PART 4
The message remained on the screen.
WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
Emily stared at those words until they blurred.
Seven years.
Seven years of hiding.
Seven years of looking over her shoulder.
Seven years of wondering if the people who destroyed Rachel would eventually find her.
And now they had.
Nathan watched her carefully.
“Emily.”
She didn’t respond.
“Look at me.”
Slowly, she raised her eyes.
“I’m scared.”
The confession was quiet.
Honest.
And it broke something inside Nathan.
Because Emily had always been the strong one.
The woman who survived.
The woman who protected everyone.
But now she finally admitted she was afraid.
Nathan took her hand.
“You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“I’ve never had anyone to fight with me.”
Nathan squeezed her fingers.
“Then get used to it.”
They didn’t sleep that night.
Nathan increased security around the mansion.
Cameras.
Guards.
Emergency protocols.
But no amount of protection could erase the truth.
Someone powerful was after them.
Someone who knew their every move.
The next morning, Nathan’s investigator arrived.
His name was Michael.
A former federal agent who had worked with Nathan for years.
He placed several files on the table.
“I found something.”
Nathan opened the first folder.
“What?”
Michael looked at Emily.
“She needs to hear this too.”
Emily sat down.
Her hands were already shaking.
“Rachel Morgan’s death was officially ruled an accident.”
Michael continued.
“But it was reopened six months ago.”
Nathan frowned.
“By who?”
Michael hesitated.
“Rachel.”
Silence.
Emily looked confused.
“What do you mean?”
Michael slid a document across the table.
“She left instructions.”
Emily picked it up.
It was Rachel’s handwriting.
Emily’s breath caught.
“My sister…”
The note said:
If anything happens to me, the truth is hidden where only Emily can find it.
Michael continued.
“Rachel knew she was being watched.”
Emily covered her mouth.
“She knew.”
Nathan looked at her.
“She knew she was in danger?”
Emily nodded slowly.
“But she still kept going.”
Michael looked serious.
“Because she believed exposing the truth was more important than saving herself.”
Nathan turned to the next file.
A list of names.
Executives.
Lawyers.
Politicians.
And one name that made him stop.
Carter Holdings.
Not his father.
Someone else.
His uncle.
Richard Carter.
Nathan’s face changed.
“My uncle?”
Michael nodded.
“Your father wasn’t the only one involved.”
Emily looked at Nathan.
“Richard?”
Nathan stood.
“I haven’t seen him in years.”
Michael continued.
“He disappeared after your father died.”
Nathan froze.
“What?”
His father had died five years ago.
A heart attack.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Michael lowered his voice.
“We found evidence that your father was investigating Richard before he died.”
Nathan felt the room spinning.
His father.
The man he thought he knew.
Had been trying to uncover the truth.
Not hide it.
That afternoon, Nathan went to the old Carter family estate.
The house had been empty since his father’s death.
Dust covered everything.
But the memories remained.
His father teaching him chess.
His mother laughing.
Family dinners.
A perfect childhood.
Or so he thought.
In his father’s old office, Nathan searched through documents.
Emily stood beside him.
“You don’t have to do this.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
He answered quietly.
“Because if my family destroyed yours, I need to know.”
After hours of searching, they found something.
A hidden compartment behind a bookshelf.
Inside was a small box.
Nathan opened it.
Documents.
Photos.
A recording device.
And a letter.
The letter was addressed to Nathan.
My son,
If you are reading this, then I failed.
Nathan’s hands trembled.
Emily stood close.
His father continued:
I spent my life building an empire. I thought power could protect the people I loved.
I was wrong.
Power without honesty destroys everything.
Nathan kept reading.
Your uncle Richard made deals behind my back. He used Carter Holdings to hide crimes. When I found out, he threatened everyone I loved.
Including Rachel Morgan.
Nathan closed his eyes.
Emily began crying.
Her sister’s name.
After all these years.
Finally connected.
The recording was next.
Nathan pressed play.
His father’s voice filled the room.
“If anything happens to me, Richard Carter is responsible.”
A pause.
“He will try to take control of everything.”
Another pause.
“And he will use anyone he can.”
Then another voice appeared.
Richard.
Cold.
Angry.
“You don’t understand what family means.”
Nathan froze.
Because he recognized another voice.
His mother.
Victoria.
“You can’t do this,” Victoria said.
Richard laughed.
“Watch me.”
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
The truth was worse than they expected.
Victoria had known.
When they returned home, Nathan confronted her.
She was waiting in the living room.
As if she already knew.
“You found your father’s files.”
Nathan stared.
“You knew.”
Victoria looked down.
“Yes.”
Emily stood behind Nathan.
“Why?”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“Because I was afraid.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“Afraid?”
“You have no idea what Richard was capable of.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“You let Rachel die.”
Victoria flinched.
“I tried to help her.”
Emily’s voice broke.
“You knew my sister was in danger.”
Victoria looked at her.
“I told her to run.”
“Then why didn’t you save her?”
Silence.
Because Victoria had no answer.
Suddenly, every phone in the room rang.
Nathan looked down.
A news alert.
BREAKING: Carter Holdings CEO Nathan Carter Accused of Fraud.
His face changed.
“What?”
Michael immediately checked.
Someone had released fake documents.
Claims of illegal transactions.
Hidden accounts.
Fraud.
All connected to Nathan.
Victoria whispered:
“Richard.”
Nathan understood.
This was his plan.
Destroy Nathan’s reputation.
Take control.
And make everyone believe the Carter empire was corrupt.
The board called an emergency meeting.
Nathan had to leave.
Emily grabbed his arm.
“Be careful.”
He looked at her.
“I will.”
She hesitated.
“Promise me.”
Nathan smiled sadly.
“I promise.”
But as Nathan entered the company building, he realized something was wrong.
Employees stared.
Security guards whispered.
The news was everywhere.
The man everyone trusted was suddenly a criminal.
Inside the boardroom, Richard Carter was waiting.
Older.
Calmer.
Smiling.
Nathan stopped.
“You.”
Richard smiled.
“Hello, nephew.”
“You framed me.”
Richard laughed.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I simply showed the world who you really are.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed.
“You killed Rachel.”
For the first time, Richard’s smile disappeared.
Then he leaned closer.
“You should have left the past buried.”
Back at the mansion, Emily received a call.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No voice.
Only a recording.
Then a whisper.
“Your husband is busy fighting for his company.”
A pause.
“And you are alone.”
Emily froze.
The voice continued.
“Open the door.”
May you like
Her heart stopped.
Because someone was already inside the house.
