Chapter 7: The Enemy Inside
The message remained on the screen for exactly twelve seconds.
Twelve seconds that felt longer than the three years I spent pretending to be someone else.
*CLAIRE ELLISON WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE.*
Nobody spoke.
The conference room, once filled with executives discussing billions of dollars, became completely silent.
Then my father moved.
“Disconnect every external connection.””
Evelyn immediately grabbed her tablet.
“Already doing it.””
Security officers rushed past the glass walls outside.
The building that had always felt untouchable suddenly felt exposed.
Like someone had opened every locked door without making a sound.
Adrian stared at the screen.
His face was pale.
“Claire…”
I looked at him.
“What?””
His voice lowered.
“This wasn’t about my company.””
I didn’t answer.
Because I had already realized the same thing.
Mercer Dynamics was just the entrance.
I was the target.
My father stepped beside me.
“Claire, I need you to tell me everything Vanessa ever said to you.””
I frowned.
“Everything?””
“Yes.””
I searched my memories.
Every conversation.
Every smile.
Every carefully chosen word.
At the time, I thought Vanessa was trying to replace me.
Now I wondered if that was only a performance.
“She asked about my family.””
Dad’s expression changed.
“When?””
“Months ago. During a charity event.””
“What did she ask?””
I closed my eyes.
“She said it was strange that someone like me could live so simply.””
Evelyn looked up.
“She was testing you.””
I nodded slowly.
“She asked if I missed my old life.””
My father’s hands tightened.
“She knew.””
Adrian looked confused.
“Knew what?””
“That Claire wasn’t ordinary.””
The room became quiet again.
I looked at Adrian.
“You really never noticed?””
His expression broke.
“I thought…”
He stopped.
Because he knew.
He thought I was less than him.
A quiet wife.
A background character.
A person who existed beside his success.
My father walked toward the screen.
“Victor Hale doesn’t choose random targets.””
Adrian looked at him.
“Why Claire?””
Dad hesitated.
That hesitation frightened me.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“When your mother died, she left something behind.””
My heartbeat changed.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
I had spent years thinking my mother’s death was the only thing my father couldn’t fix.
The only wound money couldn’t heal.
“What did she leave?””
My father looked at the security cameras.
“Not here.””
“Why?””
“Because if Victor knows about it, we’re already too late.””
A sharp alarm interrupted him.
Everyone turned.
Evelyn checked her tablet.
“Someone accessed the underground archive.””
My father froze.
“The archive?””
I looked between them.
“What archive?””
Nobody answered.
That was becoming a pattern.
My entire life suddenly felt like a book where everyone had read the pages except me.
“Dad.””
His eyes met mine.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed softly.
Not because it was funny.
Because I had heard those words before.
From Adrian.
From Vanessa.
Everyone always said they were protecting me while keeping me in the dark.
“I don’t need protection anymore.””
My voice was calm.
“I need the truth.””
My father looked at me for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“You’re right.””
He turned to security.
“Take us downstairs.””
Adrian stood.
“I’m coming.””
My father looked at him.
“No.””
Adrian didn’t move.
“I know I don’t deserve to be there.””
His voice was quiet.
“But Victor Hale is connected to me too.””
I watched him.
Three years ago, Adrian would have argued.
Demanded.
Now he simply waited.
My father studied him.
Then finally nodded.
“Fine.””
We entered the private elevator.
The doors closed.
As we descended, nobody spoke.
The silence was heavy.
Then Adrian whispered:
“Claire.””
I looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
I didn’t respond.
Not because I didn’t hear him.
Because I did.
And that was the problem.
I had heard apologies before.
What I needed now was truth.
The elevator stopped.
The doors opened.
And behind the security wall was a room I had never seen before.
A room that contained every secret my father had hidden from me.
Inside was a single file sitting on the table.
My name was written across the front.
*CLAIRE ELLISON.*
But underneath it was a date.
May you like
A date that made my blood run cold.
The day I was born.
