CHAPTER 16 The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead

Richard stood completely still.

The voice echoed through the basement.

A voice he had not heard in eight years.

A voice he had buried with old memories.

"No..."

The shadow stepped into the light.

Richard's face lost all color.

Because the man standing there was impossible.

"Father?"

William Hale looked at his son.

Older.

Tired.

But alive.

Richard couldn't move.

His entire world seemed to collapse again.

"You died."

William remained silent.

"I buried you."

"I know."

Richard's anger exploded.

"You know?"

His voice shook.

"You let me believe you were dead?"

William looked at Sophie.

Then back at Richard.

"I did it to protect you."

Richard laughed bitterly.

"Everyone says that."

He stepped forward.

"Everyone uses that excuse."

William's eyes hardened.

"You have no idea what you are dealing with."

Richard pointed toward Sophie.

"My daughter was starving."

William looked away.

A small movement.

But Richard noticed.

"You knew."

Silence.

"You knew what Vanessa was doing."

William didn't answer.

Richard's voice became colder.

"How long?"

Finally, William whispered:

"Since the beginning."

Richard felt betrayed.

The man who taught him everything.

The man who built the family empire.

Had allowed his granddaughter to suffer.

"Why?"

William looked at Sophie.

"Because I needed to know if she was the real heir."

Richard froze.

"The heir?"

William nodded.

"Anna wasn't just your wife."

Richard looked confused.

"She was the last person who carried the Hale family's hidden legacy."

Richard shook his head.

"What are you talking about?"

William walked toward the desk.

He picked up Anna's photograph.

"Your wife was protecting something."

"What?"

William looked at Sophie.

"Something your daughter inherited."

Richard stepped between them.

"You stay away from her."

For the first time, William looked emotional.

"Richard..."

"No."

His voice was firm.

"You lost the right to call yourself her grandfather."

The room became silent.

Then William said something unexpected.

"Vanessa wasn't the biggest threat."

Richard looked at him.

"What does that mean?"

William looked toward the door.

"Because the person who started all of this..."

A pause.

"Was Anna's own sister."

Richard froze.

"Claire?"

William nodded.

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