CHAPTER 15 — The Person Living Under Our Roof
CHAPTER 15 — The Person Living Under Our Roof
For the second time in my life, I felt the ground disappear beneath me.
The first time was when Chloe pointed at me in that ballroom.
The second time was now.
Because the enemy we had spent weeks searching for...
was not somewhere far away.
Not hiding in another country.
Not controlling things from a distant office.
They had been inside Carter Estate.
Walking through the same halls.
Eating at the same table.
Standing beside us while we searched for them.
"Inside Carter Estate?"
My father's voice was low.
"That is impossible."
James shook his head.
"The delivery records don't lie."
"Someone from this property sent the package."
My father looked around the room.
At every person.
Every familiar face.
And suddenly...
everyone looked like a stranger.
"Who has access to the estate?"
I asked.
James opened the security report.
"Staff members."
"Family members."
"Long-term employees."
My eyes moved around the room.
The people who had cared for us.
Protected us.
Served us.
Could one of them have betrayed us?
My father looked devastated.
Because he had spent his entire life believing loyalty was something money couldn't buy.
Now he was discovering something painful.
Sometimes the people closest to you don't betray you for money.
They betray you because they believe they deserve what you have.
Then Margaret entered the room.
The Carter family housekeeper.
The woman who had cared for me since childhood.
The woman who cried when I returned home after three years away.
She looked confused.
"Mr. Carter?"
Nobody answered.
She noticed the tension.
"What happened?"
My father looked at her.
"Margaret."
Her expression changed.
"Yes?"
"Who has access to the east wing?"
The question made her nervous.
"The east wing?"
"Yes."
"Only family and senior staff."
"Why?"
Nobody responded.
James stepped forward.
"We need a list."
Margaret looked at me.
Her eyes filled with worry.
"Miss Vivienne..."
I hated seeing fear in her face.
Because I didn't want to suspect her.
But suspicion was no longer a choice.
Thirty minutes later, we had the list.
Seven names.
Seven people with access.
My father.
Me.
James.
Margaret.
The security manager.
A senior assistant.
And one more person.
The name made my heart stop.
Dominic Hayes.
Again.
His name.
Always appearing.
Always connected.
Dominic looked at the list.
Then laughed softly.
Not because it was funny.
Because he was exhausted.
"Of course."
Everyone looked at him.
"Of course my name is there."
I felt something in my chest.
Because I saw the pain.
He wasn't angry.
He was tired of being suspected.
"I didn't send that package."
His voice was quiet.
"I know how it looks."
"But I swear..."
"I had nothing to do with this."
Before anyone could respond, Margaret spoke.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
She looked at the list.
Then at Dominic.
"Mr. Hayes wasn't here."
"What?"
Margaret walked closer.
"The night the package was sent."
"I remember."
"Mr. Hayes was at the hospital."
My father frowned.
"The hospital?"
She nodded.
"His father had a medical emergency."
Dominic looked surprised.
"You remember that?"
Margaret smiled sadly.
"I remember everything that happens in this house."
Her words carried weight.
Because Margaret had been here longer than almost everyone.
She knew things.
Things we didn't.
James checked the records.
Margaret was right.
Dominic had an alibi.
Another name was removed from suspicion.
But that left six.
And the question remained.
Who?
That night, I couldn't sleep.
I walked through the east hallway.
The same hallway where my mother used to walk.
The same hallway where I had grown up.
The same place where someone had hidden the truth for decades.
Then I noticed something.
A door.
An old storage room.
One I had never entered.
The lock was broken.
Curiosity pulled me inside.
The room was dusty.
Filled with old boxes.
Family belongings.
Documents.
And photographs.
I moved deeper.
Then I saw something.
A small wooden box.
With my mother's initials.
My hands trembled.
I opened it.
Inside were letters.
Many letters.
All addressed to one person.
David.
My uncle.
I started reading.
The first letter was from my mother.
David,
I know what you are doing.
My heart raced.
The next page.
You think you can control this family because Richard trusts you.
Another.
But I know the truth about the accounts.
Another.
If you continue, I will tell Richard everything.
I stopped.
My mother knew.
She knew my uncle was involved.
But why didn't she tell my father?
Then I found the final letter.
The one that changed everything.
David,
I cannot forgive what you have done.
But I still believe there is good left in you.
Please stop before you destroy everyone.
Especially Vivienne.
A tear fell.
Even in fear...
my mother was still trying to save people.
Even those who betrayed her.
Then I heard a sound.
Footsteps.
Someone outside.
I quickly closed the box.
The door opened.
And the person standing there...
was David.
My uncle.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
He looked older than I remembered.
Not like the warm uncle from my childhood.
Like someone carrying a secret too heavy.
"Vivienne."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"What are you doing here?"
I held the box.
"I could ask you the same question."
His eyes moved to the letters.
And for the first time...
I saw fear.
Real fear.
"You found them."
I stepped back.
"You knew they were here."
Silence.
"Uncle David..."
My voice hardened.
"Did you kill my mother?"
His face changed.
Pain.
Regret.
Then something else.
Acceptance.
"No."
I held my breath.
"But I know who did."
The words shocked me.
"You know?"
He nodded.
"I've known for twenty-five years."
My heart raced.
"Then tell me."
He looked toward the hallway.
As if checking whether someone was listening.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because if I tell you..."
He looked at me.
"The same thing that happened to your mother will happen to you."
A chill ran through me.
"Are you threatening me?"
"No."
His voice cracked.
"I'm warning you."
Then he said something that changed everything.
"The person who destroyed your family..."
"Is not Victor."
"Not Eleanor."
"Not Thomas."
I stared at him.
"Then who?"
He looked at the letters in my hand.
And whispered:
"Someone who has been protecting you your entire life."
I froze.
"Who?"
Before he could answer...
the lights went out.
The entire estate went dark.
A second later...
the security alarm started screaming.
Then James's voice came through the emergency system.
"Everyone stay where you are."
A pause.
Then panic entered his voice.
"Someone has entered the main archive room."
My heart stopped.
"The archive room?"
The room where all Carter family secrets were stored.
The room where the truth about my mother was kept.
My uncle looked at me.
And whispered:
"They're here."
We ran toward the archive room.
The door was open.
Inside...
everything was destroyed.
Documents everywhere.
Files torn apart.
The security cameras smashed.
But one thing remained.
A single envelope placed perfectly in the center of the desk.
My name was written on it.
Vivienne.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside was one photograph.
A photograph of my mother.
Standing beside someone.
Someone I recognized.
Someone who had spent years protecting me.
The back of the photo contained one sentence:
"Ask your father why your mother was afraid of him."
I looked at my father.
And for the first time...
I wondered if the truth we were chasing...
May you like
was closer than anyone imagined.
END OF CHAPTER 15
