Chapter 11: The Father We Never Knew
Adrian stared at the photograph.
He looked like he had forgotten how to breathe.
"Who is it?""
I asked softly.
He didn't answer.
James stepped closer.
"Adrian.""
Slowly, Adrian turned the picture around.
The man in the photograph was older.
Distinguished.
Wearing an expensive suit.
A man who looked powerful.
A man who looked familiar.
"My father.""
The room became silent.
I looked at James.
"Your father?""
Adrian nodded.
"Richard Oleso.""
I had heard the name before.
Everyone had.
Richard Oleso was the man who built the company from nothing.
A legend.
A billionaire.
A respected businessman.
A man who had been dead for ten years.
"That can't be possible.""
Adrian looked at the photo.
"He died before Victoria ever came into our lives.""
James shook his head.
"No.""
Adrian looked at him.
"What do you mean?""
James sat down.
"Your father didn't die naturally.""
The room changed.
Every secret seemed to lead back to the same family.
"What happened?""
James looked at Lily.
Then at Adrian.
"Your father discovered Victoria.""
Adrian frowned.
"Victoria wasn't part of the company then.""
"She wasn't officially.""
James pointed to the photo.
"She was working with him.""
My eyes widened.
"Your father knew her?""
James nodded.
"She was his assistant.""
Adrian looked sick.
"You're saying my father was involved?""
"Yes.""
"With what?""
James hesitated.
Then answered.
"The same thing Victoria continued after his death.""
The child records.
The fake identities.
The disappearances.
Adrian walked away.
"No.""
James watched him.
"I'm sorry.""
"No.""
Adrian turned.
"My father was not that kind of person.""
James didn't argue.
Because he knew there was something worse.
"He wasn't.""
The answer surprised everyone.
"He started investigating her.""
Adrian stopped.
"What?""
James continued.
"Your father discovered what she was doing. He tried to stop her.""
"Then why didn't anyone know?""
"Because Victoria destroyed his reputation before she destroyed him.""
Adrian looked at the photograph again.
A horrible realization appeared on his face.
"She framed him.""
James nodded.
"She made everyone believe he was involved.""
I felt a wave of anger.
"So Victoria ruined three generations of this family.""
James looked at me.
"Yes.""
Then Adrian noticed something.
The photograph had a date.
His eyes narrowed.
"Wait.""
He looked closer.
"This picture was taken after my father died.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Marcus stepped forward.
"There is something else.""
Adrian looked at him.
"What?""
Marcus swallowed.
"Your father wasn't the only person in that picture.""
He pointed.
In the corner of the photograph was a reflection.
A person standing behind them.
A young woman.
Adrian took the picture closer.
The woman was blurred.
But the face was recognizable.
Victoria.
But she looked much younger.
And beside her...
Was a child.
A little girl.
Adrian stared.
"Who is that?""
James looked carefully.
Then his expression changed.
"I don't know.""
Lily slowly stepped closer.
She looked at the photograph.
Then gasped.
"I know her.""
Everyone turned.
Adrian knelt.
"Who?""
Lily pointed at the child.
"She was in my mom's pictures.""
My heart stopped.
"What pictures?""
Lily looked afraid.
"The pictures Aunt Victoria didn't want me to see.""
Adrian stood.
"Where are those pictures?""
Lily looked toward the stairs.
"In my room.""
We all followed her upstairs.
Behind an old painting near the closet, Lily pulled out a small box.
Inside were photographs.
Dozens of them.
Her mother's belongings.
Adrian looked through them quickly.
Then stopped.
A photograph slipped from his hand.
I picked it up.
It showed Victoria.
Young.
Standing beside Lily's mother.
And between them...
Was the same little girl from the old photograph.
On the back was a handwritten note.
Three names.
Victoria.
Lily's mother.
And one name that made Adrian turn completely pale.
Because it was a name nobody expected.
May you like
A name that connected everything.
*"Our daughter.""*
