Chapter 14: The Last Person We Expected
The photo was blurry.
But it was enough.
Standing beside Greg Hale was Marcus.
Alive.
Free.
Again.
My father stared at the screen.
“That’s impossible.””
Dylan shook his head.
“No.””
His voice was cold.
“We’ve been chasing ghosts this entire time.””
Victor looked worried for the first time.
“Greg must have arranged his release.””
My father looked at him.
“How?””
“Money. Connections. Time.””
I stared at the photo.
The same family that had raised me.
The same people who sat at our dinner table.
They had been fighting over my grandmother’s legacy for decades.
And I had been the last person to know.
“We go there,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
Dylan shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
“Nobody is asking you to protect me anymore.””
The words surprised even me.
My father looked at me.
I continued.
“I spent my entire life believing I was the problem.””
My voice shook.
“I thought Vanessa hated me because I wasn’t enough. I thought Grandma left me less because maybe I didn’t deserve more.””
I looked at the photo.
“I’m done letting people decide my story.””
Nobody argued.
An hour later, we arrived at the old Hale estate.
The house had been abandoned for years.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
The front door opened before we knocked.
Greg stood there.
Older.
But exactly the same.
The same confident smile.
The same calm eyes.
“Nia.””
I hated hearing my name from him.
“You know who I am.””
He smiled.
“Of course.””
My father stepped forward.
“Why?””
Greg looked at him.
“Because you took everything from me.””
My father laughed.
“You stole from our family.””
Greg’s smile disappeared.
“You really believe that?””
Victor stepped beside us.
“Tell the truth, Greg.””
Greg looked at him.
“You always were loyal to my father’s favorite son.””
The bitterness in his voice was obvious.
My father stared.
“This was about jealousy?””
Greg laughed.
“No.””
He opened the door wider.
“Come inside.””
Nobody trusted him.
But we entered.
The old living room looked untouched.
Like time had stopped.
On the wall were family portraits.
Including one of my grandfather.
Greg stood beneath it.
“My father built everything.””
My father nodded.
“And he left it to me.””
Greg smiled.
“He left it to you because he thought you were honorable.””
“And I was.””
Greg looked at me.
“Were you?””
My father went silent.
That hurt.
Because even after everything, there were still things he regretted.
Greg walked to a cabinet.
“I didn’t destroy this family.””
He pulled out a box.
“Your father did.””
Inside were letters.
Old letters.
My father looked at them.
“What are those?””
“Proof.””
Greg handed one to me.
I read it.
It was from my grandfather.
But the contents shocked me.
*“Richard cannot know about the second trust until he proves he can protect it.””*
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Greg smiled.
“It means your father was never supposed to control everything.””
My father looked confused.
“What?””
Greg continued.
“Your grandfather created a test.””
“A test?””
“Yes.””
He looked at me.
“And your grandmother chose you.””
My hands froze.
“Me?””
Greg nodded.
“The trust was supposed to transfer to you when you turned twenty-five.””
Victor looked surprised.
“I didn’t know that.””
“Because nobody did.””
Greg smiled.
“Except me.””
I looked at the documents.
“So all of this…”
“Yes.””
Greg’s voice became colder.
“All of this happened because everyone wanted control.””
My father stared at him.
“You killed my mother.””
Greg didn’t answer.
That silence was enough.
Dylan stepped forward.
“You did.””
Greg smiled.
“Your grandmother was going to expose everyone.””
“Everyone?””
Greg looked at Marcus.
“Marcus. Vanessa. Richard.””
My father shook his head.
“I didn’t hurt her.””
“No.””
Greg smiled.
“But you let her die alone.””
My father looked devastated.
Then Greg said the one thing that made everyone freeze.
“The person who changed the inheritance documents wasn’t Vanessa.””
May you like
He looked directly at me.
“It was your father.””
