Chapter 8: The Hidden Witness
My mother opened the door before I knocked.
She knew.
I don’t know how.
Maybe mothers always know when their children are carrying pain.
Maybe she saw it in my face.
Maybe after years of secrets, she had learned to recognize the moment the truth finally arrived.
“Victoria talked to you,” she said.
I froze.
“You knew?””
My mother closed her eyes.
“I was afraid she would.””
I walked inside.
“You visited Dad’s research facility the night he died.””
She didn’t answer.
That hurt more than anything.
Because silence was confirmation.
“Mom.””
She sat down.
“I didn’t go there to hurt him.””
“Then why were you there?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Because Robert called me.””
I felt my anger shift.
“Why?””
“He said your father was in trouble.””
My mother looked at her hands.
“He told me Thomas was about to make a mistake that would ruin our family.””
“And you believed him?””
“I believed my brother-in-law was trying to help.””
The pain in her voice was real.
She wasn’t defending Robert.
She was remembering the moment she realized she had been used.
“What happened when you got there?””
My mother took a deep breath.
“Your father was arguing with Charles Cross.””
Alexander’s father.
“And Robert?””
“He was there too.””
My chest tightened.
“What did they say?””
She looked at me.
“They were fighting over the research.””
“Then what?””
“Thomas told them he had copied everything. That he had proof of their agreements and payments.””
My mother wiped her tears.
“He said he would go public.””
“And then?””
She looked away.
“Charles threatened him.””
The room felt colder.
“What kind of threat?””
“Not against Thomas.””
I already knew the answer.
“Against us.””
My mother nodded.
“They mentioned Ethan.””
My hands curled into fists.
“They used my brother.””
“Yes.””
She whispered.
“Your father was terrified.””
I had spent years imagining my father’s final moments.
But I never imagined fear.
I always imagined him as strong.
Untouchable.
A hero.
But heroes get scared too.
They just keep going.
“What happened after that?””
My mother hesitated.
“Someone came in.””
“Who?””
Her voice dropped.
“Robert.””
I closed my eyes.
Even now, hearing it hurt.
“He told them he had a solution.””
“What solution?””
My mother looked at me.
“The solution was to make it look like Thomas caused his own death.””
The words barely existed between us.
I couldn’t breathe.
“No.””
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
I stood.
“My father wasn’t weak.””
“I know.””
“He didn’t give up.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
My mother cried.
“Because he thought protecting us mattered more than protecting himself.””
That broke something inside me.
For years, I thought my father left us.
Now I knew.
He sacrificed himself for us.
A knock came at the door.
My mother looked frightened.
I immediately reached for my phone.
Alexander.
But the person outside wasn’t Alexander.
It was Lena Whitmore.
The woman Victoria almost attacked.
She entered slowly.
“I’m sorry for coming without warning.””
I looked at my mother.
Then at her.
“How do you know my mother?””
Lena sighed.
“Because I was there too.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
Lena looked at me.
“I was one of your father’s research partners.””
My mind struggled to process everything.
“You worked with my father?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
“Because after Thomas died, everyone connected to the project disappeared.””
She looked down.
“I was one of them.””
My mother nodded sadly.
“Lena helped me hide the remaining evidence.””
I stared at both women.
“How many people knew?””
“Enough,” Lena said.
“But not enough to stop them.””
She reached into her bag.
And removed a small envelope.
“I kept this for six years.””
My hands trembled as I took it.
Inside was a photograph.
My father.
Lena.
My mother.
And someone else.
A young researcher I didn’t recognize.
“Who is this?””
Lena’s face changed.
“That is Daniel Price.””
“Who is he?””
“The reason your father’s final backup survived.””
I looked at her.
“Where is he?””
Lena’s eyes filled with sadness.
“He vanished the same week Thomas died.””
My heart sank.
“Do you think he’s alive?””
Lena didn’t answer immediately.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
A chill went through me.
“Why?””
“Because last night, I received a message.””
She handed me her phone.
One sentence appeared on the screen.
THE BENNETT FAMILY DESERVES THE TRUTH.
Below it was a location.
And a time.
Tomorrow night.
Lena looked at me.
“Someone wants to meet.””
I stared at the message.
After six years of silence, a hidden witness was finally ready to speak.
But something told me there was a reason Daniel Price waited this long.
And I was about to find out what he had been running from.
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- Write Chapter 9: The Meeting at Midnight - Write Chapter 9: Daniel’s Testimony
