Chapter 9 - The Sealed Room
The address Harold gave Emma belonged to an old office building.
The building was nearly empty.
Emma entered a narrow hallway.
Harold waited at the end.
He looked older than she remembered.
"You came."
"I need the file."
Harold nodded.
He unlocked a door.
Inside was a small room with no windows.
A metal box sat on a table.
Emma approached it.
"What is this?"
"Your father's final instructions."
She opened the box.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And one handwritten letter.
Emma recognized her father's handwriting immediately.
She unfolded it.
The first line made her stop.
Emma,
If you're reading this, the Mercers have finally come for what they believe belongs to them.
Her hands tightened.
She continued.
Do not trust Daniel.
Emma closed her eyes.
Harold watched silently.
She read further.
Daniel is not the architect.
He is the shield.
Emma looked up.
"What does that mean?"
Harold shook his head.
"I don't know."
She returned to the letter.
The next paragraph mentioned Vivian.
Then another name.
A name Emma had never heard.
She read it twice.
Marcus stepped closer.
"Who is that?"
Emma shook her head.
"I don't know."
Harold looked at the name.
His face changed.
"You do."
Emma stared at him.
"What?"
"You've met that person."
"When?"
"Before your wedding."
Emma searched her memory.
Nothing.
Harold pointed to another document.
"Look at the date."
Emma did.
The date was the week of her wedding.
The document showed a transfer of control.
The beneficiary had been changed.
But not to Emma.
To someone else.
Someone connected to both families.
Emma felt a chill.
"Why would my father hide this?"
Harold answered:
"Because he knew you would try to fix everything."
Emma looked at him.
"And?"
"He wanted you to stop fixing things."
"Why?"
Harold's eyes filled with concern.
"Because sometimes fixing a broken system means becoming part of it."
Emma stared at the papers.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel.
She answered.
"Emma."
"What?"
"I found something."
"So did I."
"Listen to me."
"I'm listening."
Daniel's voice trembled.
"The twenty-four million isn't the real debt."
Emma went still.
"What do you mean?"
"There is another amount."
"How much?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Emma..."
"How much?"
He whispered:
"One hundred and twelve million."
The line went silent.
Emma slowly looked down at her father's letter.
May you like
The last sentence was visible.
If they ever tell you the debt is twenty-four million, they are lying.
