Chương 7
They were there because they knew the truth had been found.
The footsteps above them became louder.
Each step echoed through the old hallway and traveled down into the hidden archive room.
Daniel stood completely still.
His hand tightened around the folder containing the evidence.
The room that had once been a place of secrets had now become the only place where the truth could survive.
Lily looked up at her father.
She sensed the fear in his expression.
Not the kind of fear that made someone run.
The kind of fear that came from realizing everything you believed could change in a single moment.
Daniel moved quietly toward the staircase.
Victoria immediately whispered.
"Daniel, wait."
He turned back.
"What?"
"We don't know who it is."
Daniel looked at the evidence in his hand.
"That's exactly why I need to know."
Victoria looked toward Lily.
"She should not be involved in this."
Daniel glanced at his daughter.
"She already was."
He softened his voice.
"But she won't face it alone."
He turned off the archive room lights.
The darkness surrounded them.
Only the faint glow from the smartwatch remained.
The footsteps stopped.
Someone was standing directly above the hidden door.
Daniel held his breath.
A few seconds passed.
Then the hidden door began opening.
A shadow appeared at the top of the stairs.
Daniel prepared himself.
But the person who stepped inside was not a stranger.
It was Andrew Collins.
Daniel's longtime family attorney.
For more than fifteen years, Andrew had handled the Carter family's legal matters.
He had been at Richard's side during business negotiations.
He had helped Daniel after his father's death.
He had even attended Lily's birthday parties.
He was one of the people Daniel trusted most.
Andrew looked down at them.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Daniel," he said.
His voice echoed through the room.
"I was hoping you would never find this place."
Daniel stared at him.
"You knew."
Andrew slowly walked down the stairs.
"I knew your father had secrets."
Daniel held up the document.
"You helped him hide them."
Andrew stopped.
For the first time, his expression changed.
Not guilt.
Calculation.
"Your father made decisions to protect this family."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
His voice became stronger.
"He protected his reputation."
Andrew looked at Lily.
"And what happens when the truth destroys her life?"
Daniel stepped between them.
"Don't talk about my daughter."
Andrew looked at him.
"You still don't understand."
Victoria moved closer.
"You were involved."
Andrew looked at her.
"Yes."
The honesty surprised them.
Daniel expected denial.
Excuses.
Another lie.
But Andrew simply admitted it.
"Why?"
Daniel's voice carried anger.
Andrew looked around the archive room.
"Because Richard Carter built something powerful."
He paused.
"And powerful things attract people who want to destroy them."
Daniel stared at him.
"You changed hospital records."
Andrew shook his head.
"No."
The answer came quickly.
"I protected the people who did."
Daniel narrowed his eyes.
"Who?"
Andrew looked away.
For a moment, he seemed older.
Tired.
Like someone who had spent years carrying a burden he could no longer hide.
"Your father believed the Carter name was more important than any individual."
Daniel felt a painful anger rise.
"That sounds like him."
Andrew looked at Lily.
"But he was wrong about one thing."
Daniel waited.
"He thought secrets could stay buried forever."
The smartwatch suddenly activated.
A new recording began automatically.
Everyone looked at it.
Michael's voice filled the room again.
"Andrew, if you are hearing this, then Daniel found the archive."
Andrew's face changed.
He knew that voice.
Michael continued.
"You were always good at protecting Richard's mistakes."
Andrew looked at the device.
"But you were never good at hiding the truth from people who deserved to know it."
Daniel watched Andrew carefully.
Michael continued.
"The hospital records were changed because Richard was afraid of losing control."
A pause.
"But Andrew knows the real reason."
Andrew looked tense.
Daniel noticed.
"What real reason?"
Andrew remained silent.
Michael's recording continued.
"The child was not the only thing Richard wanted hidden."
The room became still.
Daniel looked confused.
"What does that mean?"
Andrew's expression hardened.
"Turn it off."
Daniel ignored him.
The recording continued.
"Richard discovered someone inside his own company was stealing money."
Daniel looked at Andrew.
"Who?"
Michael continued.
"And the hospital incident became the perfect distraction."
Victoria looked shocked.
"They used Lily's identity to hide a financial crime."
Daniel felt sick.
The truth was becoming bigger than he imagined.
His daughter's story.
Michael's disappearance.
His father's secrets.
They were all connected.
Michael continued.
"Daniel, the person responsible was not Richard alone."
The recording paused.
Then the final words came.
"The person who betrayed your family is the person who benefited most when Richard lost control."
The recording ended.
Everyone looked at Andrew.
He slowly lowered his eyes.
Daniel stepped forward.
"You."
Andrew did not answer.
"You were stealing from my father's company."
Andrew finally looked up.
"Your father knew."
Daniel froze.
"What?"
Andrew sighed.
"Richard discovered the missing money."
Victoria looked confused.
"But why would he hide that?"
Andrew looked at the documents.
"Because the person stealing from him was someone he needed."
Daniel frowned.
"Who?"
Andrew looked directly at him.
"The person who controlled the hospital investigation."
A cold feeling moved through Daniel.
The room suddenly felt much larger.
Someone else.
Someone above Andrew.
Someone who had influence over both business and the hospital.
Andrew continued.
"Richard thought he could control everything."
He gave a bitter smile.
"But he underestimated the people around him."
Daniel looked at the documents.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Andrew looked ashamed for the first time.
"Because I was afraid."
Daniel almost laughed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Andrew accepted the anger.
"Because it is true."
He looked at Lily.
"I was afraid that if the truth came out, innocent people would suffer."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Innocent people already suffered."
Andrew nodded.
"I know."
A quiet moment passed.
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Then Daniel heard something.
A faint sound from upstairs.
