Chapter 14 - The house was dark when we arrived.Every Christmas light was still on.
The tree stood in the center of the living room.
The same tree.
The same decorations.
The same place where Emma had stood empty-handed.
Except now, a single envelope rested beneath the tree.
Her name was written across it.
EMMA.
I took one step forward.
Michael grabbed my arm.
“Don't.”
A speaker clicked on.
Tom's voice filled the room.
“Your grandfather always believed people revealed themselves when given a choice.”
I looked around.
Cameras turned toward us.
Tom continued.
“You were given a choice.”
“Let my daughter go.”
“Not yet.”
“You want the evidence.”
“I want something more important.”
“What?”
“The trust.”
I laughed.
“You can't have it.”
“Actually, I can.”
Tom appeared on a screen.
He was sitting in my grandfather's study.
Behind him was the original safe.
My stomach dropped.
“How did you get in there?”
He smiled.
“Your father gave me the code years ago.”
My mother froze.
Tom continued.
“Your father always thought he was the mastermind.”
He laughed.
“He wasn't.”
My father stepped into the room.
I hadn't seen him arrive.
He looked exhausted.
He stared at Tom on the screen.
“You promised no one would get hurt.”
Tom smiled.
“You made that promise when you were desperate.”
Dad looked at me.
“I was trying to protect the company.”
“You destroyed my life.”
“I know.”
For the first time, he sounded broken.
Not weak.
Just tired.
He looked toward Emma.
“I am sorry.”
Emma stepped closer to me.
Tom's voice returned.
“Enough family therapy.”
A red light appeared above the fireplace.
“Three minutes.”
Michael immediately understood.
“He planted explosives.”
I looked around.
“There are no explosives.”
He pointed at the ceiling.
“Not explosives.”
“Then what?”
“Fire suppression gas.”
My heart dropped.
“Gas?”
Tom laughed.
“The room will be sealed.”
A countdown appeared.
02:47.
I grabbed Emma.
“Everyone out!”
The doors locked.
We rushed toward the hallway.
Nothing opened.
Tom had trapped us.
Dad ran toward the control panel.
“Move.”
He ripped the cover off.
Inside were wires.
“This system was installed last month.”
I stared.
“By who?”
Tom.
Of course.
Jessica found the hidden emergency release.
We pulled it.
Nothing.
The timer kept falling.
01:58.
Mom screamed:
“There's a manual override in the basement!”
We ran.
Down the stairs.
Through the kitchen.
Into the basement.
The door slammed behind us.
A second monitor turned on.
Tom appeared.
“Your grandfather built a bunker here.”
I froze.
“Where?”
Tom smiled.
“You already know.”
I looked at the wall.
The old wine racks.
The painting.
The brass clock.
Seven.
Nineteen.
I entered the numbers.
A hidden door opened.
We rushed inside.
The door sealed.
Silence.
I thought we were safe.
Then Emma whispered:
“Mom?”
“What?”
She pointed at the wall.
There was another message.
Written in my grandfather's handwriting.
DO NOT TRUST MICHAEL.
I turned.
Michael stood behind us.
Still.
Silent.
Then my father said:
“I told you.”
I looked at him.
“Told me what?”
He stared at Michael.
“He wasn't the man who saved you.”
Michael's expression changed.
May you like
My father pointed at him.
“He was the man who caused the accident.”
