Chapter 7: The Truth Buried With The Ashfords
The voice outside the locked office belonged to Vivian.
Christopher knew it instantly.
The calm confidence.
The controlled tone.
The way every word sounded carefully chosen.
But the sentence she had spoken was impossible to ignore.
“Now that you know about my father…”
A pause.
“…it’s time you learn what your own mother did.””
Christopher stared at the door.
His mother stood behind him, completely still.
Not surprised.
Not angry.
Afraid.
That reaction told him more than any confession could.
“You knew this would happen,” Christopher said.
Eleanor looked at him.
“I knew she would come for the truth.””
“You knew Vivian knew about you?””
“Yes.””
His eyes narrowed.
“And you still came here?””
Eleanor looked at the old office around them.
“This was the only place I could come.””
“Why?””
“Because your father hid something here that Vivian and her family have spent fifteen years trying to find.””
Christopher held up the folder.
“The evidence.””
Eleanor nodded.
“Yes.””
“And my father trusted you with it?””
“He trusted me with everything.””
The answer should have comforted him.
Instead, it created another question.
“Then why did you disappear?””
The silence between them felt heavier than the locked door.
Eleanor looked down.
“Because I made a mistake.””
Christopher waited.
She took a slow breath.
“A mistake that cost your father his life.””
The words hit him harder than expected.
“What?””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I thought I was protecting him.””
“From who?””
“From his own family.””
Christopher felt his anger rising.
“Stop saying that. Everyone keeps using that excuse. Everyone keeps telling me there were dangers, secrets, threats.””
His voice became sharper.
“But nobody tells me the truth.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“So I will.””
She walked toward the desk.
“Your father had a brother.””
Christopher looked at the photograph.
“The man in this picture.””
“Yes.””
“Who was he?””
Eleanor touched the photograph.
“Edward Ashford.””
Christopher frowned.
“I’ve never heard that name.””
“Because Alexander erased him.””
“Why?””
“Because Edward was supposed to inherit everything.””
Christopher stared.
“What happened?””
Eleanor looked toward the locked door.
Then lowered her voice.
“Edward believed your father stole his future.””
The realization slowly formed.
“Because my father became head of Ashford Global.””
“Yes.””
“And Edward wanted revenge.””
“Not at first.””
Eleanor’s voice became quieter.
“At first, he wanted recognition. He wanted your father to admit he had been wrong.””
“And then?””
“Then Marcus Laurent found him.””
Christopher’s expression changed.
“The same Marcus Laurent who was connected to Vivian?””
“Yes.””
Eleanor nodded.
“Marcus convinced Edward that Alexander had taken everything from him.””
Christopher looked at the photograph again.
“So Edward and Marcus worked together.””
“Yes.””
The pieces were finally connecting.
Daniel’s disappearance.
The investigation.
The poisoned coffee.
Vivian.
Richard.
But one question remained.
“Where is Edward now?””
Eleanor didn’t answer.
Christopher looked at her.
“Mom.””
“He’s closer than you think.””
The words made his blood run cold.
Suddenly, the locked door shook.
Vivian’s voice came again.
“Christopher.””
He turned.
“I know you’re in there.””
He walked toward the door.
“Open it.””
“No.””
The answer surprised him.
Not because of Vivian.
Because of how quickly she responded.
“Christopher, you’re making a mistake.””
He laughed quietly.
“That’s what everyone says when they’re afraid.””
A pause.
Then Vivian spoke.
“You think I’m your enemy.””
“Aren’t you?””
Silence.
Then:
“No.””
The answer was too quick.
Too desperate.
Christopher looked at Eleanor.
His mother shook her head slightly.
Don’t trust her.
He understood.
“What did you put in my coffee?”” Christopher asked.
The hallway went silent.
Finally Vivian answered.
“I didn’t.””
Christopher frowned.
“Then why was there a vial?””
“I don’t know.””
“Why did Emily see you near it?””
“I wasn’t putting anything in your drink.””
The confidence in her voice had changed.
Now it sounded like someone defending herself.
Not someone hiding.
Christopher hesitated.
That bothered him.
Because he wanted the answer to be simple.
He wanted Vivian to be the villain.
But reality was becoming more complicated.
“What did you put in it?””
Nothing.
A pause.
Then Vivian said:
“Something harmless.””
Christopher looked at Eleanor.
His mother’s expression changed.
“What?””
Vivian answered:
“A sedative.””
Christopher froze.
“Why?””
“Because I needed you unconscious.””
The room became silent.
Christopher felt anger return.
“You drugged me.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
The words sounded insane.
“From what?””
“From tonight.””
Christopher stared.
“What happens tonight?””
Vivian didn’t answer immediately.
Then she said:
“Your brother is planning to kill you.””
The sentence stopped him.
“Richard?””
“Yes.””
Christopher looked at Eleanor.
His mother’s face was pale.
“Why would I believe you?””
“Because he already tried once.””
Christopher’s grip tightened.
“When?””
“This morning.””
“No.””
“He changed the coffee.””
Christopher went still.
“What?””
Vivian continued.
“I made the coffee.””
A pause.
“But I didn’t put poison in it.””
Christopher remembered.
The vial.
Emily’s accusation.
Vivian’s panic.
“What are you saying?””
“I added a sedative because I needed time to talk to you before the board meeting.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard planned to put something worse in your drink.””
Christopher felt the room spin.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“No.””
Vivian’s voice softened.
“But you should ask yourself something.””
“What?””
“If I wanted you dead…”
She paused.
“Why would I be standing outside this door trying to stop you from finding the evidence?””
Christopher said nothing.
Because it was a good question.
A terrible question.
A question that made everything more confusing.
Then Eleanor spoke.
“Don’t listen to her.””
Christopher looked back.
“Why?””
“Because she’s protecting herself.””
Vivian heard her.
“Of course she would say that.””
Eleanor stepped closer to the door.
“You helped your father destroy my family.””
Vivian’s voice changed.
“And you helped Alexander destroy mine.””
Christopher froze.
“You two know each other.””
Neither woman answered.
That was the answer.
He looked between them.
“What happened fifteen years ago?””
Silence.
Then Vivian spoke.
“Ask your mother why she was at the Ashford warehouse the night it burned.””
Christopher turned slowly.
“What?””
Eleanor looked away.
His heart sank.
“Mom?””
She said nothing.
“Were you there?””
A long pause.
Then:
“Yes.””
The answer crushed him.
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to stop your uncle.””
Christopher felt his anger return.
“My uncle?””
“Edward.””
She looked at him.
“He was planning something.””
“What?””
“To destroy your father.””
“And you knew?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I thought I could handle it.””
Another silence.
Then she whispered:
“And because I was the reason Edward found out about the warehouse.””
Christopher stepped back.
“What does that mean?””
Before Eleanor could answer, a loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Then came the sound of footsteps.
Multiple footsteps.
Not security.
Not servants.
People moving through the mansion.
Vivian’s voice became urgent.
“Christopher.””
He looked toward the door.
“What?””
“If you stay in that room, you’ll die.””
Christopher stared.
“Why?””
Her answer came quietly.
“Because the person who locked you in there…”
A pause.
“…is not Richard.””
The office suddenly felt colder.
Christopher looked at Eleanor.
His mother looked terrified.
Then they heard the sound of a key turning.
Someone was unlocking the door.
Christopher prepared himself.
The door opened slowly.
A man stood outside.
Older.
Elegant.
Calm.
A man Christopher had never met.
But a man whose face he had seen before.
In the photograph.
The man who was supposed to be dead.
Edward Ashford.
And he smiled.
“Hello, nephew.””
Christopher couldn’t move.
Edward looked past him toward Eleanor.
“After fifteen years…”
May you like
His smile faded.
“…you finally brought him the truth.””
