Chapter 5: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
The voice behind the door belonged to a ghost.
At least, that was what my mind kept screaming.
Because some things were impossible.
A missing man returning.
A locked room opening by itself.
A phone call from someone who had vanished ten years ago.
And now…
A voice that belonged to a dead man.
Arthur stood completely still.
I watched the color disappear from his face.
“Father?””
The single word escaped his mouth like a prayer he didn’t believe in.
Nobody answered.
The hallway beyond the door remained silent.
Then the old handle moved.
Slowly.
Everyone stepped back.
Even Victoria.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked genuinely afraid.
The door opened.
And standing there was a man none of us expected to see.
Older.
Thinner.
His once-perfect silver hair was now almost completely white.
His face carried years of exhaustion.
But there was no mistaking him.
Richard Blackthorn.
Arthur’s father.
The man whose funeral I had attended twelve years earlier.
The man whose portrait hung above the family staircase.
The man everyone believed was buried beneath the old oak tree on Blackthorn land.
Arthur couldn’t speak.
Neither could I.
Richard looked at his son.
And his first words were quiet.
“I suppose I owe you an explanation.””
Arthur’s hands curled into fists.
“You are dead.””
Richard looked down.
“For most people.””
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Then Arthur stepped forward.
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“No, this is impossible.””
Richard’s expression softened.
“I know what this looks like.””
“You died.””
“I know.””
“I stood beside your grave.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“And I am sorry.””
Those three words changed something.
Because they were not enough.
Not even close.
Arthur laughed once.
A broken, disbelieving sound.
“You are sorry?””
His voice grew louder.
“You disappeared. You let me believe you were dead. You let everyone believe you were dead.””
“I had no choice.””
“No choice?””
Arthur pointed toward the hallway.
“Do you understand what you did to this family?””
Richard remained silent.
“You left my mother grieving for years.””
“I know.””
“You left me to carry Blackthorn Manor alone.””
“I know.””
“You let me bury a father who was standing somewhere alive.””
Richard looked at him.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Arthur shook his head.
“Everyone says that.””
His eyes moved toward me.
“Everyone says they were protecting someone.””
The words hurt.
Because I understood exactly what he meant.
Richard looked at me.
“Rose.””
I froze.
He knew my name.
Of course he did.
But hearing him say it made my skin crawl.
“You remember me,” I said.
“Yes.””
“How?””
Richard sighed.
“Because Daniel told me everything.””
My heart stopped.
“Daniel?””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Where is he?””
Richard looked at her.
A strange expression crossed his face.
Recognition.
And disappointment.
“Victoria.””
Her face changed.
“You know me?””
Richard gave a small, bitter smile.
“I know exactly who you are.””
Arthur noticed.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered.
Richard walked slowly into the room.
His eyes moved across the desk.
The notebook.
The photograph.
The wooden box.
Then he looked at Arthur.
“You found it.””
Arthur stared.
“You knew this room existed.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Daniel left evidence here.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you keep it hidden?””
Richard looked away.
“Because I was afraid.””
The answer surprised everyone.
Richard Blackthorn.
A man who had controlled companies, negotiated impossible deals, and built an empire.
Afraid.
“Of what?”” Arthur asked.
Richard looked directly at him.
“Of the person who destroyed my family.””
Victoria crossed her arms.
“You expect us to believe that?””
Richard turned toward her.
“No.””
His voice became cold.
“I expect you to know exactly what I mean.””
Victoria’s expression tightened.
Arthur noticed.
“Victoria.””
She looked at him.
“What?””
“What does he mean?””
She shook her head.
“I have no idea.””
Richard stepped closer.
“You always were good at lying.””
Victoria’s face turned pale.
I saw it.
Arthur saw it.
Everyone saw it.
“Explain,” Arthur demanded.
Richard looked at Victoria.
“She was never interested in the Blackthorn name.””
Victoria laughed nervously.
“Don’t listen to him.””
“She was interested in what the name could give her.””
“That’s ridiculous.””
Richard ignored her.
“She found Daniel before he disappeared.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Victoria.
“No.””
She looked back at me.
“I never met your brother.””
Richard shook his head.
“You did.””
Victoria’s eyes sharpened.
“You cannot prove that.””
Richard reached into his coat.
And pulled out an old envelope.
My breath stopped.
Because it was the same style as Daniel’s letters.
He placed it on the desk.
“I kept this for ten years.””
Arthur picked it up.
“What is it?””
“A confession.””
Victoria immediately moved.
“Don’t.””
Arthur noticed.
And that one word was enough.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
Not from Daniel.
From Victoria.
Her face changed completely.
“Arthur, wait.””
He began reading.
The room was silent.
Then his expression hardened.
“Is this your signature?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
“Victoria.””
“Yes.””
Her voice became smaller.
“It is.””
Arthur looked at the letter again.
“What is this?””
She said nothing.
Richard answered.
“A payment agreement.””
My stomach tightened.
“A payment agreement for what?”” I asked.
Richard looked at me.
“For information.””
Arthur continued reading.
Then he looked up.
“You were paid to find Daniel.””
Victoria’s silence was the answer.
I felt betrayed all over again.
Not because I expected kindness from her.
But because she had spent years pretending to be my friend.
“You knew where he was.””
Victoria looked at me.
“I knew pieces.””
“Pieces?””
She stepped forward.
“You think I wanted any of this?””
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“You stole from my family.””
“I was trying to survive.””
“You tried to destroy this house.””
“I was trying to expose the truth!””
Richard interrupted.
“No.””
Everyone looked at him.
“You were trying to erase your mistake.””
Victoria went completely still.
“What did you say?””
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“You were there that night.””
The room became colder.
Arthur looked at his father.
“What night?””
Richard looked at me.
“The night Daniel disappeared.””
I stopped breathing.
Victoria looked terrified.
“No.””
Richard continued.
“You met Daniel in the east garden.””
Arthur turned.
“Victoria?””
She shook her head.
“I didn’t…”
“You argued with him.””
“No.””
“You demanded the evidence he had collected.””
“That’s a lie.””
Richard’s voice became heavier.
“Then why was your necklace found near his car?””
Victoria’s face went white.
Nobody spoke.
Because she had no answer.
Arthur looked at her.
“You were there?””
Victoria’s eyes filled with anger.
“I was there because I was trying to help.””
“Help who?””
She looked at him.
Then at me.
And the hatred in her eyes returned.
“Help myself.””
The honesty shocked everyone.
Victoria took a breath.
“I spent my entire life watching people like the Blackthorns decide who mattered and who didn’t.””
Arthur stared.
“So you betrayed us?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“I betrayed her.””
My heart tightened.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
The confession was quiet.
“I hated you.””
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with years of resentment.
“Because Daniel trusted you.””
I froze.
“What?””
Victoria smiled sadly.
“He chose you.””
The room fell silent.
“He gave you the evidence. He believed you were the only person who could expose the truth.””
She looked at Arthur.
“And then you married into the family instead.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t understand.””
“No.””
Her voice became bitter.
“I understand perfectly.””
She stepped closer.
“You had the chance to destroy Blackthorn Manor.””
I whispered:
“I never wanted that.””
“But you could have.””
Silence.
Then Arthur spoke.
“Enough.””
Everyone turned.
His face was different now.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Determined.
He looked at his father.
“Where is Daniel?””
Richard’s expression changed.
Pain.
Real pain.
“I don’t know.””
Arthur stared.
“You brought him into this.””
“I tried to save him.””
“Then where is he?””
Richard looked at me.
And the answer in his eyes terrified me.
“Because Daniel didn’t disappear.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Richard took a slow breath.
“He was taken.””
Nobody moved.
Arthur stepped forward.
“By who?””
Richard looked toward the dark hallway.
Toward the hidden corners of Blackthorn Manor.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“By someone who still lives here.””
A loud crash suddenly came from upstairs.
Everyone looked up.
Then Thomas ran into the room.
His face was filled with panic.
“My lord…”
Arthur turned.
“What happened?””
The old butler could barely speak.
“The west wing.””
“What about it?””
Thomas swallowed.
“The room where Daniel kept his records…”
A pause.
Then:
“Someone is inside.””
Arthur moved immediately.
But before we reached the stairs, a scream echoed through the manor.
A woman’s scream.
Victoria’s eyes widened.
Because the voice belonged to someone she recognized.
May you like
“Mother…”
And then the lights throughout Blackthorn Manor went out.
