Chapter 9: The Hidden Truth

Hindi mapakali si Chloe Owen matapos matanggap ang mensahe mula kay Mia.

Paulit-ulit niyang binasa ang dokumentong ipinadala nito. Nandoon ang pangalan ni Adrian Sterling at ang ilang detalye tungkol sa property transfer na nangyari ilang araw bago namatay ang ama ni Alexander.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang eksaktong ibig sabihin ng mga dokumentong iyon, pero sigurado siyang may hindi tama.

Kinuha niya ang cellphone at tinawagan si Mia.

“Hello, ma'am?”

“Mia, I need you to do something for me.”

“What is it, ma'am?”

“Find out who handled that transaction. I want the name of the person who approved the transfer and the company involved.”

“Okay, ma'am. I'll look into it.”

“And Mia, keep everything confidential. I don't want anyone from Sterling Group to know that we're investigating.”

“Understood.”

Pagkababa ng tawag, napasandal si Chloe sa kaniyang upuan.

Hindi niya akalaing ang planong paghihiganti niya ay magdadala sa kaniya sa mas malalim na problemang hindi niya pa lubusang naiintindihan.

Sa simula, gusto lamang niyang pabagsakin si Alexander at ang pamilyang minsang nagdulot sa kaniya ng matinding sakit.

Pero ngayon, may posibilidad na hindi niya pa alam ang buong katotohanan sa likod ng pagkamatay ng ama nito.

At kung may ibang taong sangkot, kailangan niyang malaman kung sino ang tunay na may kasalanan.

---

Kinabukasan, maagang dumating si Alexander Sterling sa opisina.

Nasa loob siya ng kaniyang private office nang pumasok si Richard na may dalang bagong folder.

“Good morning. I have an update about the investigation.”

Agad na ibinaba ni Alexander ang hawak na dokumento.

“What did you find?”

“I managed to contact one of the people who handled your father's old financial records.”

“And?”

“He agreed to meet us. But he requested that the meeting remain private.”

Alexander frowned.

“Why?”

“He said there are things he wasn't able to tell the investigators before.”

Napahawak si Alexander sa desk.

“Set the meeting. I want to hear everything.”

“There's one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Someone has been asking questions about the same transaction.”

Alexander looked at him.

“Who?”

“Chloe Owen.”

Natahimik si Alexander.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit pati si Chloe ay interesado sa mga lumang dokumento.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. One of her employees requested copies of the records.”

Alexander leaned back in his chair.

“Find out why she's investigating.”

“Do you think she's connected to what happened?”

Hindi agad sumagot si Alexander.

“That's what I want to know.”

---

Samantala, nakatanggap si Chloe ng tawag mula kay Madam Elena.

“Anak, may gusto akong sabihin sa iyo.”

“What is it, Mom?”

“I spoke to someone who might know something about the case five years ago.”

Napatuwid ng upo si Chloe.

“Who?”

“His name is Daniel. He used to work with the legal team that handled the investigation involving Alexander's father.”

“Can we meet him?”

“He agreed, but he doesn't want to be seen with you in public. He's afraid someone might recognize him.”

Napakunot ang noo ni Chloe.

“Why would he be afraid?”

“Because he believes there are people who still want to keep the truth hidden.”

Natahimik si Chloe.

“Mom, do you think he knows who framed me?”

“I don't know yet. But he might have information that could help us.”

“When can we meet him?”

“Tomorrow evening.”

“Okay. I'll be there.”

Pagkababa ng tawag, napatingin si Chloe sa bintana.

Limang taon niyang hinintay ang pagkakataong malaman kung sino ang nasa likod ng lahat ng nangyari sa kaniya.

At ngayon, maaaring malapit na siya sa sagot.

---

That evening, muling nagkita sina Alexander at Adrian sa isang private lounge.

“Why did you want to see me?” tanong ni Adrian habang umuupo.

“We need to talk about the old records.”

Adrian sighed.

“Again? I already told you that everything was handled years ago.”

“Then why are you avoiding my questions?”

“I'm not avoiding anything, Alexander. I'm just tired of discussing the same issue.”

Alexander placed a document on the table.

“Do you recognize this?”

Saglit na tiningnan ni Adrian ang papel bago sumagot.

“It's an old transaction.”

“You approved it.”

“I was handling several business matters at the time. I don't remember every detail.”

“Then maybe you should try to remember.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“Why are you suddenly so interested in this? Your father is gone. Your former wife disappeared. What exactly are you trying to prove?”

Napatingin si Alexander sa kaniya.

“I'm trying to find out if the person I blamed five years ago was actually innocent.”

Adrian shook his head.

“Don't tell me you're still thinking about her.”

“I'm thinking about the truth.”

“Then stop wasting your time.”

Tumayo si Adrian at inayos ang kaniyang coat.

“Some things are better left in the past, Alexander.”

Pagkaalis nito, nanatiling nakaupo si Alexander.

Hindi niya nagustuhan ang naging sagot ng pinsan.

At mas lalo siyang naghinalang may alam ito na ayaw nitong sabihin.

---

Kinabukasan, dumating si Chloe sa isang maliit na restaurant kung saan napagkasunduan nilang magkita ni Daniel.

Nasa isang sulok ang lalaki, nakasuot ng simpleng jacket at may hawak na envelope.

“Are you Ms. Owen?” tanong nito.

“Yes. You're Daniel?”

Tumango ang lalaki.

“Please, sit down.”

Umupo si Chloe sa tapat niya.

“Madam Elena told me you might know something about the case involving Alexander Sterling's father.”

Napatingin muna si Daniel sa paligid bago nagsalita.

“I was part of the team that handled some of the legal documents back then.”

“And what did you find?”

Daniel opened the envelope and took out several papers.

“There were discrepancies in the reports. Some financial records were changed, and one witness suddenly withdrew his original statement.”

Napahigpit ang hawak ni Chloe sa mesa.

“Who changed the records?”

“I don't have proof yet. But I remember that someone from the Sterling family had access to those documents.”

“Adrian?”

Hindi agad sumagot si Daniel.

“His name appeared in some of the transactions. But I can't say he was the one responsible.”

Chloe looked at the papers.

“Then why didn't you report this before?”

Daniel lowered his gaze.

“Because I was warned to stay away from the case. I had a family to protect, and I was afraid.”

Natahimik si Chloe.

Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang magalit o maawa sa lalaking nasa harap niya.

“Do you have anything else?”

Daniel took out another folded paper.

“This is a copy of a statement from someone who was present on the night of the incident.”

Chloe carefully unfolded it.

Pero bago pa niya tuluyang mabasa ang laman, biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Daniel.

Nang makita nito ang caller, agad na nagbago ang ekspresyon niya.

“I'm sorry. I need to take this.”

Tumayo ito at lumayo nang kaunti.

Ilang segundo lamang ang lumipas bago ito bumalik.

“Ms. Owen, I think we need to stop here.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Someone knows we're meeting.”

Nanlamig si Chloe.

“Who?”

“I don't know. But you need to be careful. Don't trust everyone around the Sterling family.”

Mabilis nitong isinara ang envelope at iniabot sa kaniya ang mga dokumento.

“Keep these safe.”

“Daniel, wait—”

Pero mabilis na itong umalis.

Naiwan si Chloe na hawak ang mga papel.

At sa unang pagkakataon, nakaramdam siya ng takot na hindi niya kayang ipaliwanag.

---

Pagdating niya sa bahay, agad niyang ipinakita kay Madam Elena ang mga dokumentong ibinigay ni Daniel.

“Did he tell you anything else?” tanong nito.

“He said someone from the Sterling family had access to the records. And he also gave me a witness statement.”

Binasa ni Madam Elena ang dokumento.

Ilang segundo siyang natahimik bago tumingin kay Chloe.

“Anak, I think this is important.”

“What is it?”

“Look at the date.”

Napatingin si Chloe sa papel.

Ang petsa ng statement ay dalawang araw bago siya arestuhin limang taon na ang nakalipas.

“Someone made a statement before I was even accused?”

Tumango si Madam Elena.

“And it appears that the statement was never included in the official case records.”

Napahawak si Chloe sa dibdib.

Limang taon siyang nabuhay na dala ang bigat ng isang kasalanang hindi niya ginawa.

At ngayon, may ebidensiyang maaaring magpatunay na may mga taong sadyang nagtago ng katotohanan.

“Who would do this to me?” bulong niya.

Hinawakan ni Madam Elena ang balikat niya.

“We'll find out. But you have to be careful.”

Tumango si Chloe at muling tiningnan ang dokumento.

Sa ibaba ng statement ay may pirma ng isang taong hindi niya inaasahang makikita.

Richard.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

Si Richard ang business partner ni Alexander.

At kung siya ang taong pumirma sa dokumentong iyon, maaaring mas malalim ang koneksiyon niya sa nangyari limang taon na ang nakalipas.

---

Samantala, nakatanggap si Alexander ng isang anonymous message.

Stop digging into your father's death. Some truths are better left buried.

Napakunot ang noo niya.

Agad niyang ipinakita ang mensahe kay Richard nang dumating ito sa kaniyang opisina.

“Do you know anything about this?”

Richard looked at the phone.

“No. But whoever sent that message clearly knows what you're investigating.”

Alexander stood up.

“Then someone is watching us.”

“Maybe we should be more careful.”

Alexander nodded before looking at the old photograph of his father.

Hindi na siya titigil.

Hindi pagkatapos ng lahat ng natuklasan niya.

At lalong hindi kung ang taong sinisi niya noon ay posibleng inosente.

“I'm going to find out the truth, Richard. Even if it means exposing someone from my own family.”

Hindi alam ni Alexander na habang hinahanap niya ang katotohanan, si Chloe naman ay nakadiskubre na ng isang pangalan na maaaring magbago sa lahat.

At sa pagkakataong ito, hindi lamang ang kanilang nakaraan ang nakataya.

Pati ang tiwala nila sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila.

Dahil minsan, ang pinakamalaking kasinungalingan ay hindi nagmumula sa mga kaaway mo—kundi sa mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan mo.