Chapter 8 - THE MAN WHO DISAPPEARED
His name was Richard Vale.
According to every record I had ever seen, he had died five years earlier.
But he was sitting in front of me.
Alive.
Older.
Angrier.
My grandfather's former business partner.
“What do you want?”
Richard smiled.
“What your grandfather promised me.”
“What did he promise?”
“The company.”
Mark stepped forward.
“That company belongs to Elena.”
Richard laughed.
“Not originally.”
He explained everything.
My grandfather and Richard had built the family fortune together.
When my grandfather died, Richard expected control.
Instead, my grandfather left everything to me.
Richard believed I was too young to manage it.
My father agreed.
So they created a secret arrangement.
My parents would control the assets until I turned thirty.
But there was a problem.
My parents became greedy.
They began diverting money.
Then Sarah was born.
They decided to use my inheritance to fund her life.
Every time I paid a bill, they told themselves it was family responsibility.
Every time I succeeded, they became more afraid.
Because they knew the truth.
I was approaching thirty.
The trust would soon become mine.
Richard wanted everything.
My parents wanted to keep everything they had stolen.
Greg was simply the weapon.
I stared at the screen.
“Why the wedding?”
Richard smiled.
“Because you were emotionally vulnerable.”
“And Mia?”
His expression hardened.
“Your daughter was leverage.”
I felt something inside me snap.
“You threatened my child.”
“I didn't hurt her.”
“You watched her.”
“I watched you.”
“You used her.”
Richard leaned toward the camera.
“You were supposed to sign.”
I shook my head.
“I never will.”
Richard smiled.
“We'll see.”
The screen went black.
Then an alarm sounded.
Daniel looked at his tablet.
“Someone is approaching the main villa.”
“Who?”
He stared at the screen.
“Your father.”
I went upstairs.
Dad was standing outside.
His face looked different.
Older.
Broken.
He raised his hands.
“I came alone.”
“Why?”
“To tell you the truth.”
I stared at him.
“You've had twenty-two years.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of Richard?”
Dad nodded.
“He controlled everything.”
“Then why did you help him?”
Dad's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I thought I could protect Sarah.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You sacrificed me.”
“I know.”
He pulled an envelope from his coat.
“This belonged to your grandfather.”
I opened it.
Inside was a letter addressed to me.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My grandfather had written:
If you're reading this, Elena, they failed to take everything from you.
My hands trembled.
The letter continued.
Trust no one who tells you family means obedience.
I looked at Dad.
“Why did you keep this?”
He whispered:
“Because I was waiting for the courage to give it to you.”
Before I could respond, a gunshot echoed outside.
Dad collapsed.
May you like
I screamed.
“DAD!”
