Chapter 7: The Man Behind the Family Lie
The room felt smaller after Richard Voss spoke.
Lucas stared at the man standing in the doorway.
The same man who had stood beside him at his father’s funeral.
The same man who had placed a hand on Lucas’s shoulder and told him:
“Your father would be proud of you.””
The same man who had helped him take control of Hale Global.
For twelve years, Lucas had believed Richard Voss was one of the few people who had protected his family.
Now he was standing in front of him, smiling.
And accusing Lucas’s dead father of destroying everything.
“You expect me to believe that?””
Lucas’s voice was low.
Richard calmly stepped farther into the office.
“I expected you to ask that.””
Marcus immediately moved in front of Lucas.
“Stop where you are.””
Richard glanced at him.
“Still protecting him after all these years, Marcus?””
The security chief’s expression hardened.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Richard smiled.
“Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about.””
Emma looked at Richard with pure hatred.
“You should have stayed hidden.””
Richard looked at her.
“And you should have stayed away from him.””
Lucas noticed the exchange.
“You two know each other.””
Neither answered.
That silence told him everything.
Lucas looked between them.
“How long?””
Emma looked away.
Richard smiled.
“How long have I known your sister?””
Lucas’s jaw tightened.
“Yes.””
Richard adjusted his jacket.
“Longer than you have.””
The words landed heavily.
Lucas felt anger rising.
“Everyone knew about her except me.””
Richard didn’t deny it.
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised him.
“You admit it?””
“I admit that your father made decisions to protect his image.””
Lucas looked at the phone still sitting on the desk.
His father’s voice.
His father’s warning.
His father’s secrets.
Richard continued.
“Your father was very good at creating a perfect story.””
“What story?””
“That he was a loyal husband. A devoted father. A man who sacrificed everything for his family.””
Richard looked around the office.
“But the truth is always more complicated.””
Emma stepped forward.
“Don’t listen to him.””
Richard turned.
“Why? Because I know what happened?””
“No.””
Emma’s voice shook.
“Because you’re the reason it happened.””
The room went silent.
Lucas looked at Emma.
“What does that mean?””
Richard laughed quietly.
“Interesting.””
He looked at Lucas.
“She didn’t tell you?””
Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
“Tell me what?””
Emma’s face changed.
Richard smiled.
“Of course she didn’t.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Enough games.””
Richard ignored him.
“Your sister has spent years pretending she wants justice.””
He looked at Emma.
“But she never told you the real reason she came back.””
Lucas turned toward Emma.
“Is that true?””
Emma’s expression tightened.
“Lucas…”
“Answer me.””
A painful silence followed.
Then Emma whispered:
“I came back because I needed something from you.””
Lucas felt the betrayal immediately.
Not because he was surprised.
Because some part of him still hoped she was different.
“What?””
Emma looked at the floor.
“Your father left something behind.””
“What?””
“A key.””
Richard’s expression changed slightly.
Lucas noticed.
A small reaction.
Almost invisible.
But it was there.
“What key?””
Emma looked at him.
“A key to a hidden account.””
Lucas stared.
“Money?””
“No.””
Her voice became serious.
“Evidence.””
Richard’s smile disappeared.
Lucas looked at him.
“What evidence?””
Emma took a breath.
“The evidence that proves who killed our mother.””
The office became silent again.
Lucas looked at Richard.
Then Emma.
Then the phone.
Too many people.
Too many stories.
Too many lies.
“Where is the key?””
Emma didn’t answer.
Lucas’s expression hardened.
“Where is it?””
“I don’t know.””
Richard laughed.
“Of course she doesn’t.””
Emma turned toward him.
“Shut up.””
Richard looked at Lucas.
“Your sister has been searching for that key for years.””
Lucas looked at Emma.
“Is that why you contacted me?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
Emma’s eyes filled.
“Because I thought you deserved the truth.””
Lucas looked away.
He wanted to believe her.
But trust had become dangerous.
Richard slowly walked toward the desk.
Marcus blocked him.
“You’re not touching anything.””
Richard stopped.
“You think I came here for documents?””
His eyes moved to Lucas.
“I came here because you need to understand what your father did.””
Lucas said nothing.
Richard continued.
“Daniel Hale was not innocent.””
Lucas’s hands tightened.
“What did he do?””
Richard looked at Emma.
Then back at Lucas.
“He built an empire by destroying people.””
Emma immediately shook her head.
“Liar.””
Richard ignored her.
“Your father discovered Claire was pregnant with Emma.””
Lucas froze.
“He wanted to leave everything behind.””
Richard continued.
“But your grandfather threatened to destroy him.””
Lucas listened.
“He chose the company.””
Richard paused.
“Not the family.””
Emma’s eyes filled with anger.
“That’s not what happened.””
Richard looked at her.
“Isn’t it?””
Lucas turned to Emma.
“You know something.””
Emma remained silent.
“Emma.””
She looked at him.
“My mother didn’t tell me everything.””
“Why?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of who?””
Emma looked at Richard.
The answer was obvious.
But she still didn’t say it.
Richard smiled.
“You see the problem?””
Lucas looked at him.
“What?””
“Everyone around you has a piece of the truth.””
Richard pointed toward the phone.
“Your father.””
Then toward Emma.
“Your sister.””
Then himself.
“And me.””
Lucas stared.
“And you think you have the whole truth?””
Richard nodded.
“I do.””
“Then tell me.””
Richard reached into his coat.
Marcus immediately reacted.
But Richard slowly pulled out a folder.
He placed it on the desk.
Inside was a photograph.
Lucas picked it up.
And froze.
It showed his mother.
Alive.
Standing outside a building.
Beside her was a man.
Not his father.
Not Richard.
Someone else.
A man Lucas recognized.
Because he had seen him recently.
In his own home.
Lucas looked up.
“No.””
Richard watched his reaction.
“You know him.””
Lucas couldn’t speak.
Marcus stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Lucas handed him the photograph.
Marcus’s expression changed.
Because he knew the man too.
Richard whispered:
“The person who has been controlling your medication.””
Lucas looked at him.
“What?””
Richard pointed at the photograph.
“The person who has been close to you every single day.””
Lucas stared at the image.
The man standing beside his mother.
The man who had access to his home.
The man who knew his schedule.
The man who knew everything about his condition.
Then Richard said the name.
“Dr. Samuel Grant.””
Lucas froze.
His doctor.
The man who had treated him since the beginning of his illness.
The man who always said:
“We’ll figure this out.””
The man who had searched for the reason his body was failing.
The man he trusted.
Marcus looked at Lucas.
“Sir…”
Lucas couldn’t respond.
Because suddenly every appointment felt different.
Every test.
Every recommendation.
Every moment when Samuel looked concerned.
What if it was all an act?
Richard watched him.
“Now you understand.””
Lucas slowly looked back at him.
“Why?””
Richard’s expression became serious.
“Because your father found out what Samuel was doing.””
Lucas’s heartbeat increased.
“What was he doing?””
Richard leaned closer.
“He wasn’t trying to save your life.””
A cold silence.
“He was studying how to take it.””
Lucas felt sick.
But before he could answer, his phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Lucas looked down.
The number was unknown.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A voice whispered.
A voice full of fear.
“Lucas…”
His face changed.
Because he recognized it.
Vanessa.
“Where are you?””
Her breathing was uneven.
“I don’t have much time.””
Lucas stood still.
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Samuel Grant isn’t the person you need to fear.””
Lucas frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Her voice trembled.
“Because he was working for someone else.””
The lights in the office flickered.
Everyone looked around.
Vanessa continued:
“The person who ordered everything…”
A sound came through the phone.
A door opening.
Someone entering.
Then Vanessa whispered one final sentence.
“Lucas, the person behind this has been living in your house.””
The call cut off.
Lucas slowly lowered the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone understood the meaning.
The enemy had never been outside.
May you like
The enemy had been inside his home.
And the person closest to him was still there.
