Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
The name echoed through the mansion.
Richard Vance.
Alexander’s face lost all color.
“That’s impossible.””
Thomas slowly stepped away from the window.
“I wish it was.””
Outside, the black car remained parked beneath the streetlight.
Silent.
Watching.
Alexander moved toward the front door.
“No.””
Thomas stopped him.
“Sir.””
“My father has been dead for five years.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Not everything you were told was true.””
The room felt colder.
I looked at Alexander.
“Your father was alive?””
He looked at me, completely lost.
“I attended his funeral.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
“Then explain this.””
Nobody answered immediately.
Finally, Thomas spoke.
“Mr. Richard Vance did die.””
A pause.
“But not when everyone believed.””
Alexander stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas walked toward the old family portrait hanging above the fireplace.
“Your father discovered Eleanor’s plans long before his death. He knew she had been moving money, manipulating records, and trying to gain control of the company.””
Alexander clenched his fists.
“So he faked his death?””
“No.””
Thomas looked back.
“He was trying to protect the people he loved.””
Margaret whispered.
“Especially Sarah’s mother.””
I looked down at the photograph still sitting on the table.
My mother.
A woman I barely remembered.
A woman who somehow connected me to this family long before I knew the Vances existed.
“Where is he now?””
Thomas didn’t answer.
That frightened me.
“Thomas?””
The butler looked toward the window.
“Outside.””
Everyone turned.
The black car door opened.
A man stepped out.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Wearing a dark coat.
My heart pounded as he walked toward the mansion.
Alexander backed away.
“No.””
The front door opened before anyone touched it.
The man standing there looked directly at Alexander.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then he said quietly:
“You look exactly like your mother.””
Alexander’s face changed.
Not anger.
Not confusion.
Something deeper.
Pain.
“Father?””
Richard Vance entered slowly.
The billionaire everyone believed was buried five years ago walked into his own mansion like a ghost returning home.
Alexander took a step forward.
“You’re alive.””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
The older man looked around the room.
At Thomas.
At Margaret.
At me.
“Because Eleanor was willing to destroy anyone who stood between her and control.””
Alexander’s voice became cold.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
“You let me bury you.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Richard looked at me.
And I immediately understood.
The answer involved me.
“Because Eleanor was searching for Sarah.””
My breath stopped.
Richard continued.
“She knew Sarah’s mother had left something behind.””
“What?””
“A record.””
Margaret stepped closer.
“The truth about Eleanor.””
Richard nodded.
“Your mother discovered everything.””
I looked at the photograph.
“She knew about the money?””
“She knew about the crimes.””
Silence.
Alexander looked shocked.
“Then why didn’t she tell anyone?””
Richard’s expression changed.
“Because she tried.””
A chill moved through me.
“What happened?””
Richard looked at me.
“She disappeared before she could.””
Nobody spoke.
The word disappeared felt heavier than any other explanation.
My entire life had been built around a lie.
I thought I lost my mother because of an accident.
Because of fate.
Because of something nobody could control.
But now…
I wondered if someone had taken her away.
Richard reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“This belonged to your mother.””
My hands shook as I accepted it.
On the front was my name.
Sarah.
Written in handwriting I had never seen.
But somehow felt familiar.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a single page.
My mother’s words.
“If Eleanor ever discovers the child’s identity, run.””
My heart stopped.
The rest of the letter continued.
“She will not care who she destroys. She will only care about keeping power.””
I looked up.
“Child’s identity?””
Richard’s face became serious.
“There is something you don’t know.””
Alexander moved closer.
“What?””
Richard looked at both of us.
“Sarah was never just connected to the Vance family through marriage.””
My fingers tightened around the letter.
“What are you saying?””
Richard took a breath.
“She is the rightful heir to the original Vance trust.””
The room went silent.
Alexander stared at him.
“But the trust was for my child.””
Richard nodded.
“That was Eleanor’s mistake.””
I looked confused.
“What mistake?””
Richard’s expression hardened.
“She believed the inheritance belonged only to the next Vance child.””
A pause.
“But your mother’s bloodline came first.””
The pieces finally connected.
Eleanor wasn’t trying to remove me because I was weak.
She was afraid of me.
Afraid of my child.
Afraid of a truth that could take everything from her.
Then Richard looked toward the window.
His expression changed.
“We have a bigger problem.””
Thomas followed his gaze.
The black car was gone.
“Where did it go?””
Richard’s face turned grim.
“Eleanor knows I’m here.””
A phone suddenly rang.
Everyone froze.
It was Alexander’s phone.
Unknown number.
He answered.
No one spoke.
Then a woman’s voice came through.
Eleanor.
“You should have stayed buried, Richard.””
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“How did you get this number?””
Her voice remained calm.
“Because I have always known where you were.””
A pause.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“And I know exactly where Sarah is going next.””
