CHAPTER 7: THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Arthur Vance kept holding the phone long after the call ended.
The office was silent.
But inside his mind, everything was screaming.
The voice.
The name.
The impossible truth.
Thomas Bennett was alive.
For eight years, Arthur believed the man who betrayed him was gone forever.
Now someone had called him using Thomas’s name.
Someone who knew about Benjamin.
Someone who knew the secrets buried inside the Vance family.
Arthur slowly placed the phone on the desk.
His hands were shaking.
David noticed immediately.
“Arthur?”
Arthur looked up.
“Thomas Bennett is alive.”
David froze.
“That’s impossible.”
“That’s what I thought.”
David stepped closer.
“You’re sure?”
Arthur nodded.
“The person on the phone knew things only Thomas would know.”
David’s expression became serious.
“Then we need to find him.”
Arthur looked toward the hallway.
Toward Benjamin’s room.
“No.”
David frowned.
“What?”
“We need to protect Benjamin first.”
Because after everything that happened, Arthur finally understood.
This was never only about money.
Someone had spent years planning something.
And Benjamin was at the center of it.
The next morning, Arthur made a decision.
He moved Benjamin out of the mansion temporarily.
Maria helped pack his things.
The boy carried a small backpack with his favorite toys.
“Are we leaving because of Mom?”
Arthur looked at him.
“No.”
“Then why?”
Arthur knelt down.
“Because sometimes even adults make mistakes, and I need to make sure you’re safe.”
Benjamin looked worried.
“Is Mom a bad person?”
Arthur paused.
That was the hardest question.
Because Benjamin was still a child.
And children should not have to choose between their parents.
“I think your mom made choices that hurt people.”
Benjamin lowered his eyes.
“But she’s still my mom.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes, she is.”
He hugged him.
“And nothing will ever change that.”
From across the room, Maria watched.
She saw something she never expected.
Arthur was not fighting for revenge.
He was fighting because he loved his son.
Later that afternoon, Arthur met with his attorney David and a private investigator.
The investigator placed a folder on the table.
“Thomas Bennett did not die.”
Arthur opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Travel records.
His eyes widened.
“He changed his identity.”
The investigator nodded.
“After disappearing eight years ago, he moved between several states.”
“Why?”
“That’s the strange part.”
The investigator pointed to the documents.
“He wasn’t hiding from the police.”
Arthur frowned.
“Then who was he hiding from?”
Nobody answered.
Because they already knew.
Elena.
Arthur returned to the mansion that evening.
Elena was waiting in the living room.
She looked different.
Not angry.
Not confident.
Just tired.
“You found out.”
Arthur stopped.
“You knew he was alive.”
Elena looked away.
“Yes.”
The answer shocked him.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“For eight years?”
She nodded.
Arthur felt betrayed all over again.
“You let me believe he was dead.”
“I was protecting us.”
“No.”
Arthur shook his head.
“You were protecting yourself.”
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“You don’t understand what happened.”
“Then explain.”
She remained silent.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Why did you marry me?”
The question surprised her.
“What?”
“Why did you marry me, Elena?”
She looked hurt.
“Because I loved you.”
Arthur stared at her.
“Did you?”
The silence answered.
Elena looked down.
“I made mistakes.”
“Mistakes?”
Arthur laughed.
“You manipulated my family. You hid my son’s DNA results. You stole from his trust.”
“I did it because I had no choice.”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“Everyone says that when they get caught.”
Elena looked at him.
Then whispered:
“Thomas was going to destroy you.”
Arthur froze.
“What?”
“He knew everything.”
“What everything?”
Elena took a shaky breath.
“He knew Benjamin wasn’t your biological son.”
Arthur stared.
“That’s not enough to destroy me.”
“No.”
Her voice became lower.
“He knew who Benjamin’s real father was.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“Thomas.”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“And?”
Elena looked terrified.
“Thomas wasn’t just Benjamin’s father.”
Arthur waited.
“What are you saying?”
She whispered:
“Thomas was part of a plan to take everything you own.”
Arthur felt cold.
“What plan?”
Before Elena could answer, the lights suddenly went out.
The entire mansion went dark.
A loud crash came from upstairs.
Arthur immediately turned.
“Benjamin!”
He ran toward the stairs.
But before he reached the second floor, a figure appeared at the end of the hallway.
A man.
Standing in the darkness.
Arthur stopped.
The stranger slowly stepped into the light.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
Arthur’s heart stopped.
Because he knew that face.
“Thomas…”
The man smiled.
“Hello, Arthur.”
Arthur couldn’t move.
The man who was supposed to be dead was standing inside his home.
And he was holding a file.
A file with Benjamin’s name on it.
Thomas looked at Arthur and said:
“You finally found the truth.”
He lifted the folder.
“But you still don’t know the biggest secret.”
Arthur’s voice became cold.
“Where is my son?”
Thomas smiled.
“Safe.”
Arthur clenched his fists.
“What do you want?”
Thomas looked around the mansion.
“The same thing I wanted eight years ago.”
A pause.
“Justice.”
Arthur stared at him.
Because he realized something terrifying.
Maybe Elena wasn’t the mastermind.
May you like
Maybe she was only another piece in a much bigger game.
TO BE CONTINUED…
