Chapter 8: The Last Message From My Father
The words on the screen burned into my mind.
*If Richard is here, then Noah is already in danger.*
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The old room seemed to hold its breath.
My father’s message was right there in front of me.
Proof that he knew this moment could happen.
Proof that he knew Richard might come back.
And proof that he knew I would be the one standing here.
Richard Cole smiled faintly.
Like he had expected our reaction.
“Daniel always was dramatic.””
Adrian stepped forward.
“You knew about the message.””
Richard looked at him.
“I knew Daniel left many messages.””
The anger on Adrian’s face grew.
“You’ve been watching us.””
Richard didn’t deny it.
“Yes.””
Grandma grabbed the side of her wheelchair.
“You stayed hidden all these years?””
Richard looked at her.
“Everyone stayed hidden.””
His eyes moved around the room.
“This family built its entire existence on secrets.””
Victoria’s voice was cold.
“You don’t get to pretend you’re the victim.””
Richard looked at her.
“You’re alive because I allowed you to be.””
The room changed.
Victoria’s face went pale.
Adrian noticed.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Victoria.
“Did he hurt you?””
She didn’t respond.
That was enough.
Adrian moved toward Richard.
“You touched my sister?””
Richard’s expression remained calm.
“Careful.””
“Or what?””
Richard smiled.
“Or you’ll prove Daniel was right about you.””
Adrian stopped.
“What?””
“Your brother always believed your anger was your weakness.””
The words hit Adrian.
Because they were personal.
Because Richard knew Daniel.
Not from stories.
From experience.
“You worked with him,” Adrian said.
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
Richard looked at the computer screen.
“Because Daniel found something he wasn’t supposed to find.””
I stepped forward.
“What?””
Richard looked at me.
“The truth about your family.””
I hated how everyone kept saying that.
The truth.
The truth.
Like the truth was some dangerous thing nobody wanted to touch.
“Then tell me.””
Everyone turned.
I didn’t care anymore.
“I’m tired of people protecting me from my own life.””
Richard studied me.
For a moment, he looked almost impressed.
“You really are Daniel’s son.””
I clenched my fists.
“Tell me.””
Richard walked toward the desk.
He touched the old computer.
“Your father discovered that our family’s fortune was built on stolen information.””
Adrian frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Richard looked at him.
“You never knew.””
He laughed quietly.
“That’s the funniest part.””
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Knew what?””
Richard leaned closer.
“Your father wasn’t trying to destroy the family.””
He pointed toward the old documents.
“He was trying to save it.””
Victoria looked at him.
“Then why did you make everyone think he betrayed us?””
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“Because someone had to take the blame.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Adrian.
Then Victoria.
Then Grandma.
All these years.
Everyone had believed someone else was responsible.
But maybe that was exactly what Richard wanted.
Divide them.
Keep them fighting.
Keep them looking away.
“Where is my father?”” I asked.
Richard looked at me.
The question seemed to surprise him.
“You still think this is about finding him.””
“It is.””
“Noah…”
His voice became quieter.
“Your father knew he couldn’t come back.””
My heart dropped.
“What does that mean?””
Richard didn’t answer.
Instead, he reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small device.
Adrian immediately reacted.
“What is that?””
“A recording.””
He placed it on the desk.
“Daniel left this for you.””
Nobody breathed.
Richard pressed a button.
Static filled the room.
Then a voice.
My father.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
“Noah…”
My legs almost gave out.
I grabbed the desk.
Hearing his voice was different from hearing his name.
This was real.
This was him.
“If you’re hearing this, I’m sorry.””
A pause.
“I wanted to come home.””
My eyes burned.
“I wanted to watch you grow up.””
The recording crackled.
“But I couldn’t.””
Grandma covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“There is something you need to understand.””
The sound became clearer.
“Richard is not the beginning of this.””
Everyone looked at Richard.
His face changed slightly.
“He is only one piece.””
Adrian frowned.
“One piece?””
Daniel’s voice continued.
“The person behind everything is someone we trusted more than anyone.””
A pause.
Someone we trusted.
Those words felt familiar.
Too familiar.
“The person who betrayed us has been hiding in plain sight.””
The recording stopped.
Everyone froze.
Then it continued.
A second message.
A different tone.
More urgent.
“If Noah is listening to this…”
My father took a breath.
“Do not trust the person who says they protected him.””
The room went completely still.
Grandma looked away.
Adrian looked confused.
Victoria looked afraid.
And I felt something inside me break.
Because those words could mean anyone.
The recording ended.
Richard picked it up.
“Now you understand.””
Adrian looked at him.
“You’re lying.””
Richard shrugged.
“Am I?””
“You expect us to believe Daniel trusted you with this?””
“No.””
Richard looked at me.
“He trusted the compass.””
Everyone looked at my necklace.
I touched it.
“What does that mean?””
Richard smiled.
“The compass doesn’t just hold a secret.””
He pointed.
“It reveals one.””
Before anyone could respond, the old computer screen flickered.
A file opened.
Nobody touched it.
The screen displayed a video.
A security recording.
The date was seven years earlier.
The day my father disappeared.
My breath stopped.
“That’s him.””
My father appeared on the screen.
Daniel.
Walking through a parking garage.
Carrying a bag.
Looking behind him.
Watching for someone.
Then another person entered the frame.
Someone following him.
The video quality was poor.
But the person’s face became visible.
And I recognized him.
Everyone did.
Adrian whispered:
“No.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“That can’t be.””
Grandma covered her mouth.
Because the person following my father wasn’t Richard.
It wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone who had been standing beside us.
Someone who had been helping us search.
Someone who had promised to protect me.
The video froze.
The person turned toward the camera.
And the room filled with silence.
Because the face on the screen belonged to Gabriel.
Nobody spoke.
Gabriel stepped back.
“No.””
Adrian stared at him.
“Gabriel?””
“I didn’t.””
His voice cracked.
“I swear I didn’t.””
Victoria looked at him.
“You were there.””
Gabriel shook his head.
“You don’t understand.””
Richard smiled.
“Finally.””
Everyone turned.
Richard looked almost relieved.
“The truth is coming out.””
Gabriel’s face became desperate.
“You’re framing me.””
Richard tilted his head.
“Am I?””
The screen changed.
A second image appeared.
A photograph.
Gabriel standing with Daniel.
Holding the same compass.
And beneath the image was a date.
The day before Daniel disappeared.
I looked at Gabriel.
The man who had brought my father’s letter.
The man who claimed to be helping us.
The man my father trusted.
“Why did you have his compass?””
Gabriel looked at me.
His eyes filled with pain.
“I can explain.””
Adrian stepped forward.
“Then explain.””
Gabriel opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
And that silence was louder than any answer.
Then the mansion lights suddenly went out again.
A crash came from downstairs.
Someone screamed.
When the emergency lights turned on, Richard was gone.
The window behind him was open.
And on the desk where he had stood was a final message.
Written on a piece of paper.
Four words.
*Ask Gabriel about Noah.*
I looked at Gabriel.
He looked terrified.
Not guilty.
Terrified.
And that scared me more.
Because whatever happened seven years ago…
Whatever my father discovered…
Whatever secret everyone had been hiding…
The answer was standing right in front of me.
Gabriel slowly whispered:
“Noah…”
I stepped back.
“What?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“Your father didn’t disappear because someone was chasing him.””
He swallowed.
“He disappeared because he was trying to save you from something he created.””
My heart stopped.
“What did he create?””
Gabriel looked at the compass.
Then at me.
“The reason you were chosen.””
He took a shaky breath.
“The reason your father knew one day you would find the truth.””
A pause.
Then he said:
“Because Noah…”
May you like
“Your father didn’t leave you a message.””
“He left you a mission.””
