Chapter 12 - THE FINAL BETRAYAL
Daniel was arrested.
But Helen wasn't.
She had disappeared before the police arrived.
We assumed she had fled.
We were wrong.
She came for me.
Late one night, I received a message.
Your father lied again.
Then a photograph appeared.
My father was standing beside Helen.
The photograph was recent.
I called him immediately.
No answer.
I rushed downstairs.
His office was empty.
The front door was open.
On his desk was a note.
DON'T TRUST HIM.
Michael arrived minutes later.
“He's gone.”
I nodded.
“Someone took him.”
Jonathan looked at the photograph.
“This could be staged.”
“No.”
I pointed at the background.
“The building behind them.”
He studied it.
“Old Carter warehouse.”
We drove there.
Inside, we found Helen.
She stood beside my father.
He was unharmed.
Helen held a gun.
“Stop.”
Everyone froze.
I stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
Helen laughed.
“You destroyed everything.”
“No.”
“You destroyed my family.”
“You did that yourself.”
She looked at my father.
“He told you the truth?”
“Yes.”
“He never told you the worst part.”
My father shook his head.
“Don't.”
Helen smiled.
“Your father wasn't just your protector.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He was the person who helped your mother hide Michael.”
“Yes.”
“And he was the person who took Michael away.”
Michael froze.
“What?”
My father closed his eyes.
Helen continued.
“Richard gave Michael to Daniel Reed.”
“No.”
Michael shook his head.
“That's impossible.”
My father whispered:
“I thought Daniel would protect you.”
Michael stared at him.
“You gave me to the man who stole me?”
“I was threatened.”
“By whom?”
“Thomas.”
Thomas.
Again.
Always Thomas.
Helen laughed.
“Thomas controlled all of us.”
I looked at my father.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
Michael stepped backward.
“You let me grow up believing my mother abandoned me.”
“I thought you were safe.”
“You were wrong.”
My father began crying.
“I know.”
I looked at Helen.
“What do you want?”
She lowered the weapon.
“I want the trust.”
“You can't have it.”
“Then your father dies.”
I took one step forward.
“You won't hurt him.”
She smiled.
“Why?”
“Because you don't want another murder charge.”
Her smile disappeared.
Jonathan quietly signaled the police.
Helen saw him.
She turned.
Security rushed forward.
The weapon fell.
My father was pulled away.
Helen was arrested.
For the first time, the entire family stood free of the people who had controlled us.
But my father walked toward me.
“I know you may never forgive me.”
I looked at him.
“I don't know if I can.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
I hugged him anyway.
Not because everything was forgiven.
May you like
Because he was still my father.
And I wasn't ready to lose another person.
