Arthur looked older than the photographs.
His hair was white at the temples.
His face was thinner.
But his eyes were unmistakably Ryan's.
He climbed the stairs slowly.
No one moved.
Barbara whispered, “Arthur.”
He looked at her.
“You shouldn't have come back.”
“You said you were dead.”
“So did Robert.”
My father stepped forward.
“You've been using my daughter.”
Arthur smiled.
“Using?”
“You sent Ryan.”
“I gave him an opportunity.”
“You gave him orders.”
“He chose to follow them.”
Ryan's voice was low.
“I was a coward.”
Arthur looked at him.
“You were my son.”
“That doesn't excuse it.”
Arthur smiled sadly.
“You sound like your mother.”
Ryan looked away.
I stepped between them.
“Why was I chosen?”
Arthur's attention shifted to me.
“Because your father trusted you.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“It is the only one that matters.”
“No.”
I held up the succession file.
“I want the truth.”
Arthur's smile disappeared.
“Your father built the trust to control us.”
My father shook his head.
“I built it to protect Lauren.”
“You built it to control the family.”
“I stopped you from stealing it.”
“You stole it from me first.”
I looked at Ryan.
“What happened between them?”
Ryan answered.
“My father believed the trust belonged to the Bennett family.”
My father said, “It never did.”
Arthur laughed.
“Your grandfather created it.”
“Using stolen money.”
“Using family assets.”
“Money taken from employees.”
Arthur's expression hardened.
“This is why you always thought you were morally superior.”
My father stepped closer.
“No. I simply refused to let you turn a family trust into a private bank.”
Arthur looked at me.
“And now you're the beneficiary.”
“Yes.”
“You have no idea what that means.”
“Then tell me.”
“It means every person who wants access to that money will come after you.”
“Like you?”
“Like everyone.”
I felt strangely calm.
“Then why are you here?”
Arthur looked at Ryan.
“To offer you a choice.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“I don't need to.”
Arthur ignored him.
“If Lauren signs the succession amendment, the trust passes to the Bennett family.”
I stared at him.
“And if I refuse?”
“You lose the house.”
“That house was never yours.”
Arthur smiled.
“It contains the original ledger.”
My father said, “The ledger doesn't give you ownership.”
“No.”
Arthur looked at me.
“But it gives me leverage.”
Rachel stepped forward.
“The documents we've collected already establish fraud.”
Arthur laughed.
“Documents can be challenged.”
“Not if they're authenticated.”
“Everything can be challenged.”
He looked at me.
“Except death.”
My stomach tightened.
“You faked my father's death.”
“Yes.”
“You murdered someone.”
He looked away.
“The driver was already dying.”
My blood ran cold.
“That's not an answer.”
“No.”
My father said quietly, “He arranged the crash.”
Arthur shrugged.
“I intended to frighten Robert.”
“You killed a man.”
Arthur didn't deny it.
For the first time, I understood what kind of person stood in front of me.
Not a man trapped by circumstances.
A man who had spent years convincing himself that every crime was justified by what he believed belonged to him.
Ryan stepped forward.
“You're done.”
Arthur looked at him.
“You would choose her over your family?”
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Arthur's expression changed.
“You have no idea what you've thrown away.”
Ryan looked at me.
“I know exactly what I'm choosing.”
Arthur reached into his coat.
Rachel stepped back.
My father moved in front of me.
But Arthur pulled out a photograph.
He handed it to Ryan.
“Your mother is not the person you think she is.”
Ryan looked at it.
His face changed.
I stepped closer.
The photograph showed Barbara meeting Daniel.
But behind them stood another woman.
Ryan's mother.
I looked at Barbara.
She was crying.
Arthur said, “She was the one who gave me Robert's location.”
My father turned toward her.
Barbara whispered, “I was afraid.”
“You betrayed me.”
“I thought you were going to kill him.”
“I never intended to.”
“I didn't know.”
Arthur looked at Ryan.
“Your mother has lied to you for years.”
Ryan stared at her.
“Is it true?”
Barbara nodded.
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
Ryan looked devastated.
I wanted to reach for him.
I didn't.
He had to make this choice himself.
Arthur continued.
“Come with me.”
Ryan shook his head.
“No.”
“You're my son.”
“I know.”
“You belong with your family.”
Ryan looked at me.
“This is my family.”
Arthur's face hardened.
“You'll regret that.”
“Maybe.”
Arthur stepped toward the exit.
My father blocked him.
“You aren't leaving.”
Arthur smiled.
“You don't understand.”
He pointed toward the floor.
“This house is already surrounded.”
We heard engines outside.
Rachel looked through the window.
Several vehicles.
Police?
Private security?
I couldn't tell.
Arthur said, “Daniel has the evidence.”
My father looked at him.
“What evidence?”
“The evidence that proves Robert orchestrated the entire trust.”
“That is false.”
“Prove it.”
Arthur walked toward the door.
Ryan grabbed his arm.
“You're not leaving.”
Arthur turned.
For a moment father and son stood face-to-face.
Then Arthur whispered something.
Ryan released him.
I saw Ryan's expression change.
“What did he say?”
Ryan didn't answer.
Arthur walked outside.
A vehicle waited.
He disappeared.
I turned to Ryan.
“What did he say?”
Ryan looked at me.
“He said Daniel has Natalie.”
My blood went cold.
“My sister?”
Ryan nodded.
“He took her.”
I grabbed my phone.
No signal.
Rachel checked hers.
Nothing.
The house had been jammed.
My father moved toward the back room.
“We need to leave.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I'm not leaving Natalie.”
“I know.”
“Then help me.”
He nodded.
We searched the house.
Behind a panel in the basement, we found another passage.
The tunnel led beneath the property.
It smelled of damp earth and old concrete.
Rachel stayed behind with Megan.
Ryan came with me.
My father led the way.
After several hundred feet, we heard voices.
Natalie's.
Then Daniel's.
“Where is the file?”
“I don't know.”
“Your sister has it.”
“She doesn't.”
“She will.”
I moved forward.
Ryan grabbed my arm.
“Wait.”
I whispered, “That's my sister.”
“I know.”
Daniel's voice came again.
“Lauren will come.”
My father stepped into the passage.
“She already has.”
Daniel turned.
His face changed.
“Nobody move.”
He held Natalie by the arm.
She looked terrified.
I raised my hands.
“Let her go.”
Daniel smiled.
“You finally understand.”
“What?”
“The house wasn't the prize.”
I felt cold.
“Then what was?”
He looked directly at me.
“You were.”
He released Natalie.
For one second, I thought it was over.
Then Daniel pressed a button.
The tunnel doors slammed shut behind us.
A deep mechanical sound echoed through the passage.
My father looked at the ceiling.
“Gas.”
Ryan grabbed my hand.
“Run.”
Click here to continue reading: PART 12: The Tunnel Became a Trap, and the Final Secret About Ryan Forced Me to Decide Whether the Man I Loved Was Worth One Last Chance
Four Days After Our Wedding, a Photograph From My Husband’s Cousin Turned Our Perfect Honeymoon Into Something I Couldn’t Explain
Part 11 of 20
