Chapter 11 - The Father in the StudyMark couldn't move.
William looked exactly like he remembered from old photographs.
Older now.
Silver hair.
Walking cane.
Calm expression.
"You."
William smiled.
"You've grown."
Mark's fists tightened.
"You've been in my house."
"Our house."
"This is Lily's house."
William glanced at the child.
"The trust says otherwise."
Eleanor stepped in front of Lily.
William's expression hardened.
"So you're alive."
"I am."
"I thought Victoria handled that."
Mark's blood went cold.
"You knew?"
William didn't answer.
Daniel immediately called the police.
William smiled.
"Do you really think they'll arrive in time?"
He tapped his cane against the floor.
The mansion doors locked automatically.
Mark looked around.
"What did you do?"
"Built this house."
Daniel whispered:
"The security system."
William nodded.
"Every camera. Every lock. Every blind corner."
Mark looked at him.
"You watched us."
"For years."
"Why?"
"Because Lily owns something I need."
Mark pulled Lily closer.
"She owns nothing of yours."
William laughed softly.
"Everything in this family belonged to me."
Eleanor's face hardened.
"Not anymore."
William looked at her.
"You're the reason I lost my son."
"No."
Eleanor answered.
"You're the reason he left you."
William raised his cane.
A compartment opened.
Inside was a gun.
Lily screamed.
Mark moved between them.
Then a loud crash came from upstairs.
William looked distracted.
Daniel shouted:
"Now!"
Maria pushed the emergency lever.
The security system reset.
Doors unlocked.
Police rushed inside.
William tried to escape through the hidden passage.
Mark chased him.
The passage led beneath the east wing.
William reached a steel door.
Mark caught up.
"Stop!"
William turned.
For a moment, father and son stood facing each other.
"Do you know why Eleanor hid Lily's trust from me?"
Mark stared.
"Because she knew what I'd do."
William smiled.
"You're wrong."
He opened the door.
Behind it was a room filled with boxes.
Hundreds of them.
Each marked with dates.
Each containing photographs, documents and recordings.
William looked at Mark.
"I didn't build this archive to destroy you."
"Then why?"
"To prove Eleanor was lying."
Mark opened the nearest box.
Inside was a video tape.
Label:
THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT.
He looked up.
William was gone.
A second door stood open at the end of the tunnel.
Daniel ran toward it.
"He's escaping."
Mark remained beside the box.
Eleanor's voice came from behind him.
"Don't watch it."
Mark turned.
"Why?"
She looked terrified.
"Because once you see that recording..."
May you like
She swallowed.
"...you'll know why I really disappeared."
