Chapter 9: The Truth Behind The Smile
I couldn't move.
For seven years, I imagined the moment I would face Richard Voss again.
In my mind, it always happened differently.
I imagined anger.
I imagined shouting.
I imagined finally telling him everything I had carried inside.
But standing there on that road, seeing him beside my mother, all I felt was confusion.
Because one question screamed louder than everything else.
Why was my mother standing with him?
Richard slowly walked down the hill.
His expensive coat moved with the wind.
The same confidence.
The same calm expression.
The same man who had destroyed my life while pretending he was helping me.
"Joseph.""
Hearing my name from him made my skin crawl.
I didn't answer.
Richard stopped several feet away.
"You look different.""
I laughed quietly.
"Seven years on the street will do that.""
His eyes moved over me.
For a second, something almost like regret appeared.
Almost.
Then it disappeared.
"I never wanted things to go this far.""
I stared at him.
"You ruined my life.""
He sighed.
"I protected you.""
The anger inside me exploded.
"Protected me?""
I stepped forward.
"You framed me. You stole from my company. You destroyed my reputation.""
Richard remained calm.
"You still don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
He looked toward my mother.
She looked away.
That hurt more than I expected.
My mother.
Standing beside him.
After everything.
Richard noticed.
"Your mother knows the truth.""
I looked at her.
"Mom?""
She didn't answer.
"Tell him.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I tried.""
My heart tightened.
"Tried what?""
"To stop it.""
Silence.
Richard smiled slightly.
"She was always too emotional.""
My fists tightened.
"Don't talk about her like that.""
For the first time, Richard's expression changed.
A small crack.
Anger.
Then it disappeared.
"You still protect people who hurt you.""
The words hit because they sounded familiar.
Like something my father would have warned me about.
"You don't know me anymore.""
Richard looked at me.
"I know you better than anyone.""
I wanted to hit him.
Not because of anger.
Because of the certainty in his voice.
He truly believed he understood me.
"Why are you here?""
Richard glanced at Daniel.
Then Lena.
"Because the game is over.""
Lena stepped forward.
"No.""
Richard looked at her.
"You were always the biggest disappointment.""
Her face hardened.
"I spent years cleaning up your mess.""
"You spent years trying to destroy my reputation.""
"Because you deserved it.""
Richard smiled.
"There she is.""
I looked between them.
"You two knew each other.""
Lena didn't answer.
Richard did.
"She was my best investigator.""
My eyes moved to Lena.
She looked away.
"You worked for him.""
"Yes.""
"But you left.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Richard laughed softly.
"Because she thought she found a hero.""
Lena's voice became cold.
"I found the truth.""
Richard ignored her.
"She was talented. Smart. Ambitious.""
He looked at me.
"Then she discovered what happens when people get too close.""
I looked at Lena.
"What did he do?""
She stayed silent.
Richard answered.
"I ruined her career.""
My jaw tightened.
"You admit it?""
"Of course.""
The casual way he said it made my stomach turn.
"People like me don't hide mistakes.""
He smiled.
"We control them.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Enough.""
Richard looked at him.
"You should have stayed away.""
Daniel shook his head.
"I should have spoken sooner.""
Richard's expression became colder.
"Yes.""
A pause.
"You should have.""
I noticed something.
The way Richard looked at Daniel.
Not like an enemy.
Like someone who knew a weakness.
"What did you do to him?""
Richard didn't answer.
Daniel did.
"He threatened my family.""
My eyes widened.
"What?""
Daniel looked ashamed.
"He knew where my wife worked. Where my children went to school.""
The anger came back.
"He used your family?""
Richard shrugged.
"Everyone has something they care about.""
Lena stepped closer.
"You are sick.""
Richard smiled.
"No.""
He looked at all of us.
"I'm realistic.""
I looked at my mother.
"Mom, why are you here?""
She finally looked at me.
Tears ran down her face.
"Because I needed to see you.""
"Then why are you standing with him?""
Her lips trembled.
"Because he said he would tell me where you were.""
Everything stopped.
"What?""
She looked down.
"After you disappeared, I searched everywhere.""
My anger faded slightly.
"I thought you were gone forever.""
She touched her chest.
"Richard found me.""
I looked at him.
"He told me he could find you.""
My mother's voice broke.
"I believed him.""
Richard smiled faintly.
"Your mother was desperate.""
"Don't.""
My mother looked at him with disgust.
"You promised.""
Richard's expression changed.
"What?""
"You promised you wouldn't hurt him.""
The road became silent.
I looked at Richard.
"You used my mother too.""
He didn't deny it.
That was the answer.
Then my phone buzzed.
Everyone looked.
Another message.
This time from an unknown number.
I opened it.
A video file.
My heart raced.
I pressed play.
The screen showed a hospital room.
A younger version of my father.
Alive.
Speaking.
My breath caught.
The video was clearly recorded secretly.
My father looked exhausted.
But his voice was strong.
"If Joseph is watching this, then Richard failed.""
Richard's face changed.
For the first time.
Real fear.
My father continued.
"I know what Richard did.""
The camera moved slightly.
Someone was standing beside him.
A woman.
I couldn't see her face.
Then my father's voice continued.
"The person who helped him hide the evidence was not who everyone believed.""
My eyes narrowed.
The woman stepped closer.
The camera finally caught her face.
Emily.
My heart stopped.
My father looked directly at the camera.
"Joseph, listen carefully.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Your sister did not betray you.""
Richard took a step forward.
"Turn that off.""
Nobody moved.
The video continued.
"She was trying to protect you.""
Emily in the recording was crying.
My father reached for her hand.
"She made one mistake. She trusted the wrong person.""
The screen flickered.
Then my father's final words appeared.
"Richard didn't kill me because of the money.""
A pause.
"He killed me because I discovered who was really controlling him.""
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Richard.
For the first time in seven years...
He looked afraid.
"Who?"" I whispered.
Richard said nothing.
Lena stared at him.
Daniel looked terrified.
Then my mother's voice broke the silence.
"Joseph...""
I turned.
She was crying.
"I need to tell you the last thing your father discovered.""
I waited.
She looked at Richard.
Then back at me.
"Richard Voss was never the person in charge.""
The wind moved through the trees.
Nobody breathed.
"Then who was?""
My mother closed her eyes.
And said the name that made Richard finally lose his calm.
"The person who funded everything.""
A pause.
"The person who helped him erase your father.""
May you like
My mother looked directly at me.
"Your uncle.""
