Chapter 8: The Return of a Ghost
I stared at the photograph until my eyes hurt.
A part of me wanted to reject it.
To say it was fake.
A trick.
A cruel joke.
Anything except the truth.
Because accepting it meant everything I believed about my life was wrong.
“My father is alive?””
My voice barely worked.
Nobody answered.
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“Did you know?””
Evelyn looked devastated.
“No.””
Marcus remained silent.
That was what frightened me.
He wasn’t surprised.
“You knew,” Daniel said.
Marcus looked at him.
“I knew he survived.””
The room exploded with questions.
“Where is he?”” I demanded.
Marcus looked at me.
“Close.””
“Where?””
“Isabella—”
“No.””
My voice broke.
“I spent my entire life believing I lost him.””
Marcus didn’t look away.
“And he spent his entire life believing you were safer without him.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It will.””
He reached into his coat.
Everyone tensed.
But he only pulled out a small envelope.
He placed it on the table.
“This was found with the photograph.””
I stared at it.
My name was written again.
My father’s handwriting.
Again.
I didn’t touch it.
“What does it say?””
Marcus looked at me.
“You should read it yourself.””
My hands felt numb as I opened it.
The first line nearly broke me.
*Isabella,*
*I know you think I abandoned you. I know you think I chose to leave. But every day away from you was a punishment I never escaped.*
I covered my mouth.
Daniel stood beside me silently.
The letter continued.
*The night everything happened, I discovered the person behind the betrayal. But before I could expose them, they took everything from us.*
My eyes moved faster.
*I made one mistake. I trusted someone who promised to protect my family.*
I stopped.
Someone who promised to protect my family.
The same words Marcus had used.
The same words Evelyn had used.
The same words everyone used.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
*The person who helped me disappear was not my enemy. They were trying to save me.*
I looked up.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
And Evelyn looked away.
My heart sank.
“No.””
Marcus said nothing.
I turned toward Evelyn.
“Was it you?””
The silence answered.
Daniel looked shocked.
“Mom?””
Evelyn finally spoke.
“Yes.””
The word was almost a whisper.
“I helped him disappear.””
I felt the room spin.
“You knew?””
“I knew he was alive.””
“For years?””
“Yes.””
“And you let me believe he was dead?””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
The pain in my voice silenced everyone.
“I didn’t need protection.””
I looked at her.
“I needed the truth.””
Evelyn nodded slowly.
“You’re right.””
For the first time, she didn’t defend herself.
She accepted it.
Then Marcus spoke.
“Your father is ready to come home.””
My heart stopped.
“When?””
“Tonight.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Why now?””
Marcus looked toward the window.
“Because the person who wanted him gone knows he survived.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Who?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at the contract.
At the documents.
Then at me.
“The same person who has been manipulating everything from the beginning.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You mean Ethan?””
Marcus’s expression changed slightly.
“No.””
Everyone froze.
“Then who?””
Marcus looked at me.
And the answer destroyed the last piece of certainty I had.
“The person who taught Ethan everything he knows.””
My face went pale.
“His father?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
A long pause.
Then he said:
“Your father.””
Nobody moved.
The words didn’t make sense.
“My father?””
Marcus nodded.
“The man you thought was your greatest victim…”
He looked toward the door.
“…was also the man who started this war.””
At that exact moment, the front entrance opened.
A shadow appeared in the doorway.
An older man stood there.
His face was lined with years.
His eyes filled with regret.
But I knew those eyes.
I had seen them in old photographs.
I had dreamed of them since childhood.
My father looked at me.
May you like
And whispered:
“Isabella.””
