Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Nobody moved.
The entire room froze as the man approached the front door.
Marcus Hale.
The name that had existed in old documents, whispered conversations, and my grandmother’s warnings was suddenly standing outside our house.
Alive.
My father looked like he had seen a ghost.
Because to him, maybe he had.
“Don’t open that door,” Dylan said.
My father didn’t answer.
He just stared at the man through the window.
Marcus stopped on the porch.
Then he knocked.
Three slow knocks.
Not angry.
Not rushed.
Almost confident.
Like he knew exactly what was happening inside.
My phone buzzed again.
A new message.
*“You wanted the truth. Open the door.””*
I showed it to Dylan.
His expression darkened.
“He knows we’re here.””
Olivia moved closer to me.
“Nia, don’t.””
But my father was already walking toward the door.
“Dad,” I said.
He stopped.
For a moment, I saw something in his eyes.
Fear.
Not of Marcus.
Of what Marcus might say.
Then he opened the door.
The man standing there looked older than the photo.
But it was definitely him.
The same sharp eyes.
The same cold confidence.
Marcus looked at my father.
“Richard.””
My father’s jaw tightened.
“You’re supposed to be dead.””
Marcus smiled faintly.
“That’s what everyone was told.””
Nobody invited him inside.
He entered anyway.
He looked around the room.
Then his eyes landed on me.
“Nia.””
Hearing my name from his mouth made my skin crawl.
“How do you know me?””
Marcus tilted his head.
“Your grandmother talked about you constantly.””
I stepped back.
“You knew my grandmother?””
He smiled.
“I knew her better than most people.””
My father moved between us.
“Don’t talk to her.””
Marcus looked amused.
“You’re still pretending to protect people, Richard?””
My father’s hands clenched.
“You ruined my family.””
Marcus laughed softly.
“No.””
He looked around the room.
“You did that yourself.””
The words hit my father hard.
I watched his face.
Because there was history here.
A history nobody wanted me to know.
Dylan stepped forward.
“You stole from my sister.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Did I?””
“You worked with Vanessa.””
Marcus smiled.
“Vanessa told you that?””
The room went silent.
“What?””
Marcus walked toward the table.
“Interesting.””
He looked at the documents spread out.
“You found the transfers.””
Olivia crossed her arms.
“Because you weren’t careful.””
Marcus laughed.
“No.””
He picked up one of the papers.
“Because Vanessa wanted me to be found.””
Everyone stared at him.
I felt confused.
“What are you talking about?””
Marcus looked at me.
“She needed a distraction.””
My stomach dropped.
“A distraction from what?””
He placed the paper down.
“From the fact that she wasn’t the one controlling the money.””
My father frowned.
“What?””
Marcus looked at him.
“You really never figured it out?””
The room became painfully quiet.
“Vanessa was never the mastermind.””
My father stared.
“She was working for someone.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at me.
Then at my father.
“The person who has been hiding behind this family for years.””
Before anyone could respond, the door opened.
Everyone turned.
Vanessa stood there.
Her face was pale.
She wasn’t angry.
She was terrified.
“Marcus.””
For the first time, I saw fear on her face.
Real fear.
Marcus smiled.
“Hello, Vanessa.””
My father looked between them.
“You two knew each other.””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
“Richard,” she said quietly, “you need to listen to me.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“Now you want me to listen?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Tell him.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Shut up.””
Marcus smiled.
“Still protecting him?””
My heart pounded.
“What is happening?””
Vanessa looked at me.
And for the first time, she didn’t look like my enemy.
She looked desperate.
“Nia…”
She swallowed.
“I never wanted you involved.””
I almost laughed.
“You tried to take my inheritance.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
The room froze.
She admitted it.
Just like that.
My father stared at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
Then back at me.
“Because I was trying to stop something worse.””
Nobody spoke.
Dylan shook his head.
“No.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
She opened her mouth.
But before she could speak, Marcus’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
The confidence disappeared from his face.
“What?”” he answered.
A pause.
Then his expression changed.
He looked directly at me.
“No.””
Everyone noticed.
My father stepped forward.
“Who was that?””
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
Then he whispered:
“Someone who knows where the original will is.””
My heart stopped.
“The original will?””
May you like
Marcus looked at me.
“The one your grandmother hid before she died.””
