Chapter 10 - The Truth About My Father
I had spent fourteen years believing my father died in an industrial accident.
Now the man standing in front of me was claiming he helped destroy Adrian Moretti's family.
"You're lying," I whispered.
Marcus didn't move.
"Your father's name was Benjamin Bellamy."
"Of course it was."
"He worked as a private investigator."
I shook my head.
"He was a warehouse supervisor."
"That's what he told you."
My hands began trembling.
Adrian stepped beside me.
"Marcus, choose your next words carefully."
Marcus looked exhausted.
"Boss, I've been trying to find a way to tell you the truth."
Adrian's expression turned cold.
"You grabbed Isabella in that parking garage."
Marcus went pale.
"You saw the footage?"
"Every second."
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Then you know I failed her."
I stared at him.
"What happened?"
He looked toward Adrian.
"Your sister found evidence that Charles Sterling had been laundering money through medical charities for years. She confronted me because she believed I knew."
"Did you?" Adrian demanded.
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
Adrian's fists tightened.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Sterling threatened my daughter."
Silence filled the room.
Marcus swallowed.
"She was eight. He had photographs of her school, her bedroom, everywhere she went."
I watched Adrian struggle to contain his anger.
"That doesn't excuse betraying Isabella."
"I know."
Marcus's eyes filled.
"I tried to get her away. But your mother arrived before I could."
Adrian froze.
"My mother?"
"She's been working against Sterling for years."
I looked between them.
"Then why did she disappear?"
Marcus turned toward me.
"Because of your father."
I shook my head.
"No."
"Benjamin Bellamy was investigating Sterling. He uncovered a scheme involving illegal financial transfers and falsified medical claims."
"Then he was helping?"
"Yes."
My breath caught.
Marcus continued.
"Your father helped Adrian's mother escape when Sterling discovered she was gathering evidence against him."
Adrian looked stunned.
"Escape?"
Marcus nodded.
"Your father arranged new identities and safe locations. But Sterling found him."
My knees weakened.
"The warehouse accident..."
"Wasn't an accident."
I sat down.
For years, I'd believed my father had simply been unlucky.
Now I understood he might have died protecting someone else's family.
Tears blurred my vision.
"Why did nobody tell us?"
Marcus looked ashamed.
"Because your father made us promise not to involve you or Ethan."
Adrian knelt beside me.
"Mara..."
I covered my face.
Everything felt wrong.
My childhood.
My father's death.
The life we'd struggled to survive.
Then Adrian gently took my hands.
"Look at me."
I shook my head.
"Mara."
I looked up.
"Your father was brave."
The words broke something inside me.
I began crying.
Adrian held me without saying anything else.
For the first time, I wasn't embarrassed by my tears.
Then Marcus's phone vibrated.
He read the message.
His face went white.
"What?" Adrian demanded.
Marcus looked toward me.
"Sterling knows we recovered Isabella's files."
"And?"
"He sent a photograph."
Adrian took the phone.
I leaned closer.
The photograph showed a woman sitting beside a window.
Silver hair.
Scar near her eyebrow.
Adrian's mother.
Beside her stood Bella.
Alive.
But the message beneath the photograph was worse.
You have twelve hours to bring Mara Bellamy to me.
Then another message arrived.
This one contained a photograph of Ethan.
My brother.
Standing outside his rehabilitation center.
May you like
And beneath it were six terrifying words.
Or the boy finishes what began.
