Chapter 14: The Father Who Disappeared
The location was an old cabin outside the city.
I knew going alone was a mistake.
But I also knew my father.
If he wanted me there, he believed every extra person created danger.
I parked near the woods.
The cabin looked abandoned.
The windows were covered.
The door was unlocked.
Inside, the air smelled like dust and old paper.
“Dad?””
Nothing.
I stepped farther inside.
Then I saw him.
Standing near the fireplace.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
Edward Carter turned around.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
I had imagined this moment for years.
I imagined anger.
Questions.
A confrontation.
Instead, all I felt was exhaustion.
“You’re alive.””
My father nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
His eyes dropped.
“Because dying was easier than letting them find me.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“I know.””
“You let me grieve.””
“I know.””
“You let Lucas grow up thinking nobody believed him.””
His face changed.
That one hurt.
“I know.””
I stepped closer.
“Then explain.””
My father sat down.
And for the first time in my life, Edward Carter looked afraid.
“Vanessa was never the person controlling everything.””
I stared.
“Then who was?””
He looked at me.
“The person who created Vanessa.””
The answer made no sense.
“What does that mean?””
“My father.””
I froze.
“My grandfather?””
Edward nodded.
“The Carter family secret started generations ago.””
He opened an old folder.
Inside were documents.
“The Whitmores didn’t build their power alone. They inherited it through a deal with our family.””
I looked at the papers.
“What deal?””
“My grandfather transferred ownership of several properties and companies to them.””
“Why?””
Edward looked at me.
“Because he was protecting someone.””
I already knew the answer.
“Who?””
“My sister.””
Claire.
Again.
Edward continued.
“Claire discovered that the Whitmores were planning to erase the Carter bloodline from the records.””
“But why?””
“Because the original inheritance had a condition.””
“What condition?””
Edward looked directly at me.
“The inheritance could only pass to a direct Carter descendant born from a protected line.””
I frowned.
“Protected line?””
He nodded.
“The line your grandmother protected.””
My father took a breath.
“Lucas.””
The word hung between us.
“Lucas is the heir?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“That’s why Vanessa wanted him.””
“Not just Vanessa.””
My father looked toward the window.
“Others.””
“Who?””
Before he answered, a loud crash came from outside.
My father immediately stood.
“Get down.””
A second later, the window shattered.
Someone fired.
I dropped to the floor.
My father pulled me behind the wall.
“Who are they?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
The shooting stopped.
Silence returned.
Then my father whispered:
“They found me.””
Police arrived twenty minutes later.
But whoever attacked us was gone.
Sarah arrived shortly after.
She looked at my father.
Then at me.
“You found him.””
I nodded.
But before I could explain, Sarah received a call.
Her face changed.
“What happened?””
She listened.
Then looked at me.
“Lucas disappeared.””
Everything stopped.
“What?””
“He left the house thirty minutes ago.””
“Why?””
Sarah swallowed.
“Because someone sent him a message.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“What message?””
She showed me the screen.
May you like
One sentence.
I know who your real father is.
