Chapter 7 - The Video Archive
I clicked play.
My father appeared on the screen. Older than I remembered him. Tired. But smiling.
“Elena,” he said.
My hand flew to my mouth. Sofie stared at the screen.
“That’s Grandpa.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
“If you found this, then you were still curious enough to solve one more puzzle for me,” my father said through the static of the old recording. “I’m sorry I left you with questions.”
He explained everything. Victor Carter had forged the ownership transfer. Alexander, then only twenty-three, discovered the fraud years later and secretly helped Gabriel preserve evidence.
Richard had promised to testify. Then he changed his mind.
Richard had been the one who warned Victor that Gabriel was collecting proof. The screen showed copies of payments. Richard had accepted millions to look the other way.
Then my father said something none of us expected.
“Alexander, if you are watching this, I know you probably still blame yourself. You tried to fix what your father did. I told you not to. But if Elena ever finds you, tell her the truth.”
Alexander turned away. His shoulders trembled.
The video continued. “Richard believes I hid only financial evidence. But there is one final record.”
Richard backed toward the apartment door.
My father’s expression became grave. “Richard arranged the sabotage of my car in 1999.”
The room went silent. The refrigerator compressor clicked on, humming loudly in the tense air.
May you like
Richard ran.
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