CHAPTER 4: THE SECRET THAT SHOCKED EVEN THE POLICE
Every camera in the cathedral turned toward Adrian.
The billionaire who had once commanded boardrooms with a single glance...
Now stood surrounded by police officers.
His tuxedo was soaked with sweat.
His hands trembled.
Yet somehow...
He still smiled.
Everyone stared.
Why was he smiling?
Then he quietly said,
"You can't arrest me."
Detective Michael Ross frowned.
"And why not?"
Adrian slowly reached into his jacket pocket.
"I expected this day."
The entire room froze.
He pulled out...
Not a weapon.
A small silver flash drive.
He raised it high enough for everyone to see.
"If I go to prison..."
"So do half the people standing in this church."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even Detective Ross hesitated.
Adrian laughed for the first time that day.
"You think I built a billion-dollar empire alone?"
He looked around the cathedral.
"The senator."
"The judge."
"The district attorney."
"The bank executives."
"They all signed."
"They all took the money."
One by one...
Faces inside the audience turned pale.
People who had arrived smiling now quietly lowered their heads.
Emily realized something terrifying.
The conspiracy had always been much bigger than Adrian.
Much bigger.
Suddenly—
Victor Kane bolted toward the exit.
Police shouted.
"Stop him!"
He pushed guests aside and sprinted through the side hallway.
Detective Ross chased him.
So did several officers.
Victor reached the parking garage.
He jumped into a black luxury sedan.
The engine roared.
He slammed the accelerator.
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion ripped through the underground garage.
Fire burst across three luxury vehicles.
Guests screamed.
Smoke poured into the cathedral.
People began running.
Someone yelled,
"Bomb!"
Panic spread instantly.
Outside...
Emergency crews flooded the property.
Emily shielded Lily with her own body.
Samuel grabbed the little girl.
"It's okay."
"I've got you."
Firefighters rushed toward the garage.
But Victor's car was empty.
Only burning wreckage remained.
Detective Ross stared at the destroyed vehicle.
"He escaped."
Samuel quietly shook his head.
"No."
"He wanted us to think that."
Ross looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Samuel pointed toward the burning sedan.
"There isn't enough blood."
"And the driver's airbag never deployed."
Someone had staged the explosion.
Victor had disappeared...
Again.
Meanwhile...
Adrian watched the chaos with growing confidence.
As firefighters battled the flames...
He whispered to Emily.
"You still don't understand."
"You've only uncovered one chapter."
Emily stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
Adrian smiled.
"The hidden camera wasn't your greatest discovery."
"It was mine."
Emily's face lost all color.
"What?"
Adrian leaned closer.
"I knew someone was watching."
"So I left another message."
"For only one person."
Samuel's expression suddenly changed.
"No..."
He rushed toward the control room.
The final video file had disappeared.
Deleted.
Only one folder remained.
Its title chilled everyone who saw it.
LILY — AGE 18
Emily stopped breathing.
Her daughter was only eight years old.
Why...
Was there a file named ten years into the future?
Before anyone could open it...
The cathedral lights suddenly went black.
Every screen shut off.
Then, through the darkness, Adrian's voice echoed with terrifying calm.
"You thought today was the ending."
"It was only the beginning."
Somewhere in the shadows...
A phone vibrated.
An unknown message appeared on Emily's screen.
HE IS NOT LILY'S BIGGEST ENEMY. FIND THE WOMAN IN THE RED VEIL BEFORE MIDNIGHT... OR YOUR DAUGHTER WILL PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKE.
Emily slowly looked around the terrified crowd.
Near the cathedral entrance...
A mysterious woman in a long crimson veil turned away and disappeared into the rain.
Emily knew only one thing.
May you like
The nightmare had just begun.
END OF CHAPTER 4
