Chapter 6: The Wrong Daughter
Ava stood in the doorway, soaked from the rain.
Marcus rushed to her.
“Are you okay?””
She nodded.
“I followed you.””
“Where's Vanessa?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus looked toward the road.
“The woman in the SUV looked exactly like you.””
Ava frowned.
“Dad, I wasn't in that car.””
“I know.””
She looked at Evelyn.
Then froze.
Her eyes widened.
“Mom?””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Ava…”
Ava covered her mouth.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Ava ran into her mother's arms.
Evelyn held her tightly.
Marcus watched them.
Eight years of lies seemed to collapse into that single embrace.
Ava cried into her mother's shoulder.
“I thought you were dead.””
“I know.””
“Why did you leave?””
“I never wanted to.””
“Why didn't you come back?””
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
“Because someone made sure I couldn't.””
Ava pulled away.
“Who?””
Before Evelyn could answer, Rose stepped forward.
“Vanessa wasn't the one controlling everything.””
Ava looked at her.
“Then who was?””
Rose hesitated.
Marcus noticed her hands shaking.
“You said he was your employer.””
Rose nodded.
“Your father's biggest business partner.””
Marcus frowned.
“Graham?””
Rose nodded.
Marcus felt sick.
Graham Pierce had been his father's closest friend.
He had attended the funeral.
He had comforted Marcus.
He had even helped him rebuild the company afterward.
“You're telling me Graham orchestrated this?””
Rose whispered, “He orchestrated the first part.””
“The first part?””
Evelyn's face tightened.
“Graham died six years ago.””
Marcus stared.
“Then who continued it?””
Nobody answered.
Ava suddenly looked toward the safe.
“Dad.””
“What?””
“There was something Vanessa said.””
Marcus turned.
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
Ava swallowed.
“She said, ‘Your father isn't the only person who knows how to make people disappear.’”
Evelyn's face went pale.
Marcus looked at Rose.
“Who else knew about the trust?””
Rose's voice trembled.
“Your father's accountant.””
Marcus thought.
“Samuel Pierce.””
Rose nodded.
“Graham's son.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Samuel took over the company after Graham died.””
Daniel suddenly spoke.
“Marcus, we need to leave.””
Marcus turned.
“Why?””
Daniel pointed toward the driveway.
“There are two cars outside.””
Marcus approached the window.
Two black sedans had stopped near the gate.
Men stepped out.
Ava grabbed his hand.
“Dad…”
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Police?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Evelyn moved toward the back door.
“We have another exit.””
They hurried through the kitchen.
Rose carried the metal box.
Daniel carried the documents.
Marcus stayed beside Ava.
They reached the back porch.
Then a voice echoed through the house.
“Marcus!””
Everyone froze.
Samuel.
His voice was calm.
Almost friendly.
“You've spent years looking for answers.””
Marcus turned toward the house.
Samuel continued.
“You finally found them.””
Marcus shouted back.
“Where is Vanessa?””
A quiet laugh.
“She served her purpose.””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“What did you do to her?””
“Nothing.””
Samuel's voice sharpened.
“She did exactly what she was told.””
Marcus clenched his fists.
“Why did you destroy my family?””
Silence.
Then Samuel said:
“Because your father stole something from mine.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“The trust.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
Samuel continued.
“He promised my father the company would become ours.””
Daniel whispered, “That's impossible.””
Samuel laughed.
“Your father knew it was happening.””
Marcus shook his head.
“My father left everything to Ava.””
“Exactly.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“So you need her signature.””
“Not anymore.””
Ava stiffened.
Samuel continued.
“The forged documents were only a backup.””
Marcus suddenly understood.
“What did you mean by making people disappear?””
Samuel didn't answer.
Evelyn did.
“He doesn't need Ava's signature.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because the trust has a second condition.””
“What condition?””
Evelyn stared at Ava.
“If Ava dies before the trust matures…”
Marcus's face went white.
“The money goes to Samuel.””
Ava stepped backward.
“No.””
Marcus immediately pulled her behind him.
Samuel's voice became cold.
“Now you understand.””
A loud bang came from inside the house.
Rose screamed.
Daniel pulled everyone down.
A window shattered.
Marcus dragged Ava behind a stone wall.
Evelyn crouched beside them.
“Dad,” Ava whispered.
Marcus held her hand.
“I've got you.””
Another crash.
Then footsteps.
Someone was running through the house.
Daniel peeked around the corner.
“There's only one way out.””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“Where?””
“The garage.””
They ran.
The garage door opened just as a black SUV came through.
Marcus raised his arm.
The SUV stopped.
The driver's door opened.
Vanessa stepped out.
Marcus stared.
“You're alive.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“Unfortunately.””
She looked at Evelyn.
“You were always smarter than I gave you credit for.””
Evelyn said nothing.
Vanessa looked at Ava.
“I never wanted to hurt her.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You kidnapped someone who looked like my daughter.””
“I needed Samuel to believe I had Ava.””
“Why?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Because I wanted out.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
“I was never Samuel's partner.””
Daniel stared.
“Then why did you help him?””
“Because he threatened my son.””
Everyone went silent.
Marcus whispered, “You have a son?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Samuel took him from me eight years ago.””
Evelyn's eyes widened.
Vanessa reached into her coat.
She pulled out a photograph.
A young man stood beside Samuel.
Marcus stared at the face.
He recognized him.
It was the man who had been sitting across from Rose in the café.
Adrian.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Adrian is your son?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He was the one Samuel used to impersonate you.””
Marcus's mind raced.
“Then why did he help us?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Adrian finally found out the truth.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“What truth?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“Samuel isn't Graham's son.””
Marcus froze.
Vanessa whispered:
“Graham was only his stepfather.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Then who is Samuel's father?””
Vanessa stared at Evelyn.
“Your father.””
Marcus's world stopped.
“My father?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Samuel is your half-brother.””
No one spoke.
Then Ava whispered:
“Dad…”
A phone began ringing inside the garage.
Everyone looked toward the sound.
It was coming from the metal box Rose had carried.
Rose opened it.
Inside, beneath the bank records, was an old phone.
The screen showed one incoming call.
*DAD.*
Marcus stared at it.
May you like
His father had been dead for years.
And the phone was ringing.
