Chapter 5: The Man Who Never Died
The next morning, Nathaniel found the old newspaper.
It was hidden inside a box beneath Evelyn's bed.
A place nobody would search.
A place where someone had buried the past.
The headline was faded.
But the photograph was clear.
His father.
Alexander Whitmore.
Nathaniel stared at the image.
The same face he remembered from childhood.
The same smile.
The same eyes.
Except now he saw something different.
A stranger.
Evelyn stood behind him.
"You shouldn't have found that.""
Nathaniel turned.
"You hid it.""
"I kept it.""
"Why?""
She looked down.
"Because I needed proof that I wasn't crazy.""
That sentence stopped him.
"What does that mean?""
Evelyn walked slowly toward the bed.
"After Alexander left, I received letters.""
"From him?""
She nodded.
"He told me he was sorry.""
Nathaniel felt his chest tighten.
"You said he died.""
"I lied.""
The honesty hurt more than the lie.
"Why?""
"Because he wanted you.""
Nathaniel went still.
"What?""
"He said he regretted leaving. He wanted to come back and take you away.""
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"I refused.""
"Why?""
"Because I knew him.""
She looked at Nathaniel.
"I knew he didn't want you. He wanted what you represented.""
His inheritance.
His future.
His name.
Nathaniel sat down.
"Then what happened?""
"I stopped receiving letters.""
"Because he died?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"No.""
The room became silent.
"Because someone threatened me.""
Nathaniel looked up.
"Who?""
"I never knew.""
A notification appeared on Nathaniel's phone.
A message.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
One sentence.
*Stop digging, or your mother won't be the only person who gets hurt.*
His blood ran cold.
Evelyn saw his expression.
"What happened?""
He handed her the phone.
Her face immediately changed.
"She knows.""
"Who?""
"Whoever has been hiding this.""
Nathaniel stood.
"No more hiding.""
He grabbed his coat.
"Where are you going?""
"To find the truth.""
"By yourself?""
He looked at her.
"No.""
He picked up the phone.
"I'm calling someone who can help.""
Two hours later, Nathaniel sat across from Clara Bennett.
The woman who claimed to be his father's first wife.
She looked nothing like the villain he expected.
She looked tired.
Like someone who had carried a secret for too long.
"I never wanted to meet you this way," Clara said.
Nathaniel studied her.
"Then why contact me now?""
"Because Isabella is running out of time.""
Nathaniel frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Clara folded her hands.
"She believes she has only one chance left to expose your father.""
"My father is dead.""
Clara looked at him.
"No.""
Nathaniel froze.
"He isn't.""
The words felt impossible.
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
"You expect me to believe that?""
"I watched him disappear.""
Clara's eyes filled with anger.
"Just like Evelyn did.""
Nathaniel leaned forward.
"Tell me everything.""
Clara looked out the window.
"Alexander Whitmore was not just unfaithful.""
"What else?""
"He was dangerous.""
She spoke slowly.
"He used people. He created fake companies. He moved money. He destroyed anyone who threatened him.""
Nathaniel remembered the family stories.
His father had always been described as a brilliant businessman.
A visionary.
A man who built an empire.
"What does that have to do with Isabella?""
"Her mother found out what he was doing.""
Nathaniel's face changed.
"She had evidence.""
Clara nodded.
"Evidence that could send Alexander to prison.""
"And?""
"And Alexander made sure nobody found it.""
A cold silence followed.
Nathaniel looked down.
"My father killed her?""
Clara didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
The silence was enough.
Nathaniel stood.
"Where is the evidence?""
Clara looked at him.
"That is the question Isabella has been trying to answer.""
"She knows something.""
"Yes.""
"What?""
Clara hesitated.
"Your father left clues.""
Nathaniel frowned.
"Clues?""
"He knew someone might come after him.""
"Why?""
"Because he knew the people around him were not loyal.""
Clara reached into her bag.
She placed a small key on the table.
"This belonged to him.""
Nathaniel stared.
"Where did you get it?""
"He sent it to me before he disappeared.""
"Why?""
Clara looked directly at him.
"Because he was afraid.""
Nathaniel picked up the key.
"What does it open?""
Clara's voice dropped.
"The one place Alexander Whitmore never wanted anyone to find.""
That night, Nathaniel returned to the penthouse.
He found Isabella waiting outside.
She looked exhausted.
For once, she wasn't wearing a mask.
"I know where you're going," she said.
Nathaniel stopped.
"How?""
"Because I have been searching for that key for ten years.""
His grip tightened.
"Then tell me what it opens.""
Isabella looked at him.
"The truth.""
"That's not an answer.""
She stepped closer.
"It opens your father's private vault.""
Nathaniel stared.
"Where?""
May you like
Isabella whispered:
"Under this building.""
