Chapter 10 — The Father Who Lied
Nobody moved.
Richard Ashford stood frozen.
For decades, he had controlled boardrooms.
Negotiated billion-dollar deals.
Destroyed competitors with a single decision.
But now—
He looked like a man trapped by his own past.
Alex stared at him.
"Is it true?"
Richard didn't answer.
"Father."
Still nothing.
Then Claire whispered:
"Richard..."
The older man finally looked up.
"I never wanted her to die."
Alex felt his stomach drop.
That sentence was not a denial.
"You were there."
Richard closed his eyes.
"Yes."
The truth finally entered the room.
Alex stepped backward.
His entire life shifted.
His father.
His mother.
His wife.
Everything was connected.
"What happened that night?"
Richard looked at the floor.
"Elizabeth discovered the financial crimes."
Claire listened carefully.
"She wanted to expose everyone involved."
"Everyone?"
Richard nodded.
"Including me."
Alex froze.
"You?"
Richard looked at him.
"I was involved."
The confession shocked everyone.
But Richard continued.
"Not in the crimes."
He swallowed.
"But in the cover-up."
Alex stared.
"Why?"
Richard's voice broke.
"Because I was afraid."
"For money?"
"No."
Richard looked at Alex.
"For you."
Silence.
"Your grandfather threatened Elizabeth. He threatened me. He threatened anyone who tried to reveal the truth."
Alex shook his head.
"You let my mother die to protect me?"
Richard looked destroyed.
"I thought I could fix it."
Claire whispered:
"But you couldn't."
"No."
Richard admitted.
"I couldn't."
Daniel suddenly laughed.
Everyone turned.
"You see?"
He smiled.
"This is why I love the truth."
Alex looked at him.
"You killed my mother."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"No."
He stepped closer.
"Your father did something worse."
"What?"
Daniel pointed at Claire.
"He made her believe she was responsible."
Claire froze.
Alex looked confused.
"What?"
Daniel continued.
"After the accident, Richard found Claire."
Claire's face changed.
"He told her that if she spoke, Alex would lose everything."
Richard looked away.
"That wasn't what happened."
Daniel smiled.
"Wasn't it?"
Claire looked at Richard.
"Tell him."
Richard couldn't.
Alex's voice became cold.
"Tell me."
Finally, Richard whispered:
"I asked Claire to disappear."
The room went silent.
Alex looked at his wife.
The woman who had spent six years beside him.
The woman who had smiled while carrying pain.
"You left because of my father?"
Claire nodded.
"I thought I was protecting you."
Alex's eyes filled with hurt.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Claire whispered:
"Because I loved you."
A painful silence.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
For the first time...
He looked afraid.
He answered.
Nobody could hear the voice on the other side.
But Daniel's face slowly lost color.
Then he whispered:
"You're alive?"
Everyone froze.
Daniel looked at Claire.
Then at Alex.
And said the words that changed everything:
"The person who ordered Elizabeth Ashford's death..."
A pause.
"Has been watching this entire conversation."
The call ended.
The lights went out.
And when they came back on—
Daniel Cross was gone.
But on the table was a new photograph.
A photograph taken only seconds earlier.
Inside the room.
Of everyone standing together.
May you like
And written on the back:
"You are looking for one enemy. You should be looking for three."
