Chapter 9: The Daughter of the Man Who Knew Too Much
Sophia stared at the document.
Her face had lost all color.
“That’s fake.””
Nobody responded.
“It has to be fake.””
Ethan watched her carefully.
For the first time, he didn’t see his wife.
He saw someone he didn’t know.
“Your father received money after my mother disappeared.””
Sophia shook her head.
“My father was framed.””
Richard looked at her.
“Maybe.””
The answer surprised everyone.
Especially Ethan.
“You believe her?””
Richard looked exhausted.
“I believe there are still pieces missing.””
Sophia looked at him.
“After everything I did?””
Richard was silent.
That silence hurt more than anger.
Because it showed he was still trying to find the truth.
Ethan stepped away.
“Why didn’t you tell me your father worked for my family?””
Sophia closed her eyes.
“Because I knew you would see me differently.””
“You’re right.””
The honesty broke her.
“I didn’t marry you because of your father’s money.””
Ethan looked at her.
“But you did marry me because of him.””
Sophia didn’t answer.
And that was enough.
Daniel walked toward the documents.
“Your father’s name appears here because someone wanted it to.””
Ethan looked at him.
“How do you know?””
“Because the transfer was made through an account your father never controlled.””
Richard nodded.
“Someone used his identity.””
Sophia looked at Richard.
“Then help me prove it.””
Ethan almost laughed.
“Help you?””
He looked at her.
“You framed him.””
Sophia’s eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
The room became quiet.
“I know what I did.””
She looked toward Richard.
“I was angry. I thought you destroyed my father’s life. I thought you took everything from my family.””
Richard asked softly:
“And now?””
Sophia looked at Ethan.
“Now I think someone used my pain.””
That sentence changed something.
Because Ethan understood.
Sophia had lied.
She had manipulated.
But someone else may have been manipulating her too.
Daniel suddenly picked up the phone.
“I need to make a call.””
Richard looked at him.
“To who?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
He walked toward the hallway.
Ethan followed him with his eyes.
Something felt wrong.
A few seconds later, Daniel returned.
His expression was different.
“What happened?””
Daniel looked at Richard.
“We have a problem.””
Richard stood.
“What?””
“Someone accessed the old company records tonight.””
Ethan frowned.
“Who?””
Daniel looked at Sophia.
“No.””
He looked toward the front door.
“Someone who knows we found the truth.””
A loud noise came from outside.
Everyone froze.
A car door slammed.
Then footsteps approached the house.
Slow.
Confident.
Not someone trying to hide.
Someone who wanted them to know they were coming.
Richard moved in front of Ethan.
The same protective instinct he had shown his entire life.
But Ethan noticed something.
His father was shaking.
The footsteps stopped outside the door.
Then came three knocks.
Everyone stared.
Nobody moved.
Another knock.
Stronger.
Then a voice spoke from the other side.
An old voice.
A familiar voice.
“Richard.””
Richard’s face turned pale.
“No…”
Ethan looked at him.
“Dad?””
Richard whispered the name.
The name he thought he would never hear again.
“Michael.””
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The door handle slowly turned.
And the man who was supposed to be dead walked into the house.
