Chapter 18: The Father I Never Knew
I couldn’t breathe.
The words repeated in my head.
Adrian is alive.
My biological father.
The man I was told was gone.
The man whose existence had been hidden from me.
Alive.
I stared at Victor.
“You’re lying.””
He smiled.
“You’ve heard that before.””
I hated that he was right.
Everyone had lied.
But something about this felt different.
Because deep down, I wanted it to be false.
I wanted one thing in my life to stay simple.
My father was Michael.
My mother was gone.
My past was clear.
Victor walked around the desk.
“Your mother tried to protect you from Adrian.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because she knew he would come back.””
“Why would she be afraid of him?””
Victor looked at me.
“Because Adrian wasn’t innocent.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he do?””
Victor opened another folder.
Inside were documents.
Legal records.
Photos.
Emails.
I looked through them.
My hands started shaking.
Adrian had been involved in lawsuits.
Business disputes.
Financial investigations.
But then I noticed something.
Most of the accusations had been dismissed.
“Wait.””
I looked up.
“Half of these were cleared.””
Victor’s smile faded slightly.
“You’re observant.””
“So why show me this?””
“Because you need to understand something.””
He leaned forward.
“Everyone around you has been fighting over what Adrian left behind.””
I looked at the papers.
“And what did he leave?””
Victor didn’t answer.
Instead, he opened a drawer.
Inside was a small box.
He placed it on the table.
“This.””
I opened it.
Inside was a necklace.
A simple silver necklace.
I recognized it instantly.
My mother wore one exactly like it.
My hands trembled.
“Where did you get this?””
Victor watched me.
“Adrian gave it to Rachel before he disappeared.””
“Before he disappeared?””
“Yes.””
I looked up.
“You said he was alive.””
Victor nodded.
“He is.””
“Then where is he?””
Victor walked toward the window.
“He’s the reason this entire situation started.””
My heart raced.
“What do you mean?””
“He contacted Lucas.””
The room went quiet.
“What?””
Victor nodded.
“Lucas wasn’t the mastermind.””
“Then who was?””
Victor looked at me.
“Adrian.””
I felt like the floor disappeared.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You’re lying.””
“Maybe.””
He smiled slightly.
“But ask yourself something, Emma.””
He stepped closer.
“Why would Lucas suddenly appear after years?””
I had no answer.
“Why would he know about your inheritance?””
Silence.
“Because someone told him.””
I looked away.
“And that someone was Adrian?””
Victor nodded.
I wanted to reject it.
I wanted to believe Victor was manipulating me.
But there was one thing I couldn’t ignore.
The pattern.
Someone had always known things they shouldn’t.
Someone had always been one step ahead.
My phone suddenly rang.
Dad.
I answered immediately.
“Dad?””
His voice sounded panicked.
“Emma, where are you?””
“I’m okay.””
“Leave now.””
My heart jumped.
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then:
“Daniel found something.””
“What?””
My dad’s voice lowered.
“It’s about Victor.””
I looked at Victor.
“What about him?””
“He isn’t working for your grandfather.””
I froze.
“What?””
My dad continued.
“He’s working for someone else.””
The call cut out.
I looked at Victor.
He was smiling.
Not because he was happy.
Because he knew.
“You finally understand.””
I stepped back.
“Who are you working for?””
Victor didn’t answer.
Instead, the door behind me opened.
A man walked in.
Older.
Tired.
His eyes immediately found mine.
I knew that face.
Not because I remembered him.
Because I had seen him in photographs.
The same eyes.
The same smile.
The same features I saw every morning in the mirror.
My knees almost gave out.
The man whispered:
“Emma.””
I couldn’t speak.
Victor stepped aside.
And the man I had spent twenty years believing was dead…
May you like
Looked at me and said:
“I’m your father.””
