Chapter 6 - THE FATHER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Elena could not move.
Her father stood in the doorway.
Older.
Thinner.
His hair gray.
But there was no mistaking him.
“Dad?”
The man looked at Adrian.
“You brought him here.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Who are you?”
The man laughed bitterly.
“You know who I am.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“My father's driver.”
“Once.”
Elena rushed toward him.
He immediately raised his weapon.
“Stay back.”
“It's me.”
“I know.”
“Dad, it's me.”
His expression broke.
For six years, Elena had imagined this moment.
She had imagined running into his arms.
She had imagined screaming at him.
She had imagined asking why he had abandoned her.
But now that he was standing in front of her, she could barely breathe.
Her father lowered the gun.
Elena crossed the room.
He dropped it.
Then she was in his arms.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
She cried against his chest.
He held her with shaking hands.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I wanted you to believe that.”
“Why?”
“To keep you alive.”
Elena pulled back.
“You let me believe you were dead?”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice!”
Her father looked toward Adrian.
“No. I didn't.”
Adrian remained still.
“Explain.”
Her father walked to the desk.
“My name is Daniel Vale.”
“I know.”
“I was loyal to your father.”
“My father was murdered.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
Daniel looked toward the carved message.
“The woman he loved.”
Adrian's expression hardened.
“My mother.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your mother knew what was going to happen.”
“Then she let it happen?”
“She tried to stop it.”
Adrian laughed coldly.
“That's not what the evidence says.”
Daniel opened the metal box.
Inside were several documents.
A ledger.
A flash drive.
And a letter.
He handed the letter to Adrian.
Adrian recognized his father's handwriting.
If I die, trust no one who tells you it was natural.
Adrian read the next line.
Victoria knows the truth. But she is not the person who betrayed me.
He looked up.
“Who was it?”
Daniel said:
“Richard Hale.”
Adrian's face changed.
Daniel continued.
“Richard was stealing from your father. Millions. Your father discovered it.”
“Why didn't he expose him?”
“He planned to.”
“Then what happened?”
“Richard went to Caleb.”
Adrian looked at the documents.
“Caleb helped him?”
“At first.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“Caleb was young. Angry. He believed your father would never give him control of the company.”
“So he betrayed him.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you say Richard was the real traitor?”
“Because Caleb changed his mind.”
Adrian stared.
Daniel continued.
“The night your father died, Caleb was supposed to give Richard access to the financial records.”
“But?”
“He saw Richard poison your father.”
Silence.
Adrian looked at him.
“Caleb watched him do it?”
“He tried to stop him.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because Richard threatened Elena.”
Adrian turned toward Elena.
Her face had gone pale.
Daniel continued.
“Richard had men watching your family. Caleb knew that if he spoke, Elena would die.”
Adrian stared at the documents.
“Why did you disappear?”
“Because I tried to expose Richard.”
“And?”
“He found me.”
Daniel showed them the scar across his face.
“He tried to kill me.”
“Why did you let Elena think you were dead?”
“Because Richard believed I was.”
Adrian turned away.
His entire understanding of the past was collapsing.
Then the door slammed shut.
Daniel looked up.
“Someone followed you.”
Adrian immediately raised his weapon.
Footsteps echoed above them.
Marcus's voice came through the radio.
“Boss, we have movement upstairs.”
Adrian looked at Daniel.
“How many?”
Daniel's expression was grim.
“Enough.”
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Adrian pushed Elena behind the desk.
Daniel fired toward the stairs.
Marcus shouted from above.
“Move!”
Adrian grabbed Elena.
They ran through the hidden passage.
Behind them, men entered the room.
One voice shouted:
“Find Daniel Vale!”
Another voice answered:
“And kill the girl!”
Adrian pulled Elena through the passage.
At the end, they emerged into the forest.
Marcus and the guards were waiting.
Daniel followed.
They reached the vehicles.
Then Daniel stopped.
Adrian looked back.
“What?”
Daniel stared at him.
“Richard isn't working alone.”
“Who is he working with?”
Daniel's eyes moved toward Elena.
“He has someone inside your household.”
Adrian froze.
“Who?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Someone who has been reporting everything you do.”
May you like
Then he looked at Elena.
“Someone who knew exactly where you would take her tonight.”
