Lila couldn't move.
For years, she had carried one simple truth about her father.
He had died in an accident.
That was what her mother had told her.
That was what everyone had told her.
And because she had been only nine years old, she had never questioned it.
Until now.
"My father didn't betray anyone," she whispered.
Daniel's expression softened.
"I didn't say he did."
"But you said your father believed he did."
"Yes."
Adrian held Lila's hand.
"Daniel, what exactly happened between them?"
Daniel looked toward the window.
"Our fathers were business partners. Very close ones, at least that's what everyone believed. They built a company together from almost nothing."
Lila swallowed.
"My father was a businessman?"
"You didn't know?"
She shook her head.
"My mother never talked about his work."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Adrian frowned.
"Why?"
"Because after your father died, our father made sure his name disappeared from everything."
Lila's eyes widened.
"Why?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Because he believed your father had stolen money from the company and disappeared with it."
"That is impossible."
"Maybe."
Daniel walked toward the table and opened another file.
"But there was never enough evidence to prove it."
Adrian picked up one of the documents.
"Then why investigate Lila?"
"Because Dad believed your father had hidden the money somewhere before he died."
Lila stared at them.
"And he thought I knew where it was?"
Daniel nodded.
"Or that your mother did."
Lila's mind raced.
Her mother had always been extremely private about her father's death. Whenever Lila asked questions, she would become uncomfortable and change the subject.
She had thought it was grief.
Now she wasn't sure.
Adrian noticed the change in her expression.
"Lila?"
She pulled her hand away gently.
"I need to call my mother."
Adrian's face tightened.
"Tonight?"
"Yes."
She took out her phone.
Her mother's number rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
Lila tried again.
Still nothing.
Her heart began beating faster.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message.
From her mother.
Don't come home.
Lila stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
And don't trust anyone from the Adebayo family.
Her breath caught.
Adrian saw her expression.
"What happened?"
Lila slowly raised her phone.
He read the message.
Daniel's face changed immediately.
"That isn't good."
Lila looked at him.
"Why?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he reached for the document Adrian was holding.
He turned it over.
There was a handwritten note on the back.
His eyes widened.
"What?"
Adrian asked.
Daniel looked at Lila.
"Your mother isn't the only person who knows what happened to your father."
He pointed at the note.
"She has been hiding something from you."
Lila's voice trembled.
"What?"
Daniel swallowed.
"Your father left something behind."
"What did he leave?"
Daniel looked at Adrian.
"A recording."
The room went silent.
"Where is it?" Adrian asked.
Daniel's answer came quietly.
"Inside the house your father died in."
Lila's eyes widened.
"That house was demolished years ago."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the rain-covered window.
"It wasn't."
"It was never demolished."
And suddenly, Lila realized that the story of her father's death had been a lie from the very beginning.