Chapter 7 - The Father in the PhotographThe chapel became silent.

Rain hammered the stained-glass windows.

I stared at Andrew.

"Our father died."

"That's what Mother told us."

"And the death certificate?"

"Forged."

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because every time I got close, someone tried to kill me."

"Who?"

Andrew looked toward Vanessa.

She shook her head.

"Don't look at me."

"Then who?"

Vanessa said quietly:

"Your mother."

I felt numb.

"No."

Andrew opened a leather folder.

Inside was an old photograph.

Our father stood beside Sebastian Voss.

Behind them was a building.

A warehouse.

The same building appeared in several financial records.

Andrew pointed at the date.

"Three months after you were born."

"And?"

"That was the year our father supposedly retired."

I looked closer.

There was a woman beside him.

Our mother.

Pregnant.

And next to her stood Vanessa's father.

I looked at her.

"What is this?"

She swallowed.

"My father worked for Sebastian."

"What did they do?"

"Illegal shipments. Fraud. Offshore accounts."

Andrew nodded.

"Our father wanted out."

"So Sebastian killed him?"

"Not exactly."

Andrew pulled out another photograph.

Our father in a hospital bed.

Alive.

Years after his supposed death.

The date was twelve years ago.

I stared.

"He was alive when I was a child."

"Yes."

"Where is he now?"

Andrew shook his head.

"I don't know."

Vanessa suddenly said:

"I do."

We both looked at her.

"He was moved three years ago."

"By who?"

"Sebastian."

"Where?"

"An island."

"Which island?"

She shook her head.

"I don't know the name."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I was never allowed to see the full records."

"Then how do you know?"

"Because I heard Sebastian talking."

She looked at Andrew.

"He said your father remembered everything."

Andrew stepped closer.

"What does he remember?"

Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.

"The night Andrew disappeared."

Silence.

Andrew stared at her.

"That was six years ago."

"Exactly."

"What happened that night?"

Vanessa hesitated.

Then she whispered:

"Andrew wasn't running from Sebastian."

I felt a chill.

"Then what was he running from?"

"Your father."

The chapel seemed to tilt.

Andrew went still.

"Why?"

Vanessa looked at him.

"Because he found out what your father had done."

Andrew shook his head.

"Don't."

"Your father ordered the boating accident."

"No."

"He wanted Andrew gone."

"You're lying."

"He wanted him dead."

Andrew stepped backward.

His face had gone completely pale.

Then a sound came from the chapel doors.

Three knocks.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Everyone froze.

Another three knocks.

Andrew raised his weapon.

The door opened.

A man walked inside.

Older.

Thin.

Gray hair.

His face scarred from the temple to the jaw.

I had spent eighteen years believing he was dead.

My father looked at me.

May you like

My Family Inherited Millions and Left Me a Ruined House. Four Months Lat...

The lawyer’s office fell silent as my grandmother’s will was read, and I watched my family inherit millions while I received nothi...

A Desperate Mother Begged a Billionaire for a Job to Feed Her Two Childr...

I was stranded on a lonely Arizona highway with two starving children, a pair of ruined suitcases, and no way to reach our destina...

I Saved the Mafia Boss’s Baby from a Dumpster, but He Threw Me in Jail f...

The first thing I noticed when I opened the dumpster behind the Valente mansion was a tiny blue hand sticking out from beneath a f...

And whispered:

"Alexander."