Chapter 6: My Father's Hidden Past
I watched the video three times.
My father stood in front of a steel door, his face pale beneath the harsh fluorescent lights.
He looked frightened.
But what disturbed me most was his warning.
Don't trust Richard.
I turned toward the older man.
“What's he talking about?””
Richard said nothing.
“Tell me why Vanessa chose me.””
He looked at Marcus.
Then at Rochelle.
Finally, he lowered his eyes.
“I was hoping he wouldn't tell you.””
I stepped closer.
“You'd better start talking.””
Rochelle raised her hand.
“Ethan, let's not rush. We need to know where your father is before making any decisions.””
I nodded.
But my hands were shaking.
My father had spent his entire life teaching me that honesty was the only thing nobody could take away from a poor man.
Now I was discovering that he had kept something from me for thirty years.
Richard opened his briefcase and removed a yellowed photograph.
It showed three men standing beside an unfinished industrial building.
One was Richard.
Another was a younger version of Darius.
The third was my father.
I stared at the photograph.
My father looked about thirty-five.
He was wearing work boots, a construction helmet, and a faded denim shirt.
Richard pointed to him.
“Your father was involved in the original development of the property.””
“I know he worked construction.””
“No. He was more than a subcontractor.””
Richard placed another document on the table.
“Your father helped establish the company that owned the site before Vantage Holdings acquired it.””
I shook my head.
“That makes no sense.””
“His name was listed as a founding partner.””
“My father never had money.””
“Not all partnerships require cash.””
Richard tapped the document.
“Your father provided land rights and construction expertise. In exchange, he received an ownership interest.””
I looked at the paper.
The company name was unfamiliar.
Carter Industrial Storage LLC.
My father's name appeared beneath the heading.
And next to it was a percentage.
*Thirty-five percent.*
I stared.
“Why would he give that up?””
Richard looked away.
“Because he believed he was protecting his family.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Richard explained that the original company had been established to purchase the industrial property and build a secure storage facility beneath it.
The project was funded by three investors.
My father was one of them.
Richard was another.
The third was a man named Thomas Vance.
Richard's older brother.
When Thomas died unexpectedly, the ownership structure became complicated.
According to Richard, several documents were signed transferring the shares into a holding company.
My father's interest was supposed to remain protected.
But the records showed that it had been transferred without his knowledge.
“Who signed the transfer?”” Rochelle asked.
Richard pointed to the bottom of the document.
“An authorized representative.””
“Who?””
Richard hesitated.
“Vanessa's father.””
I stared at him.
“Her father?””
Richard nodded.
“Robert Cole was the attorney handling the transaction.””
The pieces began falling into place.
Vanessa's father had been involved in the original property deal.
Her daughter had later worked for Richard's investment group.
And now she was trying to take control of my company.
“Why didn't my father sue?””
Richard sighed.
“Because he was told the company had become insolvent. He believed his shares were worthless.””
“Were they?””
“No.””
Richard opened another folder.
“Your father's original ownership interest was never properly extinguished. The transfer documents were defective.””
Rochelle leaned forward.
“Are you saying the current ownership chain may be invalid?””
“I'm saying the original agreement was never lawfully resolved.””
Rochelle studied the papers.
“We would need the original records and a complete title investigation before drawing that conclusion.””
Richard nodded.
“That's why Vanessa needs the archive.””
I looked at him.
“What does she want to find?””
“An original ownership certificate. It would establish who actually controlled the property before the fraudulent transfers.””
“And my father has it?””
“I believe so.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Dad?””
A familiar voice replied.
“Ethan.””
It was him.
“Dad, where are you?””
“I'm safe.””
“Where?””
“Listen to me. You must not bring Richard here.””
I looked at Richard.
“Why?””
“Because he knows what happened thirty years ago.””
“Dad, I have the documents. I know you were involved in the property.””
There was a long silence.
Then my father spoke.
“Who showed you those papers?””
“Richard.””
My father let out a bitter laugh.
“Of course he did.””
“Dad, please. Tell me what's going on.””
He lowered his voice.
“Your mother doesn't know everything. I never wanted her to know.””
“Know what?””
“That the company was never supposed to belong to Richard.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Your grandfather left us an interest in that property. I was supposed to protect it until you were old enough to understand.””
I stared at the phone.
“Grandfather?””
“Yes.””
“My grandfather died before I was born.””
“I know.””
“Then why would he leave me anything?””
My father sighed.
“Because he helped build the original storage facility. He invested his savings into that land. When the other investors wanted him out, he refused.””
I looked at the photograph again.
My grandfather's name appeared on a separate document.
Thomas Carter.
The original ownership agreement listed him as the majority beneficiary.
Richard had deliberately left that part out.
“Dad,” I said slowly, “Richard told me you owned thirty-five percent.””
“That's what they wanted everyone to believe.””
“What did you actually own?””
My father paused.
Then he said:
“Your grandfather left you sixty percent of the original company.””
My knees almost gave way.
Sixty percent.
The company behind the land beneath my development project.
The land Vanessa had been trying to acquire.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because the documents disappeared. And because Richard threatened us.””
I looked at Richard.
His face had gone completely still.
“What threat?””
My father continued.
“After your grandfather died, Richard came to see me. He told me if I tried to claim the shares, he would make sure I lost everything. He knew I couldn't afford a legal fight.””
“Was that why you never pursued it?””
“Yes.””
“Why now?””
“Because Vanessa contacted me last week.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did she want?””
“She wanted me to sign another document. She said it would settle the ownership dispute and finally put everything behind us.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did you sign it?””
“No.””
A wave of relief passed through me.
Then he added:
“But she already has a copy of the original deed.””
I looked at Richard.
His face had changed.
“What do you mean she has it?”” I asked.
My father answered quietly.
“Because I gave it to her.””
The room went silent.
I gripped the phone.
“Dad, why would you do that?””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
“From the people who killed your grandfather's business partner.””
I looked at Marcus.
His expression hardened.
Richard stood abruptly.
“That isn't true.””
My father heard him.
“Richard?””
Richard didn't answer.
My father continued.
“Ethan, listen carefully. The man who signed those false ownership documents wasn't Vanessa's father.””
“Then who?””
My father took a shaky breath.
“Your grandfather's death wasn't natural.””
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
“What?””
“He discovered the original ownership papers had been stolen. The next morning, he was found unconscious in his office. They said it was a heart attack.””
I could barely speak.
“Dad, are you saying he was murdered?””
“I'm saying I never believed the official explanation.””
Richard stepped toward me.
“Ethan, that's nonsense.””
My father raised his voice.
“Don't listen to him!””
Then I heard a metallic sound through the phone.
A door opening.
My father whispered:
“Someone's here.””
“Dad?””
“Ethan, there's something else. The person who arranged your grandfather's final meeting was—”
The call abruptly ended.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Rochelle was already contacting the police and hotel security.
Marcus paced beside the window.
Richard remained standing.
His face was pale.
I turned toward him.
“What was my father about to say?””
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
“Your father has been carrying these accusations for decades. He's confused.””
I stepped closer.
“My father remembers everything.””
Richard's voice became sharper.
“Then perhaps you should ask him why he never told you that he accepted money from my company.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Richard opened his briefcase and pulled out a bank statement.
It showed a payment made to my father's account thirty years earlier.
The amount was substantial.
Far more than my father could have earned in several months of construction work.
The recipient's name was correct.
The account number was correct.
And the date was two days after my grandfather's death.
I stared at it.
“Dad told me he never received anything.””
Richard looked at me.
“He received it.””
Rochelle took the statement.
“Where did this document come from?””
“Company records.””
“Can you prove the account belonged to him at that time?””
Richard nodded.
I felt sick.
Was my father hiding the truth?
Had he accepted money to surrender my grandfather's shares?
Or had someone paid him to keep quiet?
Before anyone could answer, Marcus's phone vibrated.
He looked at the screen.
Then he showed it to Rochelle.
A security camera photograph had arrived.
It showed a man entering the underground facility.
The man's face was partially visible.
But I recognized his suit.
It belonged to my father.
The timestamp was three minutes earlier.
Marcus zoomed in.
Something was in my father's hand.
A small leather case.
Rochelle examined the photograph.
“What's inside that case?””
Richard whispered:
“The original ownership certificate.””
Then Marcus pointed toward the bottom corner of the photograph.
A second person stood behind my father.
Only half his face was visible.
But I recognized him.
Darius Cole.
The man who had been standing beside my bride.
And in his hand was a gun.
My phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed Vanessa's name.
I answered.
Her voice was trembling.
“Ethan, listen to me. I know what Richard told you.””
“Where's my father?””
“I can get him back.””
“Where is he?””
“There's something you need to understand about your grandfather.””
I clenched my jaw.
“Tell me.””
She whispered:
“Your grandfather didn't die because of a heart attack.””
I stopped breathing.
Then Vanessa said the words that changed everything.
“Your father knows who killed him. And if you want him alive, you need to bring me the original ownership certificate before midnight.””
The call ended.
I looked at Rochelle.
Then at Marcus.
May you like
The wedding was over.
But the real nightmare had only just begun.
