Chapter 9: The Man Who Stole My Memories
Emma couldn't move.
She had imagined this moment thousands of times.
Finding the person responsible.
Confronting the person who had taken her child.
Demanding answers.
But in every version of the fantasy, she had remembered.
She had known exactly who to blame.
Now the man standing in front of her was a stranger wearing the face of someone from her past.
Her father.
Richard Collins.
The person who had disappeared from her life five years ago.
The person her broken memories had buried.
"Emma.""
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Like he was walking into a room where he belonged.
Adrian immediately stepped in front of her and Leo.
Richard noticed.
A small smile appeared.
"Still protecting everyone else, Adrian.""
Adrian's voice was cold.
"You need to leave.""
Richard looked around the house.
"The famous Vale estate.""
He shook his head.
"Funny. After all these years, my daughter ended up exactly where I knew she would.""
Emma's eyes narrowed.
"You knew?""
Richard looked at her.
"Of course.""
The answer was effortless.
Like he had been waiting to say it.
Emma felt something inside her crack.
"You knew where I was?""
"Yes.""
"You knew I was looking for Leo?""
"Yes.""
"And you did nothing?""
Richard sighed.
"You always were emotional.""
The words hit her.
Not because they hurt.
Because they sounded familiar.
A memory.
A dinner table.
A younger Emma crying.
Richard sitting across from her.
Saying the same thing.
"You're too emotional to understand how the world works.""
Emma grabbed the edge of the table.
"You.""
Richard tilted his head.
"What?""
"You made me think I was unstable.""
Silence.
For the first time, his expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Adrian noticed.
"Emma.""
She looked at him.
"He did.""
Her voice shook.
"I remember.""
Richard's smile faded.
"Memory is a dangerous thing.""
"No.""
Emma stepped forward.
"Your lies were dangerous.""
Leo moved closer to Adrian.
The boy sensed the tension.
Richard looked at him.
And something in his expression softened.
Not kindness.
Possession.
Emma saw it.
She immediately moved.
"Don't look at him.""
Richard's eyes returned to her.
"My grandson.""
"You don't get to call him that.""
A strange sadness crossed his face.
"You have no idea what happened.""
"Then tell me.""
Richard looked at Adrian.
"You haven't told her everything.""
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Don't.""
Emma looked between them.
"What does he mean?""
Nobody answered.
Her anger rose.
"Enough.""
The room became silent.
"I am done being the last person to know my own life.""
Richard watched her.
Then slowly removed his coat.
"I came here because I want to prevent another mistake.""
Emma laughed.
"A mistake?""
She pointed at Leo.
"You already made one.""
Richard ignored the comment.
"I know you saw the video.""
Adrian went still.
"You knew about the video?""
Richard smiled.
"I know about everything.""
Emma felt cold.
"Then why let us find it?""
Richard looked at her.
"Because you were always going to.""
The confidence in his voice terrified her.
"You planned this?""
"No.""
He looked at Adrian.
"Daniel planned it.""
Adrian froze.
"What?""
Richard nodded.
"Daniel knew he was going to die.""
Emma stared.
"You're saying Daniel knew?""
"Yes.""
Richard stepped closer.
"He knew someone would come after him.""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"And you expect us to believe you?""
Richard looked at him.
"I expect you to watch the rest of the video.""
Emma frowned.
"What?""
Richard pointed toward the laptop.
"There is another file.""
Adrian immediately checked.
A second video appeared.
Hidden.
Locked.
The password field waited.
Emma stared.
"How do you know?""
Richard smiled.
"Because I helped create it.""
The room went silent.
Adrian's expression changed.
"You were working with Daniel?""
"No.""
Richard looked at Emma.
"I was working against him.""
Emma's stomach dropped.
"Why?""
Richard looked away.
"Because Daniel was going to expose something that would destroy all of us.""
"Your family?""
"No.""
His eyes returned to hers.
"Yours.""
Emma shook her head.
"No.""
Richard walked toward the fireplace.
"You think the story is simple.""
He looked at Adrian.
"Daniel was good. The Vales were bad. I was the villain.""
He smiled sadly.
"But the truth is always uglier.""
Emma's hands trembled.
"Then tell me.""
Richard looked at her.
"You weren't running from the Vales.""
A pause.
"You were running from yourself.""
The words cut deep.
Adrian stepped forward.
"Careful.""
Richard ignored him.
"Emma, before Leo was born, Daniel discovered something about you.""
Emma froze.
"About me?""
Richard nodded.
"You weren't just helping him investigate the Vale family.""
"What was I doing?""
"You were part of the investigation.""
Emma frowned.
"I don't understand.""
Richard walked toward the laptop.
"Watch.""
He typed the password.
The second video opened.
The screen flickered.
A younger Emma appeared.
But this time, she wasn't crying.
She looked focused.
Determined.
She was sitting across from Daniel.
"I found the documents.""
Daniel looked shocked.
"Are you sure?""
Young Emma nodded.
"My father has been hiding them for years.""
Emma watching the video covered her mouth.
Richard stood behind her.
Silent.
The video continued.
Daniel asked:
"What will you do?""
Young Emma looked at the camera.
"I'll expose him.""
Adrian looked at Richard.
"What documents?""
Richard didn't answer.
The video showed Daniel placing a folder on the table.
Inside were financial records.
Names.
Dates.
Signatures.
Then young Emma said:
"If anyone finds out I have these, they'll come after Leo.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's why we need a plan.""
Emma felt tears forming.
She remembered this.
Not everything.
But pieces.
The fear.
The determination.
The reason.
Then the video changed.
A hospital room.
Emma after giving birth.
Daniel standing beside her.
But someone else entered.
Richard.
Young Emma immediately looked afraid.
"Dad.""
Richard's face was younger.
But the same coldness was there.
"You made a mistake.""
Young Emma held Leo.
"No.""
Richard looked at the baby.
"You have no idea what you've done.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Leave her alone.""
Richard smiled.
"You're the reason this happened.""
Then the video cut.
Emma stared.
"What happened next?""
Nobody spoke.
Richard answered.
"I tried to fix it.""
Emma turned.
"You tried to fix it?""
"I tried to protect you.""
"You erased my life.""
Richard looked at her.
"You were going to destroy yourself trying to expose the truth.""
"No.""
"You were unstable.""
Emma flinched.
There it was.
The same word.
The same weapon.
Richard continued.
"After Daniel died, you wanted revenge.""
"I wanted justice.""
"You wanted blood.""
The accusation hung in the air.
Emma shook her head.
"I would never.""
Richard looked at Adrian.
"She doesn't remember.""
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Remember what?""
Richard looked at Emma.
"The night Daniel died.""
The room became silent.
Emma felt the old fear return.
Richard stepped closer.
"You think someone attacked Daniel.""
A pause.
"You think someone stole your son.""
Another pause.
"But the truth is...""
He looked directly at her.
"You were the last person seen with Daniel.""
Emma felt dizzy.
"No.""
Richard nodded.
"And when police found you...""
His voice lowered.
"You were holding the weapon.""
The room went completely still.
Leo gasped softly.
Adrian immediately covered the boy's ears.
Emma stared at her father.
"No.""
Richard reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small evidence photograph.
He placed it on the table.
Emma looked down.
Her blood turned cold.
Because the photograph showed a scene she didn't remember.
Daniel on the ground.
Rain pouring.
And Emma kneeling beside him.
Her hands covered in blood.
Richard whispered:
"You didn't lose your memory because someone took it from you.""
Emma looked up.
"Then why?""
His answer was quiet.
"Because you asked a doctor to make you forget.""
Emma stopped breathing.
And then Richard said the words that shattered everything:
"You didn't forget what happened that night, Emma.""
May you like
A pause.
"You forgot what you did.""
