Chapter 6 - The Father Who Returned From The Dead
Ethan couldn’t move.
For five years, he had lived with one painful certainty.
His father was gone.
Richard Vale had been buried.
His family had mourned him.
His name had been carved into stone.
But now the man standing in front of him was alive.
Older.
Different.
But unmistakable.
“Dad…”
The word escaped Ethan’s mouth before he could stop it.
Richard smiled faintly.
A smile Ethan remembered from childhood.
A smile that once made him feel safe.
Now it made his skin crawl.
“You always were the emotional one.”
Ethan’s hands curled into fists.
“You’re dead.”
Richard looked around the garden.
“The world needed me to be.”
The answer was impossible.
And somehow, Ethan believed it.
Because nothing about the last twenty-four hours made sense anymore.
“Why?”
Richard looked toward the house.
Toward Sophie’s window.
“Because there are things more dangerous than death.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Something changed in Richard’s face.
Not anger.
Sadness.
“Your daughter.”
He repeated the words slowly.
“That’s exactly why Claire made the wrong choice.”
Ethan froze.
“Do not say her name.”
Richard ignored the warning.
“She thought she could protect Sophie by hiding the truth.”
“What truth?”
Richard looked directly at him.
“The truth about you.”
Ethan felt the same fear he had felt reading Claire’s letter.
A fear that came from not knowing.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard walked closer.
“Do you remember the night you were born?”
Ethan frowned.
“What?”
“Your mother told you I was your father.”
Silence.
Ethan stared.
“Because you were.”
Richard nodded.
“But there was another part of the story nobody told you.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“I’m not playing your games.”
Richard sighed.
“You think Claire died because she discovered my crimes.”
“She told Natalie.”
Richard’s eyes changed.
“You met Natalie?”
Ethan noticed.
The reaction.
The surprise.
“You know her.”
Richard didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Ethan stepped closer.
“What did you do?”
Richard looked at him.
“You really believe I killed Claire?”
Ethan said nothing.
“Then ask yourself something.”
“What?”
“If I wanted Claire gone…”
Richard paused.
“Why would I leave behind the evidence that could destroy me?”
Ethan hated that the question made sense.
Richard continued.
“Your wife was not investigating me.”
“She was investigating the person who betrayed me.”
“Who?”
Richard looked toward the house.
Then whispered:
“Your mother.”
Ethan froze.
“My mother died three years ago.”
“Yes.”
Richard’s voice became darker.
“Because she knew too much.”
The world Ethan knew began collapsing piece by piece.
Everyone was connected.
Everyone had secrets.
Everyone he trusted had hidden something.
“Where is the ledger?”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“So Claire showed you.”
“No.”
Ethan stepped back.
“I’m asking because you’re afraid of it.”
For the first time, Richard looked uncomfortable.
A small victory.
A crack in the armor.
“What is on that ledger?”
Richard looked at the blue sky.
“Names.”
“Whose names?”
“People who built their fortunes by destroying others.”
Ethan waited.
“And your name?”
Richard looked at him.
“That depends on who wrote the ledger.”
Before Ethan could respond, a sound came from the house.
Sophie screaming.
“Daddy!”
Ethan turned instantly.
By the time he reached the front door, Richard was gone.
Sophie was standing in the hallway.
Holding something in her hand.
A photograph.
Ethan ran toward her.
“What happened?”
She pointed upstairs.
“Natalie was looking for Mommy’s things.”
Ethan’s face changed.
“Natalie?”
Sophie nodded.
“She said Mommy took something from her family.”
Ethan looked at the photograph in Sophie’s hand.
His heart stopped.
It was another picture of Claire.
But this time…
May you like
Claire was holding a baby.
A baby that was not Sophie.
