Chapter 3 - THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Julian locked every door in the estate.
Security guards were stationed outside.
Police were called.
But the house felt less safe than ever.
Arthur sat in the library while Julian stood opposite him.
“Tell me about Noah's father.”
Arthur looked at the old photograph.
His hands trembled.
“His name was Adrian Cross.”
Julian frowned.
“I know that name.”
“Everyone in finance does.”
“He disappeared seven years ago.”
Arthur nodded.
“Officially.”
Julian stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means Adrian Cross didn't disappear.”
He lowered his voice.
“He became someone else.”
Dominic entered quietly.
“I know where he is.”
Julian turned.
“Where?”
“Five miles from here.”
Arthur looked shocked.
“That's impossible.”
Dominic shook her head.
“I've been paying him to stay away from Noah.”
Julian stared.
“You've been paying Noah's father?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Two million dollars.”
Julian's expression changed.
“Where did you get that money?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Arthur did.
“From the Hale trust.”
Julian looked at his father.
“You gave her access?”
“No.”
Arthur's face darkened.
“She stole it.”
Dominic shook her head.
“I didn't steal anything.”
She pulled a flash drive from her pocket.
“I took back what your family stole first.”
She connected it to the laptop.
Hundreds of transactions appeared.
Offshore accounts.
Shell companies.
Political donations.
Private payments.
Julian's face went pale.
“My father?”
“Not all of it,” Dominic said.
“Then who?”
She highlighted a series of transfers.
The recipient was a company called Blackthorne Holdings.
Julian recognized the name.
It was controlled by his uncle.
Arthur's younger brother.
Richard Hale.
A man Julian hadn't seen in eleven years.
“He's dead,” Julian whispered.
Dominic shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward Arthur.
“He's alive.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“He should have been.”
Julian's voice dropped.
“Where is he?”
Dominic hesitated.
“Here.”
The room became silent.
Julian slowly turned.
“Here?”
Dominic nodded.
“Richard has been living inside this estate for six months.”
Arthur's face collapsed.
“That isn't possible.”
Dominic pointed toward the ceiling.
“The man you've been calling your private nurse…”
She swallowed.
“That's Richard.”
Suddenly, footsteps sounded above them.
Slow.
Measured.
Someone was walking down the staircase.
Julian looked up.
A man in a gray medical uniform appeared.
He smiled.
“Hello, nephew.”
Arthur stood.
“Richard…”
Richard smiled.
“It's been a long time.”
Then he looked at Noah.
May you like
“And I see you finally found the missing piece.”
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