Chapter 4: The Secret My Father Took To His Grave
I couldn't breathe.
For several seconds, all I could do was stare at Agent Morgan.
"My father is dead.""
The words came out quietly.
Almost like I was trying to convince myself.
Claire nodded.
"I know.""
"Then how did his access code open the files?""
Nobody answered.
Because that was the question everyone was afraid to ask.
Officer Reed looked toward Holloway.
"Could someone have stolen the code?""
Agent Morgan shook her head.
"Not this code.""
"What does that mean?""
She looked at me.
"It means the system requires a second verification.""
I frowned.
"Like what?""
"Biometric confirmation.""
The highway suddenly felt colder.
I understood what she was saying.
"No.""
Claire's expression remained serious.
"Olivia...""
"My father has been dead for two years.""
"I know.""
"Then someone is using his identity.""
Agent Morgan didn't disagree.
And somehow, that made it worse.
The entire drive home from the police station was silent.
Agent Morgan followed behind me.
Officer Holloway and Officer Reed were taken in for questioning.
But my mind was somewhere else.
Back at my childhood home.
Back in the memories I thought I understood.
My father had always been a complicated man.
Strict.
Demanding.
But fair.
He built everything from nothing.
He taught me that reputation was not something you inherited.
It was something you protected.
Now I wondered if he had spent his final days protecting me from something I never saw.
When I arrived at the Bennett estate, the lights were still on.
My brother Nathan's car was parked outside.
I stopped.
Agent Morgan pulled up beside me.
"You weren't expecting him here?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
But deep down, I knew.
This wasn't a coincidence.
I walked inside.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
"Nathan?""
No answer.
I entered the living room.
And there he was.
Sitting beside the fireplace.
Like he had been waiting.
He looked exhausted.
Not like a villain.
Like someone who had been carrying a secret for too long.
"Olivia.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
He looked down.
"I knew this day would come.""
"Then explain.""
He stood slowly.
"You think I wanted to hurt you?""
"You planted evidence in my car.""
"I stopped someone from destroying everything.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You almost destroyed me.""
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"Because you were about to expose the wrong people.""
"Who?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked to the desk and opened a drawer.
He pulled out an old photograph.
My father.
Nathan.
Me.
All three of us years ago.
He placed it on the table.
"Dad wasn't just investigating corruption.""
I looked at the photo.
"What was he investigating?""
Nathan looked at me.
"The person who killed him.""
The room went completely silent.
My heart stopped.
"My father died in an accident.""
Nathan's expression changed.
"That's what everyone was told.""
I stepped back.
"What are you saying?""
He looked toward the hallway.
Then lowered his voice.
"I'm saying Dad discovered someone was stealing millions from the foundation.""
"And?""
"And when he got close to the truth, someone made sure he couldn't reveal it.""
I stared at my brother.
The person I thought betrayed me was now telling me something impossible.
"You expect me to believe you?""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"I expect you to look at the evidence.""
Before I could respond, there was a loud sound from upstairs.
A door closing.
All three of us froze.
Nathan looked terrified.
"Someone else is here.""
Agent Morgan immediately reached for her phone.
"Who?""
Nathan whispered:
"The person who has been controlling everything.""
We moved toward the staircase.
Slowly.
Carefully.
At the top of the stairs, a shadow moved.
Someone stepped into the hallway.
And when the light revealed their face, I felt my entire world collapse.
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Because the person standing there was someone I never thought I would see again.
My father.
