Chapter 8: The Brother Who Knew Too Much
The accusation against Daniel was different from every accusation that came before.
When Vanessa accused me, I felt humiliation.
When the police arrived, I felt fear.
When Eleanor’s secret was revealed, I felt betrayal.
But now...
Now I felt confusion.
Because Daniel had been the one person who stood beside me from the beginning.
The one person who demanded evidence.
The one person who stopped everyone from judging me.
And suddenly, there was evidence connecting him to the hidden camera.
I stared at him.
Daniel looked at the security manager.
"Explain.""
The man's face was pale.
"I don't know how else to explain it. The device registration shows your credentials.""
Daniel shook his head.
"I didn't install any camera.""
Vanessa let out a quiet laugh.
Everyone turned toward her.
"Of course you didn't.""
Daniel looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"It means the truth is finally getting interesting.""
The officer immediately stepped forward.
"Ms. Vance, if you know something, you need to explain.""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
"I always wondered why you were so interested in this.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Careful.""
"No.""
She smiled.
"You spent years pretending you didn't care about the family business.""
The room became quiet.
"But you knew.""
Daniel didn't respond.
I looked at him.
"Knew what?""
Daniel looked at me.
And that small hesitation hurt.
Because it was the first time all night that he didn't immediately answer.
"Daniel.""
My voice was softer.
"What did you know?""
He looked away.
The silence was enough.
Richard stepped forward.
"Daniel.""
His voice carried disappointment.
"What is she talking about?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then slowly answered.
"I knew Emily existed.""
The words hit me harder than I expected.
I stepped back.
"What?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Not everything.""
My throat tightened.
"How long?""
"Six months.""
Six months.
The number echoed in my head.
For six months, Daniel had known.
He had seen me every day.
He had watched me work.
He had spoken to me.
And he never told me.
"You knew I was Richard's daughter?""
Daniel nodded.
"I found documents in my father's office.""
Richard looked surprised.
"You went through my files?""
"I was trying to understand why Eleanor was so determined to remove someone from the inheritance.""
Daniel looked at me.
"At first, I thought it was a business issue.""
I swallowed.
"And then?""
"Then I found your name.""
My eyes burned.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked genuinely hurt.
"Because I didn't know who I could trust.""
The answer should have made sense.
But standing there, I felt betrayed.
"You could have trusted me.""
He looked down.
"I know.""
That admission hurt more.
Because it meant he knew.
He knew he had kept something from me.
Vanessa watched us carefully.
"You see?""
She turned toward the room.
"This is what the Hawthorne family does.""
Her voice became bitter.
"Everyone keeps secrets. Everyone decides what other people are allowed to know.""
Daniel ignored her.
"There's more.""
Everyone looked at him.
The officer asked:
"More about the camera?""
Daniel nodded.
"I did install a camera.""
The room reacted.
I felt my stomach drop.
Daniel continued quickly.
"But not to spy on Emily.""
"Then why?""
He looked at the screen.
"Because I suspected my mother.""
Richard stared.
"Your mother?""
Daniel nodded.
"Six months ago, I found documents showing she had been moving money from family accounts.""
Richard's expression changed.
"What?""
Daniel looked at him.
"I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Still protecting the family name.""
Daniel ignored her.
"I installed the camera because I needed proof.""
He looked at the screen.
"I recorded conversations between Eleanor and people she met inside the estate.""
The security manager frowned.
"But the camera was registered under your name.""
"Yes.""
Daniel nodded.
"Because I wanted responsibility for it.""
The officer looked at him.
"Why hide it?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because if Eleanor discovered I was investigating her, I would lose the only chance to find the truth.""
I looked at him.
Part of me understood.
Another part still felt wounded.
Because everyone around me had known pieces of my life.
Everyone except me.
Daniel looked at me.
"I should have told you.""
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know what to say.
Then Richard spoke.
"What documents did you find?""
Daniel turned toward him.
"Documents showing Eleanor had been preparing to challenge Emily's inheritance before she even knew Emily existed.""
Richard's face became pale.
"Impossible.""
"No.""
Daniel shook his head.
"She knew.""
He reached into his jacket.
Then pulled out a folder.
"I found this hidden in her office.""
The officer took it.
Inside were printed documents.
The room waited.
The officer read carefully.
Then his expression changed.
"What is it?""
Daniel answered.
"A legal agreement.""
He looked at Richard.
"Between Eleanor and Vanessa.""
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
"That's not what you think.""
The officer held up the paper.
"Please step back.""
Vanessa stopped.
The officer continued reading.
Then looked at Daniel.
"This document states that if Emily Porter is removed from the Hawthorne inheritance claim, Vanessa Vance will receive financial compensation.""
The room erupted.
Vanessa's face went pale.
"I never signed that.""
Daniel looked at her.
"You did.""
She shook her head.
"No.""
"You forgot something.""
Daniel held up another page.
"The agreement included a recording authorization.""
Vanessa froze.
"What?""
Daniel looked at the security manager.
"Play the audio.""
The manager connected another file.
A recording began.
Vanessa's voice filled the room.
"I don't care what happens to Emily. I just want what I was promised.""
Then Eleanor's voice:
"She will never know who she is.""
The recording ended.
This time, Vanessa had no explanation.
The officer stepped toward her.
"Ms. Vance.""
She backed away.
"No.""
Her confidence finally disappeared.
"This isn't fair.""
Daniel stared at her.
"Fair?""
His voice was quiet.
"You destroyed an innocent woman's life.""
Vanessa looked at me.
And something unexpected happened.
She didn't look angry.
She looked desperate.
"Emily.""
I didn't move.
"Don't listen to them.""
The officer stopped her.
"You need to come with us.""
As they escorted Vanessa away, the entire foyer became quiet.
But I couldn't feel relief.
Not yet.
Because there was still one person missing.
Eleanor.
The woman who started everything.
Richard looked toward the doors.
"Where would she go?""
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
"What is it?""
I asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
He just stared at the message.
Then handed me the phone.
A photo appeared.
A photo of Eleanor standing somewhere dark.
And beside her...
Was my mother's old wooden box.
The box I had kept since childhood.
The box containing every memory my mother left behind.
Under the picture was one sentence:
"Come alone if you want to know why your mother really died.""
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because Eleanor wasn't running away.
She was waiting for me.
