Chapter 7 — The Truth Richard Buried
The Ashford family had always been built on secrets.
That was the one thing Alex finally understood.
Money could buy companies.
Influence could buy silence.
But it could never erase the past.
Richard sat in the library.
For the first time, the powerful man looked old.
Tired.
Defeated.
"I owe you the truth."
Alex stood near the fireplace.
"You owe me more than that."
Claire sat beside him.
Her hands rested protectively over her stomach.
She felt like her entire life was collapsing again.
Richard looked at her.
"Fifteen years ago, Daniel Cross discovered something about Ashford International."
Alex frowned.
"What?"
"Your grandfather created illegal accounts before he died."
Silence.
Richard continued.
"Money was moved through hidden companies for years."
Claire looked confused.
"But Daniel was the criminal."
Richard nodded.
"Yes."
"But he wasn't the only one."
The words hit harder than expected.
Alex stared at his father.
"You knew?"
"I found out too late."
Richard walked toward the window.
"When I confronted Daniel, he threatened to expose everyone."
"Everyone?"
Richard looked at Alex.
"Your mother."
Alex went still.
His mother.
The woman he remembered as kind and gentle.
The woman who died suddenly.
"What did she have to do with this?"
Richard looked away.
"She helped Daniel."
Nobody spoke.
Claire covered her mouth.
"No..."
Richard continued.
"Your mother discovered the financial crimes before I did."
Alex shook his head.
"That's impossible."
"She wanted to report it."
"Then why didn't she?"
Richard's face changed.
"Because Daniel threatened Claire."
Claire froze.
"What?"
Richard looked at her.
"He knew about you."
The room became cold.
"He knew you had evidence against him."
Claire whispered:
"The evidence..."
Richard nodded.
"The evidence was hidden."
"Where?"
Richard looked at the diary.
"Inside your diary."
Claire immediately stood.
"No."
Alex grabbed her hand.
"Claire."
She shook her head.
"Daniel didn't want money."
Everyone looked at her.
"He wanted that diary because it contained something worse."
"What?"
Claire looked at Alex.
"The name of the person who ordered your mother's death."
The room went silent.
Alex's face changed.
"My mother's death was not an accident?"
Nobody answered.
Because they didn't need to.
Then suddenly—
The library lights turned off.
A second later, the security alarm screamed.
Everyone heard footsteps.
Slow.
Calm.
Coming from the hallway.
Alex moved in front of Claire.
Protecting her.
The door opened.
A man stood there.
Older.
Different.
But unmistakable.
Claire's blood turned cold.
Because she had seen that face every night in her nightmares.
Daniel Cross smiled.
"Hello, Claire."
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel looked at Alex.
May you like
And said:
"I see you finally learned who your wife really is."
