Chapter 9: The Last Betrayal
Adrian did not believe it.
Not at first.
Mateo had been beside him for fifteen years.
He had protected him.
Saved his life.
Carried him through his darkest moments.
He was family.
“Find Mateo,” Adrian ordered.
The guards moved instantly.
Daniel watched silently.
Almost amused.
“You really thought you knew everyone around you.”
Adrian turned toward him.
“You knew?”
Daniel smiled.
“I knew Mateo was useful.”
The words hit harder than any confession.
Adrian stepped forward.
“What did you do?”
Daniel looked toward the rain outside.
“Your family destroyed mine years ago.”
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
“Your father ruined my father’s company. Took everything from us.”
“That was business.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That’s what rich people call cruelty when they’re the ones winning.”
Clara watched him carefully.
Daniel wasn’t just greedy.
He was angry.
A man who had spent years feeding his hatred.
But then the mansion alarm suddenly activated.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Adrian.”
Everyone froze.
It was Mateo.
“He’s gone,” Adrian said.
“No.”
The voice answered.
“I’m exactly where I need to be.”
A camera feed appeared on the screen.
Mateo stood in the old underground archive room.
Behind him were boxes of documents.
Including Evelyn’s original investigation files.
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
Mateo looked exhausted.
“Because someone had to make sure the truth came out.”
Everyone went silent.
“What are you talking about?”
Mateo looked at Daniel.
“Daniel killed Evelyn.”
Daniel immediately shouted:
“Liar!”
But Mateo continued.
“He didn’t expect her to discover everything. He didn’t expect her to record evidence.”
Adrian looked at the screen.
“Then why did you hide it?”
Mateo lowered his eyes.
“Because your father asked me to.”
Adrian felt betrayed all over again.
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
Mateo’s voice broke.
“He knew Daniel was dangerous. He tried to expose him.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
“Because Daniel threatened Emma.”
Adrian froze.
His daughter.
The same fear.
The same method.
The same monster.
Mateo looked directly at Adrian.
“I protected the evidence until Emma was old enough to survive the truth.”
Then the screen flickered.
The archive door behind Mateo opened.
Someone entered.
Everyone watched in horror.
Because the person walking into the room…
Was Vanessa.
But she was not afraid.
She was smiling.
“I’m sorry, Adrian.”
She whispered.
“But this story was never about your wife.”
May you like
A pause.
“It was about your daughter.”
