Chapter 14: The Truth No One Could Hide
The security room was filled with screens.
Every camera.
Every entrance.
Every hallway.
Damon stood in front of the monitors while his team searched through footage.
Ava sat beside her mother in a private lounge, unaware of how close danger had come.
Damon watched the cameras.
“Find every person who entered after the gala started.””
The security director nodded.
“We’re reviewing.””
“Faster.””
The director hesitated.
“Mr. Cross, we need time.””
Damon looked at him.
“My daughter doesn’t have time.””
Nobody argued after that.
Marcus stood beside him.
“You’re different.””
Damon didn’t look away.
“What does that mean?””
“Seven years ago, you would have tried to solve everything alone.””
Damon watched the screen.
“I wasn’t a father then.””
Marcus nodded.
“That changes things.””
The cameras moved backward.
Guests.
Staff.
Donors.
Then Jonathan appeared.
Entering through the main doors.
Damon pointed.
“There.””
The security director zoomed in.
Jonathan wasn’t alone.
Someone else walked beside him.
Damon leaned closer.
His face changed.
“No.””
Marcus looked.
“Who?””
Damon didn’t answer.
Because he recognized the person.
A trusted employee.
Someone who had worked beside him for years.
Someone who knew every weakness in his company.
“Ethan.””
Marcus frowned.
“Who is that?””
“My chief financial officer.””
The room went quiet.
Damon felt something inside him break.
Not because Ethan betrayed the company.
Because Ethan had been around Ava’s name before.
He had access.
Records.
Files.
Information.
The security footage showed Ethan handing Jonathan a folder.
Then Jonathan handing him something back.
Damon’s eyes narrowed.
“Stop.””
The footage froze.
“What was exchanged?””
The security director enlarged the image.
A small object.
Silver.
A pendant.
Damon’s expression changed.
“He had another one.””
Marcus looked at him.
“How many of those exist?””
Damon shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
Then Vanessa entered.
Everyone turned.
Damon looked at her.
“Why are you here?””
“Because I know what Ethan wants.””
Damon crossed his arms.
“You know everyone.””
The accusation hurt.
But she accepted it.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“And that is why I know I have to tell you everything.””
She walked toward the table.
“When your father died, I found out he left instructions.””
Damon frowned.
“Instructions?””
“For what?””
Vanessa looked at Ava’s mother.
“To protect Ava.””
The room went silent.
Damon looked confused.
“Then why did you hide her from me?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“Because the instructions said not to trust anyone.””
“Not even me?””
Vanessa looked away.
Especially you.””
The answer hurt.
“Why?””
“Because your father believed you were too emotional.””
Damon laughed bitterly.
“My own father thought loving my daughter made me weak.””
“No.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“He thought loving her would make you predictable.””
Damon looked at the monitors.
At Ethan.
At Jonathan.
At the years stolen from him.
Then Ava walked in.
Everyone turned.
Her mother followed.
“I heard my name.””
Damon immediately moved toward her.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Ava looked at him.
“I’m tired of adults whispering.””
Nobody had an answer.
She looked at Vanessa.
“Did you know my mom?””
Vanessa slowly nodded.
“Yes.””
“Were you mean to her?””
The question hit Vanessa harder than any accusation.
“Yes.””
Ava looked down.
“Why?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“Because I was scared.””
Ava thought about that.
Then asked:
“Are you still scared?””
Vanessa looked at Damon.
Then at Ava.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised everyone.
Damon stepped closer.
“Scared of what?””
Vanessa whispered:
“That the truth will prove I wasn’t the only person who failed you.””
Before Damon could answer, every screen in the security room went black.
A message appeared.
Not from Jonathan.
Not from an unknown number.
This time, the message came from Ethan.
*Damon, you finally found the truth.*
A second line appeared.
*Now find out what your father did to Ava’s mother.*
May you like
Then the final line appeared.
*Because she never disappeared. She was taken.*
