Chapter 10 - The Mastermind Behind the Lie
The name appeared on the screen.
And for several seconds…
nobody spoke.
Daniel stared at it as if the letters themselves were impossible.
Emily looked between him and the monitor.
“Daniel?”
He didn’t answer.
“Who is it?”
His silence frightened her.
Because Daniel was not someone who easily lost control.
Finally, he whispered:
“My uncle.”
Emily frowned.
“Your uncle?”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Richard Blackwood.”
The name carried weight.
Even Emily knew it.
Richard Blackwood had been considered the man who helped build the family empire.
A respected businessman.
A generous donor.
A public figure everyone admired.
But behind closed doors…
he had been something else.
Margaret sat down.
“I knew there was another person involved.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You knew?”
She lowered her eyes.
“I suspected.”
Emily felt anger rising.
“Everyone suspected something.”
Her voice became sharper.
“But nobody told the truth.”
Nobody responded.
Because she was right.
For years, everyone had protected themselves.
And everyone had allowed Vanessa to control the story.
Daniel opened the security message again.
The final line remained.
Ask your uncle why he protected Vanessa.
Daniel immediately called Richard.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then a message appeared.
From Richard.
Come alone if you want answers.
Emily immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I need to know.”
“You don’t know what he wants.”
Daniel looked at the documents.
“He has the answers.”
Emily stepped closer.
“And Vanessa had a camera recording prepared to destroy me.”
A pause.
“Don’t make the same mistake.”
Daniel looked at her.
For the first time, he listened.
They did not go alone.
Detective Miller, a private investigator Daniel trusted, joined them.
The meeting location was an old Blackwood warehouse.
A place abandoned for years.
When they entered, Richard was already waiting.
Older.
Calm.
Almost disappointed.
“I knew you would find out eventually.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You helped Vanessa.”
Richard smiled faintly.
“I helped the family.”
Emily stepped forward.
“By ruining innocent people?”
Richard looked at her.
“You still don’t understand.”
“No.”
Emily’s voice was firm.
“I understand perfectly.”
“You used people who had no power.”
Richard looked at her.
Then laughed quietly.
“You’re exactly why Vanessa chose you.”
Emily froze.
“What does that mean?”
Richard walked toward an old table.
“She needed someone nobody would defend.”
The words hurt because they were true.
Richard continued.
“Vanessa knew society would believe her over a housekeeper.”
Daniel’s expression darkened.
“You planned this.”
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Daniel.
“I planned something much bigger.”
He opened a file.
Inside were financial records.
Company transfers.
Secret accounts.
And one final document.
A contract.
Signed twenty years ago.
Between Richard…
and Vanessa.
Daniel’s face changed.
“You promised her the inheritance.”
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Richard looked at him.
“Because Vanessa was supposed to take the blame.”
Silence.
Emily felt a chill.
“The blame for what?”
May you like
Richard looked directly at Daniel.
“The crime your father committed.”
