Chapter 7: The Inheritance Nobody Knew About
I couldn’t hear anything after my father said that.
Not the rain hitting the windows.
Not the voices in the hallway.
Not the quiet arguments happening around me.
Only one sentence kept repeating in my mind.
*You inherited the company.*
I looked at my father.
“No.””
My voice came out small.
“That’s impossible.””
My father looked exhausted.
“I wish it was.””
I shook my head.
“Grandpa left the company to you.””
“That’s what everyone believed.””
“Everyone?””
He nodded.
“Your grandfather made sure people believed it.””
I looked at Thomas.
“Did you know?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
Richard smiled faintly.
“Interesting. So even Thomas wasn’t trusted.””
Thomas ignored him.
“Charles, explain.””
My father sat down.
For the first time that night, he looked older than I had ever seen him.
“Your grandfather knew someone inside the company was trying to take control. He knew if people discovered Lily was the true successor, she would become the target.””
My hands tightened.
“So he hid it.””
“Yes.””
“He let me think I was just his granddaughter.””
My father nodded.
“He wanted you to grow up without the pressure.””
I laughed bitterly.
“And instead I got married to someone who was hunting for it.””
Daniel flinched.
I noticed.
And I hated that a part of me still cared.
My father looked at him.
“Were you planning to take control after the wedding?””
Daniel looked at me.
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
Too quickly.
I stared.
“Then what were you planning?””
He looked away.
“I don’t know if you’ll believe me.””
“Try.””
Daniel took a breath.
“I was trying to get close enough to find the people who destroyed my family.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“You used Lily.””
Daniel lowered his head.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“But I also fell in love with her.””
I looked away.
Because that was the part I couldn’t understand.
How could someone lie so completely and still feel something real?
Richard interrupted.
“This is exactly what he does.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You don’t get to talk about honesty.””
Richard smiled.
“You’re still pretending you’re different.””
The tension between them felt like a storm waiting to break.
I looked at the photograph of Grace.
“Why did she disappear?””
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Daniel spoke.
“Because she found the original documents.””
Thomas turned.
“What documents?””
“The ones proving who actually owned the company.””
My father’s expression changed.
“She found them?””
Daniel nodded.
“She hid them before they could take them.””
Richard’s voice became sharp.
“Enough.””
Everyone looked at him.
For the first time, his calm expression cracked.
“I think this conversation has gone too far.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Why are you nervous?””
Richard said nothing.
Thomas smiled coldly.
“Because she hid something from you.””
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“Grace was clever.””
“No.””
Thomas stared at him.
“She was smarter than you.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Daniel.
“Where are the documents?””
He looked at the silver key.
“That’s what we need to find.””
My father stood.
“The bank.””
Daniel nodded.
“But we can’t just walk in.””
“Why?””
“Because someone already knows about the key.””
Everyone looked at my phone.
Daniel was right.
Someone knew.
Someone was watching.
Then the elevator outside dinged.
Nobody moved.
A moment later, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I stared at it.
Daniel whispered:
“Don’t answer.””
But I did.
“Hello?””
No one spoke.
Only breathing.
Then a woman’s voice.
Older.
Shaking.
“Lily?””
My blood ran cold.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
Then:
“My name is Grace.””
The room exploded into silence.
Thomas dropped the papers in his hand.
“No.””
I stared at him.
“Grace?””
The woman continued.
“I don’t have much time.””
Thomas grabbed the phone.
“Where are you?””
The line crackled.
“I’m sorry.””
Thomas’s voice broke.
“Grace, please.””
A long silence.
Then she whispered:
“He’s not who you think he is.””
I looked at Daniel.
Everyone did.
Daniel looked terrified.
“Who?”” I asked.
Grace answered:
“Daniel.””
My heart sank.
Thomas held the phone tighter.
“Grace, tell us everything.””
But she didn’t.
Because before she could say another word, the call ended.
The room stayed frozen.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why would she say that?””
He didn’t answer.
And that scared me.
May you like
More than anything.
Because Daniel looked like a man who already knew the truth.
