Chapter 2: The Video Nobody Expected
Nobody moved.
The funeral chapel, which moments earlier had been filled with grief, now felt like a courtroom.
Arthur’s face remained frozen on the memorial screen.
The red folder was still in his hand.
Burned.
Damaged.
Important.
Nia stared at Veronica.
The woman who had just claimed ownership of everything now looked like she wanted to disappear.
Maya noticed too.
“Why does she look scared?”” Maya whispered.
Nia didn’t answer.
Because she was asking herself the same question.
Attorney Marcus Reed stood near the front, watching Veronica carefully.
“Arthur requested this recording be shown exactly as it was prepared,” Marcus said.
Veronica turned toward him.
“You knew about this?””
Marcus remained calm.
“I knew Arthur wanted the truth heard.””
Her jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
“I know exactly what I’m doing.””
Arthur’s recording continued.
His eyes moved toward the locked door behind him again.
“If this message is playing,” Arthur said, “then I was not able to explain everything myself.””
A wave of sadness passed through Nia.
Her father sounded afraid.
Not sick.
Not confused.
Afraid.
Arthur continued.
“There are things my family needs to know. Things I should have told them sooner.””
Nia stepped closer to the screen.
“Dad…”
Her voice cracked.
Maya held onto her shoulder.
Veronica suddenly moved forward.
“Enough.””
Everyone turned.
She forced a small laugh.
“This is absurd. Arthur was under stress. Someone convinced him to make this dramatic recording.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Arthur recorded this three days before his death.””
The room went quiet.
Nia felt cold.
Three days?
Veronica had told them Arthur spent his final days peacefully.
She had said he was resting.
She had said there was nothing to worry about.
But now his own voice told a different story.
Veronica shook her head.
“You’re twisting this.””
Maya stepped forward.
“Then why are you afraid?””
Veronica looked at her.
For a moment, the confident woman disappeared.
Then she recovered.
“I’m not afraid.””
But her voice was different.
Lower.
Less certain.
Arthur’s recording continued.
“I found something that changed everything.””
He lifted the red folder slightly.
“I tried to protect my daughters from this for too long.””
Nia’s eyes filled with tears.
She had spent years believing her father always protected them.
Now she wondered what he had been protecting them from.
Arthur looked directly into the camera.
“The person who wanted this folder destroyed…”
The video suddenly glitched.
The chapel lights reflected across the screen.
Everyone leaned forward.
Veronica stopped breathing.
“The person who wanted me to stay silent…”
The audio crackled.
Then Arthur’s voice returned.
“Before you open it, remember this…”
He looked terrified.
“Trust the person who has proof.””
The screen went black.
A collective gasp moved through the chapel.
“What proof?”” someone whispered.
Nia turned toward Marcus.
The attorney slowly reached into his briefcase.
Veronica saw the movement.
Her eyes widened.
“Marcus.””
He pulled something out.
A red folder.
The same red folder.
The same burned edges.
Nia stared.
“How do you have that?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Because Arthur gave it to me before he made the recording.””
Veronica stepped backward.
“No.””
Marcus held the folder carefully.
“I was instructed not to open it until this moment.””
The room became silent again.
Nia looked at Veronica.
“You knew about this folder.””
It wasn’t a question.
Veronica’s face changed.
Anger replaced fear.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
Maya shook her head.
“No. I think we’re finally starting to understand.””
Veronica looked around the chapel.
At the guests.
At the screen.
At the folder.
Then her eyes locked onto Marcus.
“Put that away.””
Marcus didn’t move.
“Why?””
Veronica’s lips parted.
But no answer came.
And that silence told Nia more than words could.
Then Veronica stepped forward.
Fast.
Desperate.
“Don’t open that.””
Marcus tightened his grip on the folder.
May you like
But he still didn’t open it.
And before anyone could see what was inside, the chapel doors suddenly slammed open behind them.
