“And then?””

“He started asking for more.””

The attorney leaned forward.

“What kind of more?””

Daniel looked at the floor.

“Employee passwords.””

Nobody spoke.

My hands tightened.

“You gave him access to our systems.””

“I thought I could control it.””

“You thought.””

His eyes filled with regret.

“I was wrong.””

The attorney opened another file.

“We found transactions connected to Michael Reed’s company.””

Daniel looked up.

“What?””

“He received payments from a private account linked to the fake holding company.””

Daniel went pale.

“I didn’t know.””

I looked at him.

“But you helped create the opportunity.””

He nodded slowly.

“Yes.””

The honesty surprised me.

Most people tried to protect themselves when they were cornered.

Daniel didn’t.

Maybe that was why I wasn’t sure what to believe.

My phone rang again.

My father.

I answered.

“Dad.””

His voice sounded weaker than before.

“Are you safe?””

“Yes.””

“Is Daniel there?””

I looked at him.

“Yes.””

A long pause.

“Do not let him leave.””

Daniel heard.

His face dropped.

“Your father thinks I’m involved.””

“He thinks you know something.””

“I do.””

Everyone turned toward him.

Daniel stood.

“I know who really damaged the dress.””

My heartbeat quickened.

“Who?””

He looked at the folder on the table.

Then toward the boutique below.

“Not Michael.””

The attorney frowned.

“Then who?””

Daniel’s voice lowered.

“The person who hired him.””

I stepped closer.

“Who hired your brother?””

Daniel looked at me.

And the fear in his eyes returned.

“Your uncle.””

The room went completely silent.

My uncle.

Richard Vale.

My father’s older brother.

The man who had disappeared from the company years ago after a major disagreement.

The man everyone said had walked away.

But Daniel had just said his name.

And suddenly, an old memory came back.

My father standing in the kitchen when I was sixteen.

His face angry.

His voice shaking.

“Never trust someone who smiles while they’re taking something from you.””

Chapter 6: The Family Secret

I couldn’t move.

My uncle Richard.

The name felt impossible.

He had been gone for years.

No phone calls.

No business meetings.

No family events.

Nothing.

My father never explained what happened.

He only said Richard had made choices that damaged their relationship.

I looked at Daniel.

“How do you know?””

Daniel sat down again.

“Because Michael told me.””

The attorney immediately asked, “When?””

“Two weeks ago.””

“And you waited until now?””

Daniel looked ashamed.

“I was scared.””

I almost laughed.

Not because it was funny.

Because I was exhausted from hearing everyone say they were scared after making choices that hurt other people.

“People always become honest after they get caught.””

Daniel looked at me.

“That’s fair.””

His answer surprised me.

I expected excuses.

Instead, he accepted it.

The attorney opened his laptop.

“We need to verify this before making accusations.””

“I agree,” I said.

Then I looked at Daniel.

“But we need the truth.””

Daniel nodded.

“I’ll tell you everything.””

He explained how Michael had approached him months earlier.

At first, Michael only requested inventory reports.

Then supplier information.

Then employee schedules.

Small pieces.

Pieces that seemed meaningless alone.

But together, they created a map.

A map of the entire company.

“He wasn’t stealing randomly,” Daniel said.

“He was preparing.””

“For what?””

Daniel looked at me.

“To take control.””

A cold feeling moved through me.

“My father’s company?””

“Yes.””

The attorney frowned.

“That would be impossible. Ownership is protected.””

Daniel shook his head.

“Not if someone creates enough financial damage.””

I understood.

If the company appeared unstable, desperate, or poorly managed, someone could buy shares cheaply.

A takeover.

A quiet one.

The kind that happened without anyone realizing until it was too late.

My father had built the company over thirty years.

And someone had been slowly attacking it from inside.

I walked toward the window.

The city looked normal.

People walking.

Cars moving.

Everyone living their lives.

Meanwhile, inside this building, my family’s legacy was being torn apart.

“Why the dress?”” I asked.

Daniel looked confused.

“What?””

“Why choose that dress today?””

Nobody answered.

Then Chloe, who had been silent near the doorway, suddenly spoke.

“Because of you.””

Everyone looked at her.

I frowned.

“What do you mean?””

Chloe stepped forward.

“Helen told me the owner’s daughter was coming today.””

My stomach tightened.

“She knew I was coming?””

Chloe nodded.

“She said you would be wearing something simple.””

The room went quiet.

The insult from earlier suddenly felt different.

It wasn’t random.

It was planned.

“They wanted me blamed.””

“Yes.””

“Why?””

Chloe looked uncomfortable.

“Because if the owner’s daughter was involved in a public scandal, it would damage your father’s reputation.””

A setup.

Not just to steal.

To destroy trust.

The attorney immediately began taking notes.

Then Daniel’s phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His face changed.

“Who is it?”” I asked.

He didn’t answer.

The phone continued ringing.

Finally, he picked up.

“Michael?””

Everyone became silent.

Daniel listened.