For several seconds, nobody inside the ballroom moved.
Richard Whitmore continued staring at the message on his phone. The words seemed to blur before his eyes, but their meaning was unmistakable. Someone knew about the second file, and whoever had sent the message believed Richard had less than an hour to tell his son the truth.
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Everyone, please,” he announced, attempting to recover his composure. “I apologize for this unexpected interruption. We will continue the announcement privately.”
A few guests began moving toward the doors, but Emily Carter remained where she stood.
“I’m afraid we aren’t finished,” she said.
Alexander turned toward her.
“You have made your point. Whatever your father believed happened twelve years ago, this is neither the time nor the place to reopen it.”
Emily looked at him with an expression that was almost pitying.
“Your father knows exactly why I’m here. You should ask him what happened on the night Daniel Carter signed his final agreement.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Alexander noticed.
“Dad?”
“Not here,” Richard whispered.
That answer disturbed Alexander more than Emily’s accusation.
He had spent his entire life believing that his father was a man who could handle any crisis. Richard had survived hostile takeovers, economic downturns, lawsuits, and betrayals by business partners. He never allowed anyone to see uncertainty.
Yet tonight, he appeared frightened.
Victoria suddenly stepped forward.
“Emily, whatever you think you know, you should understand that your father was responsible for his own decisions. Dragging an old tragedy into a family celebration won’t change the past.”
Emily turned toward her.
“You’re right about one thing. It won’t change the past.”
She opened her folder again.
“But it might change who pays for it.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
