Chapter 14: The Man Who Should Be Dead
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The security image remained frozen on the screen.
A man who looked like my father stood outside my home.
Holding a folder.
Waiting.
My mother grabbed the edge of the table.
“Emma…”
I looked at her.
“Mom.””
Her lips trembled.
“That’s not possible.””
I swallowed.
“You said that about a lot of things tonight.””
She looked hurt.
But I wasn’t trying to punish her.
I was trying to survive.
The security guard called again.
“Ms. Carter, should we remove him from the property?””
I stared at the screen.
“No.””
My mother looked at me.
“Emma, don’t.””
“I need answers.””
I walked toward the entrance.
The guards positioned themselves around me.
When the front door opened, the man standing outside looked directly at me.
And my heart shattered.
Because even after twelve years…
I recognized his eyes.
“Emma.””
His voice was older.
Rougher.
But familiar.
I stepped backward.
“No.””
He looked at my mother.
“Alexis.””
My mother covered her mouth.
Tears streamed down her face.
“You’re alive.””
The words left her lips before she could stop them.
Alive.
Not a stranger.
Not someone who looked similar.
My father.
I turned toward my mother.
“You knew?””
She shook her head desperately.
“No.””
But her face told a different story.
My father looked at me.
“I’m sorry.””
I couldn’t speak.
Anger.
Confusion.
Pain.
Everything collided.
“You died.””
His expression broke.
“I know.””
“You let me believe you died.””
“I had no choice.””
I laughed bitterly.
“No choice?””
I stepped closer.
“You missed my graduation.””
His eyes filled.
“You missed my wedding.””
“I know.””
“You missed meeting Donovan until now.””
His voice cracked.
“I know.””
The anger inside me burned.
Then he looked toward the house.
“Landon is closer than you think.””
The mention of that name changed everything.
I stepped aside.
“Come inside.””
My father entered slowly.
My mother couldn’t stop crying.
Caden, who had returned after my call, stood frozen in the hallway.
He stared at my father.
“This is impossible.””
My father looked at him.
“You’re Caden.””
The fact that he knew made my skin crawl.
“How do you know him?””
My father looked at me.
“Because Landon told me about him.””
I froze.
“What?””
He sat down.
“Landon has been planning this for years.””
I crossed my arms.
“Start explaining.””
He nodded.
“I discovered Landon was moving money through hidden accounts.””
My mother whispered:
“So you weren’t stealing.””
He looked at her sadly.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I was trying to expose him.””
“Then why disappear?””
“Because Landon found out.””
The room went quiet.
“He threatened you?””
“He threatened everyone.””
My father looked toward the hallway.
“Especially you.””
I felt cold.
“Me?””
“He knew your grandfather planned to leave everything to you.””
I sat down.
“So you faked your death.””
“I needed to disappear before he could use me against you.””
I shook my head.
“You abandoned me.””
The pain on his face was immediate.
“I know.””
No excuses.
No defense.
Just regret.
That somehow hurt more.
My father placed the folder on the table.
“This is everything.””
I opened it.
Inside were documents.
Photos.
Records.
Then I saw something that made my hands shake.
A photograph.
Landon.
Bonnie.
Caden.
Together.
Taken six months before my wedding.
I looked at Caden.
His face turned pale.
“I didn’t know.””
I looked at the date.
Six months.
The same time Landon started moving.
My father spoke quietly.
“He didn’t choose your husband randomly.””
I looked up.
“Then why Caden?””
My father’s expression became serious.
“Because Landon knew Caden was already angry.””
A chill moved through me.
“Angry about what?””
My father looked at the photo.
“He believed you didn’t deserve the life you had.””
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Then he said the sentence that changed everything.
“Because someone had been telling him that for years.””
