Chapter 7: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
I couldn't move.
Daniel’s father.
The man everyone said had died twenty years ago.
The man Eleanor had told me was murdered when Daniel was twelve.
The man whose death had supposedly shaped Daniel’s entire life.
And now his voice was coming from downstairs.
“Daniel.””
One word.
Calm.
Deep.
Familiar in a way that made the room feel smaller.
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“You said he was dead.””
Eleanor’s lips trembled.
“I said the family was told he was dead.””
“That isn't the same thing.””
“No,” she whispered.
“It isn't.””
Rachel pulled Oliver behind her.
I looked at Daniel.
“Your father is alive?””
Daniel didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“You told me he died.””
“He did.””
“That is not an answer.””
His jaw tightened.
“He disappeared.””
“Because?””
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
The footsteps below stopped.
Whoever had entered the house was listening.
A man's voice floated upward.
“I'm disappointed, Daniel.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
The voice continued.
“You were always terrible at keeping secrets.””
My skin crawled.
Eleanor gripped the railing.
“Edward.””
The man's response was immediate.
“Mother.””
There was no warmth in the word.
Only history.
Eleanor looked at me.
“I thought he was dead.””
“What happened?””
“Twenty-four years ago, Edward stole money from the Mercer family business.””
Daniel suddenly said, “That's not the whole story.””
Eleanor turned on him.
“No. It isn't.””
She looked at me.
“Edward was laundering money through shell companies.””
My eyes went to the papers.
DCM Holdings.
The initials.
Daniel.
Claire.
Mercer.
“Was DCM his idea?””
Eleanor nodded.
“The original company was his.””
Something inside me clicked.
“That company existed before Daniel?””
“Yes.””
“Then why use my name?””
Eleanor looked at Daniel.
“Because Edward taught him that names are shields.””
A floorboard creaked below us.
I could hear someone moving through the kitchen.
Then Edward spoke again.
“Come down, Daniel.””
Daniel didn't move.
“You're not taking them.””
Edward laughed.
“Who said anything about taking them?””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who is he?””
Daniel finally answered.
“My father.””
“Alive.””
“Yes.””
“You lied for twenty years.””
“I had reasons.””
“Everyone in this house has reasons.””
My voice shook.
“I've had enough of reasons.””
Edward called again.
“Claire.””
I froze.
He knew my name.
“You have ten seconds.””
Rachel whispered, “Don't go.””
Edward continued.
“Nine.””
I pulled out my phone.
“I’m calling the police.””
Daniel grabbed my wrist.
I yanked away.
“Don't touch me.””
His face tightened.
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
“Edward doesn't care about the documents.””
“Then what does he want?””
Daniel stared at me.
“You.””
My heart pounded.
“Why?””
He didn't answer.
“Daniel!””
A chair scraped downstairs.
Edward spoke.
“Seven.””
Rachel suddenly moved toward the hallway.
“I'll distract him.””
“No,” I said.
She looked at me.
“If he wants me, I'll go.””
“No.””
Eleanor stepped forward.
“He won't take Claire.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You don't know him anymore.””
Eleanor's eyes hardened.
“I know exactly who he is.””
Daniel looked at his grandmother.
“You should have killed him when you had the chance.””
The room went silent.
I stared at Eleanor.
“What did he mean?””
Her face went pale.
“Claire…”
“What did he mean?””
She looked toward the stairs.
Then she said quietly,
“Your husband's father did not disappear.””
A pause.
“He was arrested.””
I waited.
“On the night he was supposed to die.””
My heart thudded.
“What?””
Eleanor's voice shook.
“There was an explosion at one of the Mercer warehouses. Everyone believed Edward was inside.””
“But he wasn't.””
“No.””
“Where was he?””
“In my office.””
My eyes widened.
“You knew?””
“I confronted him about the missing money.””
“And?””
“He attacked me.””
Daniel looked down.
Eleanor continued.
“Edward had been stealing for years. When I told him I was going to report him, he threatened to kill me.””
“What happened?””
“I shot him.””
Silence.
I stared at her.
“You shot your own son?””
“He survived.””
My stomach turned.
“Then why did everyone think he was dead?””
“Because Daniel helped me.””
I looked at Daniel.
He finally nodded.
“He was twelve.””
Eleanor’s voice broke.
“I told him his father was dead because I wanted to protect him.””
Daniel interrupted.
“And because she wanted to protect the family.””
I looked at him.
“What did you do?””
“I helped move him.””
“Where?””
“A private clinic.””
Edward's voice came from downstairs.
“Tell her the rest.””
Daniel went still.
Edward sounded almost amused.
“Tell your wife how you saved your father.””
Daniel didn't answer.
Edward continued.
“You didn't save me.””
A pause.
“You sold me.””
Daniel's face turned white.
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
He whispered,
“I made a deal.””
“With who?””
“The police.””
My eyes widened.
“You testified against your father?””
Daniel nodded.
“In exchange for protection.””
Edward laughed downstairs.
“Protection.””
The word sounded poisonous.
“They gave the boy a new life.””
I looked at Daniel.
“So you believed your father was dead?””
“For years.””
“Then when did you find out he was alive?””
Daniel looked away.
“Six months ago.””
The same time the money transfers began.
The same time Eleanor noticed withdrawals.
The same time my name started appearing in financial documents.
Everything connected.
“You've been working for him.””
“No.””
“Then why?””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“When Edward came back, he wanted the Mercer assets.””
Eleanor whispered, “He wanted everything.””
Daniel looked at me.
“And he knew I couldn't give it to him.””
“So you tried to steal it first.””
“I tried to protect it.””
“You forged my name.””
“To keep him from getting yours.””
I stared at him.
“That makes no sense.””
“It does when you know Edward.””
Edward suddenly shouted,
“Enough!””
A glass shattered downstairs.
Oliver flinched.
Rachel covered his ears.
Daniel moved toward the door.
“Stay here.””
I blocked him.
“You're not going anywhere.””
“If I don't go downstairs, he'll come up.””
“Let him.””
Daniel looked at me.
“You don't understand.””
“I understand enough.””
He looked exhausted.
“Claire, Edward isn't here because of the money.””
“Then why?””
His eyes met mine.
“Because of Oliver.””
Rachel's face changed.
Edward called from below.
“Bring the boy.””
Rachel tightened her grip on Oliver.
“No.””
Edward laughed.
“Rachel, you always were difficult.””
Daniel looked at me.
“He knows Oliver is my son.””
“I gathered that.””
“He wants him.””
“For what?””
Daniel swallowed.
“To prove something.””
“What?””
“That he still controls me.””
I stepped toward Rachel.
She shook her head.
“He wants more than that.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
“Edward told Daniel that if he didn't get the Mercer trust, Oliver would disappear.””
The room went cold.
“And Daniel agreed?””
Rachel shook her head.
“He tried to fight him.””
Daniel's eyes closed.
“Not hard enough.””
I stared at him.
For the first time, I saw something beneath all the lies.
Fear.
Not for his money.
Not for himself.
For Oliver.
But that didn't erase what he'd done to me.
It only made the betrayal more complicated.
A sharp noise came from the hallway.
The hidden attic door slammed shut.
Someone had discovered it.
Edward's footsteps moved upstairs.
Fast now.
Eleanor looked at me.
“There's another exit.””
“What?””
“Behind the wardrobe.””
Daniel turned.
“No.””
Eleanor pointed.
“Move it.””
Daniel shoved the old wardrobe aside.
Behind it was a narrow door.
He pulled it open.
A staircase led downward.
I stared.
“Where does that go?””
“To the old wine cellar,” Eleanor said.
“Why is there an exit from the attic to the cellar?””
“Because my husband built this house to survive an attack.””
That sentence stopped me.
I looked at Eleanor.
“And you never thought that was strange?””
She gave me a weary look.
“Everything about this family is strange.””
Edward's footsteps reached the attic.
Daniel pushed Rachel and Oliver toward the hidden stairs.
“Go.””
Rachel looked at me.
“Claire.””
I nodded.
“Go.””
She took Oliver down.
Eleanor followed.
I turned to Daniel.
“You're coming.””
He shook his head.
“Someone has to slow him down.””
“No.””
“Claire.””
“You owe me more than a sacrifice.””
His eyes met mine.
For one second, I saw the man I had loved.
Then the attic door exploded inward.
Edward stood there.
He was older than Daniel.
Gray-haired.
Tall.
His face carried deep scars along one cheek.
But his eyes were sharp.
Very sharp.
He looked at Daniel.
Then me.
Then smiled.
“Claire Mercer.””
I stepped backward.
Edward raised a gun.
Daniel moved in front of me.
“Don't.””
Edward smiled.
“You finally chose the right person.””
I couldn't breathe.
Edward tilted his head.
“Tell her, Daniel.””
“Tell her what?””
“The truth about the baby.””
Daniel went pale.
Edward's smile disappeared.
“The child she lost six years ago…”
He looked directly at me.
“Wasn't dead.””
My entire world stopped.
“What?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Edward lowered the gun slightly.
“We took your baby.””
I stared at him.
Daniel whispered,
“Dad, don't.””
Edward looked at him.
“You've lied to her for six years.””
May you like
Then he looked back at me.
“So let her hear where we took her.””
