter 14 - The Last SecretVictor was arrested.
The network began collapsing within hours.
Bank accounts froze.
Executives disappeared.
Politicians resigned.
Companies entered emergency administration.
For the first time in decades, the machine was breaking.
But I couldn't celebrate.
Because of Victor's final words.
I found Dad alone in a hospital corridor.
"Who did you kill?"
He stared at me.
"Emma."
"Tell me."
He sat down.
"I killed no one."
"Victor said you did."
Dad looked exhausted.
"He's talking about a man named Daniel Brooks."
I froze.
"Daniel is alive."
Dad nodded.
"Yes."
"Then who died?"
Dad looked at me.
"No one."
"What?"
"The accident was staged."
I couldn't understand.
"Why?"
"Because we had to convince everyone Daniel was dead."
"Why was he investigating Mom?"
"He wasn't investigating her."
Dad took a breath.
"He was protecting her."
I stared.
"From Victor."
Dad revealed the final part of the puzzle.
Daniel Brooks had uncovered the network.
Evelyn had helped him.
My mother joined them.
Victor discovered them.
To protect me, my father staged the deaths of several people and hid them.
Evelyn.
Daniel.
My mother.
They all disappeared.
But one person had been left behind.
Andrew.
The network had found him.
And used him as leverage.
Dad sacrificed his reputation to keep the family alive.
But there was one thing he couldn't explain.
"Why did you let Ryan marry me?"
Dad looked away.
"Because I believed he could protect you from the inside."
"Even after he hurt me?"
His face tightened.
"I didn't know."
"You should have."
"Yes."
That was the first time my father admitted he had failed me.
Ryan entered the corridor.
His face was bruised.
He stopped several feet away.
"I need to tell you something."
I looked at him.
"What?"
He handed me a file.
Inside was a bank statement.
A payment from Victor.
To Ryan.
Three years ago.
The amount was ten million dollars.
I stared.
"You said you loved me."
"I did."
"You were paid."
"I was."
Tears filled my eyes.
"Did you ever love me?"
Ryan's voice cracked.
"At first, no."
I closed my eyes.
"And now?"
He stepped closer.
"Now you're the only person I've ever loved."
I wanted to believe him.
But trust was a shattered thing.
You couldn't tape it back together in one night.
Then a nurse rushed down the corridor.
"Emma Carter?"
I turned.
"Your mother is awake."
I followed her.
Mom opened her eyes.
She looked at me.
Then smiled.
"I have one final truth."
"What?"
She reached for my hand.
"Victor wasn't the architect."
I froze.
"Then who was?"
She whispered:
"Your grandfather."
I stared.
"My grandfather is dead."
"Yes."
"Then how?"
Mom smiled sadly.
"Because he left instructions."
"For what?"
"For your child."
The hospital lights suddenly flickered.
Every screen turned black.
Then one message appeared.
THE GAME ISN'T OVER, EMMA.
A second line appeared.
ESTATE ACTIVATION: 00:00:00.
May you like
My stomach dropped.
Then the hospital floor began to shake.
