Chapter 12: Walking Into the Lion’s Den
Alexander’s office was located at the top of a skyscraper downtown.
The same kind of building my father owned.
The same kind of place where powerful men believed they were untouchable.
I arrived alone.
At least, that was what Alexander believed.
The elevator doors opened.
The entire floor was silent.
No assistants.
No employees.
Only him.
Standing beside the window.
Looking down at the city.
“You came.””
I stepped forward.
“You wanted me here.””
He smiled.
“You have your mother’s courage.””
I stopped.
“Don’t say her name.””
His smile faded slightly.
Interesting.
Even after everything, he knew exactly where the wounds were.
“You think I’m the villain.””
“You murdered my mother.””
He turned around.
“You don’t know what happened.””
“I know enough.””
“No.””
His voice sharpened.
“You know what Daniel wanted you to know.””
I felt anger rise.
“Don’t bring my father into this.””
“Your father?””
He laughed.
“You still call him that.””
I said nothing.
Alexander walked toward the desk.
“Daniel stole my daughter.””
My stomach tightened.
“I was a child.””
“You were mine.””
The way he said it made my skin crawl.
Not love.
Possession.
“You weren’t my father.””
His expression changed.
“You were taught to hate me.””
“No.””
I looked directly at him.
“I learned to hate what you did.””
For a moment, he was silent.
Then he placed a document on the desk.
“Sign this.””
I looked down.
A transfer agreement.
Everything.
My inheritance.
My mother’s shares.
Control of the Ashford foundation.
All transferred to him.
“You really thought I would sign?””
“I thought you would want answers.””
He pressed a button.
A screen behind him turned on.
A video appeared.
My mother.
Alive.
Younger.
Talking.
My breath stopped.
I moved closer.
“Where did you get this?””
Alexander watched my reaction.
“She recorded messages before she died.””
My eyes stayed on the screen.
My mother looked frightened.
But alive.
“Lillian…”
Her voice came through the speakers.
“If you are watching this, something happened.””
I couldn’t breathe.
Then the video cut off.
Alexander smiled.
“That is only one part.””
“You’re sick.””
“No.””
He leaned closer.
“I’m the only person who can give you the full truth.””
I stared at him.
“What do you want?””
“The company.””
“That’s all?””
“No.””
His eyes hardened.
“I want what was taken from me.””
I almost laughed.
“You mean power.””
“I mean my place.””
Before I could answer, my phone vibrated.
A message from Adrian.
*The recording devices are active. Keep him talking.*
I hid my reaction.
Alexander continued.
“Your mother chose Daniel over me.””
There it was.
The real wound.
Not business.
Not money.
Jealousy.
“She chose someone who wasn’t even your father.””
I stared.
“You hurt her because she loved someone else?””
His jaw tightened.
“She betrayed me.””
I felt disgust.
“She was never yours.””
The room went quiet.
Alexander looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw it.
Not anger.
Fear.
Because he knew.
He knew I wasn’t the frightened girl who entered this building.
“You think you’ve won,” he said.
“No.””
I smiled.
“You did.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
I lifted my phone.
“The entire conversation was recorded.””
Alexander’s face went pale.
Then he laughed.
“You think that matters?””
The doors suddenly opened.
Security rushed in.
But not his.
My father’s.
Alexander looked toward the entrance.
And froze.
Because behind my father stood someone he never expected to see.
Clara.
She held an old file.
And she said one sentence:
May you like
“I found the original confession.””
Alexander’s smile disappeared.
