Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be DeadMy world collapsed before breakfast.
The photograph was impossible.
My mother had been declared dead eighteen years ago.
But the image showed her alive.
Standing beside Victor Hale.
Dad sat motionless.
I had never seen him look so broken.
"Where did this come from?"
Claire answered.
"The original file was hidden inside an encrypted archive."
"Who created it?"
"We don't know."
I turned to Dad.
"Mom is alive."
He shook his head.
"No."
"Then explain the photograph."
"I can't."
"You always have an answer."
His eyes met mine.
"Not this time."
We spent six hours tracing every lead.
Nothing.
Then, at seven that evening, a package arrived at Dad's private residence.
No sender.
Inside was a small key.
And a cassette tape.
Old technology.
My mother's handwriting appeared on the label.
EMMA.
I stared at it.
My hands shook.
Dad didn't want me to listen.
I did.
The tape crackled.
Then I heard her voice.
My mother's voice.
"Emma, if you're hearing this, you're older now."
I couldn't breathe.
"I don't know whether your father will ever tell you the truth."
There was a pause.
"I need you to remember one thing."
A deep breath.
"Never trust the man who says he loves you while asking you to fear everyone else."
I looked at Dad.
The recording continued.
"Your father is not the enemy."
I exhaled.
"But he is not innocent."
Dad closed his eyes.
My mother's voice grew quieter.
"They are coming for the child."
My hand went to my stomach.
"They believe the child will inherit something that belongs to Carter Global."
I looked at Claire.
"What?"
The tape continued.
"Not money."
A pause.
"A file."
The recording ended.
Silence.
Then another voice appeared.
A man's voice.
Ryan.
"You shouldn't have listened to that."
I turned around.
Ryan stood in the doorway.
Security guards immediately raised their weapons.
But Dad didn't react.
He stared at Ryan.
"How did you get here?"
Ryan smiled.
"Your security isn't what it used to be."
Dad's face hardened.
"Where is my daughter?"
Ryan looked at me.
Then at my stomach.
"She's exactly where she needs to be."
Claire reached for her weapon.
Ryan raised his hand.
"Easy."
"You threatened my child," I said.
"I didn't."
"You sent the message."
"No."
He took a step forward.
"You assume I did."
"Then who did?"
Ryan's smile disappeared.
"The same people who killed your mother."
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"You know who they are."
Ryan nodded.
"I always have."
I felt betrayed.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was trying to get out."
"Out of what?"
He looked at my father.
"Your father's empire."
Dad stared at him.
Ryan's voice dropped.
"You think your father bought my company to destroy me."
"He did."
"No."
Ryan smiled bitterly.
"He bought it because my company owns the final piece of the Carter archive."
Dad went completely still.
Claire looked at him.
"What archive?"
My father didn't answer.
Ryan laughed.
"And there it is."
He looked at me.
"Your father never told you."
"Told me what?"
Ryan stepped closer.
"Your mother didn't discover the conspiracy."
He paused.
"She created it."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
Ryan looked directly into my eyes.
"Your mother built the network that eventually destroyed your father's company from the inside."
Dad shouted:
"Ryan!"
The lights suddenly went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Ryan grabbed me.
And whispered into my ear:
"Your mother is alive."
May you like
Then he added:
"And she's coming for you."
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