Chapter 9 - RYAN'S CONFESSION
The footsteps stopped outside the study.
Nobody moved.
Daniel quietly reached for his phone.
Then the door opened.
Ryan stood there.
For a moment, he looked almost relieved.
Then he saw the photograph in my hand.
His face collapsed.
“Maya…”
I stared at him.
“You knew.”
Ryan's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know you would find that.”
“You knew my parents were alive.”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
The word barely escaped his mouth.
Rachel stepped forward.
“Why didn't you tell her?”
Ryan closed the door behind him.
“Because Logan would have killed her.”
My stomach turned.
“He already tried.”
Ryan flinched.
“I know.”
“You knew about the acid attack?”
“I knew Logan was planning something.”
My voice became colder.
“And you did nothing.”
Ryan looked at me.
“I tried.”
He reached into his coat.
Then he placed a small flash drive on my father's desk.
“Your father gave me this.”
Daniel immediately moved toward it.
“What is it?”
“Everything.”
Ryan looked at me.
“Every payment Logan made.”
“Every forged document.”
“Every meeting.”
“Every person he bribed.”
I stared at the drive.
“Why give it to me now?”
Ryan's expression changed.
“Because Logan has realized your father is still alive.”
Silence.
Ryan continued.
“And he's going after him.”
My heart stopped.
“Where is my father?”
Ryan looked toward the window.
“Under the city.”
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Ryan lowered his voice.
“Your father built a private facility beneath one of his old properties.”
He looked at me.
“Your mother is there too.”
I stepped closer.
“Take me to them.”
Ryan shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“They aren't hiding from Logan.”
He paused.
“They're hiding from someone much more powerful.”
The room fell silent.
Then Ryan whispered:
May you like
“Your father wasn't the architect of this conspiracy.”
“He was trying to escape it.”
