CHAPTER 7 – The Emperor of Lies
The old man in the wheelchair smiled.
It was not the smile of someone who had returned to make peace.
It was the smile of someone who believed the entire world still belonged to him.
Alexander Howard.
The man whose name was carved into buildings.
The man whose company controlled industries.
The man whose reputation had survived scandals, investigations, and decades of rumors.
He looked fragile.
Almost harmless.
But everyone in the room understood something.
A wounded wolf was still a wolf.
Vanessa stared at him.
For years, she had feared Alexander.
Not because he shouted.
Not because he threatened.
But because he never needed to.
Alexander Howard destroyed people quietly.
A phone call.
A forgotten contract.
A missing document.
A rumor whispered in the right place.
That was his weapon.
And Vanessa knew better than anyone.
Because she had spent years using the same methods.
She just wasn't as good as him.
"You shouldn't be here."
Isabella's voice was calm.
Alexander chuckled.
"That's interesting coming from a woman who has been dead for twenty-eight years."
Vanessa looked between them.
"You knew she was alive?"
Alexander looked at her.
"Of course."
The answer shocked her.
"You knew?"
He nodded.
"Everything that happens inside my family happens because I allow it."
His eyes moved toward the hidden camera.
"Even this conversation."
Ruiz's team watching through the feed immediately exchanged looks.
One detective whispered:
"He's been watching us."
Alexander slowly rolled his wheelchair into the room.
"You all think you discovered something."
He looked at Vanessa.
"You think you exposed me."
Then Isabella.
"You think returning from the dead changes anything."
Finally...
His eyes stopped on Elena.
"Poor Elena."
A cold smile appeared.
"You spent your whole life believing you were nobody."
Elena stepped forward.
"Don't talk to me like you know me."
Alexander smiled.
"But I do know you."
A pause.
"I chose your name."
The words hit harder than Elena expected.
"What?"
Alexander continued.
"Your mother wanted to call you something else."
Elena's expression changed.
"You were there?"
"Yes."
He looked almost nostalgic.
"The night you were born."
Thomas immediately moved closer.
"Stay away from her."
Alexander ignored him.
"You see, Elena..."
His voice became softer.
"You were always the most valuable person in this family."
Ruiz watched carefully.
This was no longer an interrogation.
This was a confession.
But Alexander didn't seem afraid.
That worried him.
People who knew they were losing usually panicked.
Alexander looked comfortable.
Too comfortable.
"Where is the inheritance document?"
Isabella asked.
The room went silent.
Alexander smiled.
"There it is."
Vanessa frowned.
"What?"
"The real reason everyone is here."
He looked at Isabella.
"You didn't come back because you missed your daughter."
Isabella's face hardened.
"Don't."
"You came back because you need the document."
Elena looked at her mother.
For the first time...
A small doubt appeared.
A painful one.
Isabella noticed.
"Elena..."
But Elena stepped back.
"I need answers."
Her voice shook.
"Not more secrets."
Alexander laughed quietly.
"Finally."
He looked pleased.
"Someone in this family understands."
Thomas looked at Elena.
"Don't listen to him."
Alexander smiled.
"Thomas."
A pause.
"Still pretending to be the hero?"
Thomas's face tightened.
"You ruined everything."
"No."
Alexander corrected him.
"I protected everything."
"You destroyed lives."
"I protected the Howard name."
The old man's eyes became colder.
"Something weak people will never understand."
Suddenly...
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It came from Alexander's pocket.
He answered.
"Yes?"
A voice spoke.
Only one sentence.
Alexander's expression changed slightly.
"Are you certain?"
Silence.
Then:
"Good."
He ended the call.
Ruiz noticed.
"What was that?"
Alexander ignored him.
Instead, he looked at Elena.
"Your husband is awake."
Elena froze.
"My husband?"
Alexander smiled.
"Yes."
A terrible feeling entered her chest.
"Alexander..."
"He has something important to tell you."
At the hospital...
A man opened his eyes.
Weak.
Confused.
Surrounded by machines.
Alexander Howard's son.
Elena's husband.
Adrian Howard.
He had been unconscious since the night of the staircase incident.
Doctors said he might not wake for days.
But he opened his eyes now.
And the first thing he said was:
"Where is Elena?"
The nurse leaned closer.
"Your wife is safe."
Adrian's face filled with fear.
"No."
He tried to sit up.
"You don't understand."
"What?"
His voice trembled.
"She is in danger."
Back at Howard Manor...
Alexander watched Elena carefully.
"Your husband knows the truth."
Elena's heart raced.
"What truth?"
Alexander smiled.
"The reason Vanessa pushed you."
Everyone turned toward him.
Alexander continued:
"Because she wasn't trying to kill you."
Vanessa looked furious.
"Stop lying."
Alexander ignored her.
"She was trying to stop you from opening the basement door."
Elena frowned.
"What basement door?"
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone in Howard Manor knew exactly what he meant.
There was an old section beneath the mansion.
A sealed basement.
A place Alexander had forbidden anyone to enter.
A place that didn't appear on any official blueprint.
A place rumored to contain the darkest secrets of the Howard family.
Ruiz immediately looked at his officers.
"Search the basement."
Alexander laughed.
"Too late."
Everyone looked at him.
"What?"
Alexander's smile widened.
"Because someone already opened it."
A detective's voice suddenly came through Ruiz's radio.
"Detective!"
Ruiz answered.
"What is it?"
Heavy breathing.
Then:
"You need to see this."
A pause.
"The basement isn't empty."
Ruiz's face changed.
"What did you find?"
The detective answered:
"A room."
Silence.
"With hundreds of photographs."
Another pause.
"And every photograph is of Elena."
Elena felt the blood leave her face.
"No..."
Alexander looked satisfied.
"Now you understand."
He leaned forward.
"Your entire life..."
"Was never an accident."
At that moment...
The front doors of Howard Manor opened.
Everyone turned.
A man walked inside.
Adrian Howard.
Elena's husband.
The man who was supposed to be lying unconscious in the hospital.
His face was pale.
His eyes were filled with fear.
He looked directly at Elena.
And whispered:
"I'm sorry."
Elena froze.
"For what?"
Adrian looked at Alexander.
Then back at her.
May you like
"For helping them find you."
End of Chapter 7
