CHAPTER 5 — The Father’s Last Secret
The mansion fell silent.
The federal agents escorted Daniel into the room in handcuffs, but the moment Ethan saw him, something felt wrong.
Daniel wasn't smiling.
He wasn't trying to escape.
He looked... exhausted.
"I'll tell you everything," he said quietly.
Ethan grabbed him by the collar.
"You stole my family!"
Daniel looked him straight in the eye.
"No."
"I saved them."
The room froze.
Even the agents stopped moving.
Daniel slowly pulled a sealed envelope from inside his jacket.
"I kept this for five years because your father promised he'd kill Emily and Lily if I ever gave it to you."
The envelope bore Ethan's name.
The handwriting belonged to his late mother.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a letter dated six years earlier.
Ethan... if you're reading this, then I couldn't stop your father. He believes money matters more than family. He promised to destroy the woman you love because Emily knows something that could send him to prison. Trust Daniel. He isn't your enemy... he's trying to protect you.
Ethan felt the floor disappear beneath him.
His own mother...
had known everything.
Daniel wiped away a tear.
"I forged the divorce because your father had already hired men to eliminate Emily after Lily was born."
"I made her disappear before they could."
Emily covered her mouth, unable to stop crying.
"So... you lied to save us?"
Daniel nodded.
"I became the villain because it was the only way to keep you alive."
Ethan slowly released his grip.
Years of hatred vanished in a single moment.
But before anyone could speak again...
A loud explosion shattered every window in the mansion.
BOOM!
Smoke filled the room.
The lights went out.
Outside, tires screeched across the driveway.
One of the agents shouted,
"Someone planted a bomb!"
Then another scream echoed through the darkness.
"Lily!"
Ethan spun around.
His daughter was gone.
Only her little stuffed rabbit remained on the marble floor.
Attached to it...
May you like
was a black card with seven chilling words.
"The game begins. Come alone, Ethan."
