Chapter 19 — The Man Who Owned The Truth
Alex felt the world disappear.
One word.
One impossible word.
Son.
Daniel Cross.
The man who destroyed his family.
The man who haunted Claire's past.
The man everyone believed was a monster.
Was standing in front of him.
Claiming to be his father.
"No."
Alex shook his head.
"You're lying."
Daniel smiled sadly.
"I wish I was."
Emma looked shocked.
Even she didn't expect this.
Victoria crossed her arms.
"This is the truth nobody wanted revealed."
Claire's voice came through Alex's phone.
She had managed to reconnect.
"Alex?"
He didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Daniel looked at him.
"Your mother loved me."
Alex stared.
"Stop."
"She was going to leave Richard."
"Stop."
"She was carrying my child."
Alex stepped back.
"Stop!"
The church fell silent.
Daniel looked almost heartbroken.
"I didn't kill Elizabeth."
"Then who did?"
Daniel looked at Victoria.
Everyone followed his eyes.
Victoria smiled.
"I knew this day would come."
The truth finally began to unfold.
Victoria Hale wasn't just connected to Daniel.
She was connected to Elizabeth.
Years ago, Victoria's father had been one of the men involved in Ashford's illegal financial network.
Elizabeth discovered everything.
She threatened to expose them.
So they created a plan.
Destroy Elizabeth.
Destroy Daniel.
Destroy anyone who knew.
But one thing went wrong.
Claire survived.
And Alex grew into a man powerful enough to uncover everything.
Victoria looked at him.
"You should have stayed ignorant."
Alex stared.
"You killed my mother?"
Victoria smiled.
"No."
A pause.
"But I helped the person who did."
The church became silent.
"Who?"
Victoria looked toward the doorway.
"Someone you never suspected."
A figure stepped forward.
Older.
Calm.
Familiar.
Alex's blood froze.
May you like
Because the person standing there was the last person he expected.
Richard Ashford.
