Chapter 5: The Enemy Behind the Family Name
“Someone who still works inside Carter Holdings.””
Daniel’s words remained in Matthew’s mind long after the call ended.
The apartment suddenly felt smaller.
The walls felt closer.
The air felt heavier.
Because for six years, Matthew had believed the enemy was outside the company.
Competitors.
Rivals.
People trying to destroy the Carter empire.
He never imagined the person who had stolen his daughter’s existence was sitting inside his own organization.
Angela watched his face carefully.
“Who was it?””
Matthew didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at Lucy.
She was sitting on the floor, arranging her stuffed animals in a small line.
Completely unaware that the adults around her were uncovering a war that had started before she was even born.
Matthew lowered his voice.
“I don’t know yet.””
Angela’s expression changed.
“You do know.””
Matthew looked at her.
“Why would you say that?””
“Because I saw your face.””
She stepped closer.
“You already have a name in your head.””
Matthew stayed silent.
Because she was right.
There was only one person who fit.
One person who had access.
One person who had benefited from keeping secrets buried.
Victoria Carter.
His father’s most trusted advisor.
His aunt.
The woman who had practically raised him after his mother died.
The woman who always told him:
“Family protects family.””
Matthew looked away.
“I need proof.””
Angela nodded.
“You’re going after her.””
“Yes.””
“Matthew…”
He turned.
Her voice softened.
“Be careful.””
The warning surprised him.
“Why?””
Angela looked toward the window.
“Because people who spend years hiding a secret don’t give it up easily.””
The next morning, Matthew arrived at Carter Holdings before sunrise.
The building was nearly empty.
Usually, the headquarters was alive by seven.
Executives rushing between meetings.
Employees carrying coffee.
Phones ringing.
Today, only security guards moved through the marble lobby.
Matthew walked straight to the executive floor.
Nobody stopped him.
Nobody dared.
When he reached the private archive room, Daniel was already waiting.
A stack of files covered the table.
“You look like you haven’t slept,” Daniel said.
“I didn’t.””
Daniel nodded.
“Neither did I.””
Matthew looked at the documents.
“Tell me everything.””
Daniel opened the first folder.
“After your father died, Victoria became responsible for managing sensitive family records.””
Matthew frowned.
“That was normal.””
“Yes.””
Daniel placed another document down.
“But this wasn’t.””
Matthew looked.
A transfer record.
A payment from a Carter Holdings account.
Recipient:
Jonathan Reed.
Amount:
$250,000.
Date:
Six years ago.
Matthew stared.
“My father paid him.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel pulled out another page.
“Because Jonathan was investigating Victoria.””
Matthew looked up.
“What?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father suspected someone inside the company was moving money without authorization.””
Matthew looked back at the documents.
“Victoria?””
“That was his suspicion.””
A cold feeling moved through Matthew.
“My father knew.””
“Yes.””
“He knew someone was corrupt.””
“Yes.””
“And instead of telling me…”
Daniel’s expression was grim.
“He was dying.””
Matthew looked away.
The anger he felt toward his father became complicated.
His father had lied.
Manipulated.
Controlled.
But maybe he had also been fighting a battle nobody knew existed.
“What did Jonathan find?””
Daniel opened another folder.
“This.””
Inside was a handwritten report.
Matthew recognized Jonathan’s handwriting immediately.
He read the first sentence.
*Victoria Carter has been accessing restricted family records without authorization.*
His eyes moved faster.
The report detailed private files.
Financial movements.
Communications.
And one section about Lucy.
Matthew stopped.
“What does this mean?””
Daniel leaned closer.
“Read it.””
Matthew continued.
*Subject: Angela Brooks and unborn child.*
*Victoria appears determined to prevent Matthew Carter from receiving information regarding the child.*
Matthew’s hand tightened.
The words became harder to read.
*Possible motive: control over Carter succession.*
He looked up.
“Succession?””
Daniel nodded.
“Your father’s company wasn’t just about money.””
Matthew knew.
The Carter family had always treated the company like a kingdom.
Whoever controlled the family controlled the future.
“If I knew about Lucy…”
“You might have changed your decisions.””
Matthew looked at him.
“Yes.””
Daniel nodded.
“Victoria knew that.””
At ten in the morning, Matthew called Victoria.
She answered on the second ring.
“Matthew.””
Her voice was calm.
Almost too calm.
“I heard you had a successful charity event last night.””
Matthew looked out his office window.
“Did you?””
A pause.
“What do you mean?””
“You knew about Lucy.””
Silence.
Not confusion.
Not shock.
Silence.
That told him everything.
“Matthew…”
“How long?””
Victoria exhaled.
“Where are you?””
“In my office.””
“I’ll come there.””
“No.””
His voice became cold.
“You’ll answer the phone.””
Another pause.
Then:
“I did what I had to do.””
Matthew closed his eyes.
There it was.
Not denial.
Not an apology.
A justification.
“You stole six years from me.””
“I protected you.””
“You lied.””
“I protected the company.””
Matthew’s grip tightened around the phone.
“You keep saying that like it makes you innocent.””
Victoria’s voice hardened.
“You don’t understand what would have happened.””
“What?””
“If Lucy had been revealed, your entire life would have changed.””
Matthew laughed bitterly.
“That was the point.””
“No.””
Her voice became sharper.
“You think this is about a child.””
Matthew froze.
“What else would it be about?””
Victoria lowered her voice.
“It was about your father’s final decision.””
Matthew stood.
“What decision?””
She didn’t answer.
“Victoria.””
“You need to stop digging.””
“Or what?””
A pause.
Then she said something that made his blood run cold.
“Or you’ll find out why Jonathan Reed disappeared.””
The call ended.
Matthew immediately called Daniel.
No answer.
Again.
Still nothing.
A bad feeling spread through him.
He grabbed his jacket and left.
Twenty minutes later, he arrived at Daniel’s apartment.
The door was slightly open.
Matthew stopped.
Every instinct told him something was wrong.
“Daniel?””
No response.
He pushed the door open.
The apartment was empty.
Not abandoned.
Searched.
Drawers were pulled out.
Documents scattered.
Someone had been looking for something.
Matthew walked inside carefully.
On the floor near the desk was Daniel’s phone.
The screen was cracked.
But one message remained visible.
A draft.
Not sent.
To Matthew.
*I found the original birth record. Lucy’s file was changed before she was born. The name listed as her father was not Jonathan Reed.*
Matthew stared.
His heartbeat increased.
Below the message was an attachment.
A scanned hospital record.
Matthew opened it.
The document loaded slowly.
Then he saw it.
The original birth certificate.
Mother:
Angela Brooks.
Child:
Lucy Brooks.
Father:
Matthew Carter.
His breath caught.
For a moment, relief replaced everything else.
The truth.
Finally.
Then he noticed something.
A handwritten note added at the bottom.
A note from the hospital administrator.
*Record altered by order of Carter family representative.*
Matthew stared.
Someone had changed Lucy’s identity.
Someone had erased him.
Someone had spent six years making sure he never knew.
Then his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
One message.
A photograph.
Daniel.
Sitting in a car.
Alive.
But frightened.
The message underneath said:
*If you want your investigator back, come alone.*
Matthew looked at the picture.
Then another message appeared.
May you like
This one had only four words.
*Bring Lucy’s real father.*
