Chapter 7 — The Name Richard Was Never Supposed to Hear
Chapter 7 — The Name Richard Was Never Supposed to Hear
Richard heard my father's name at 2:17 in the morning.
Not Alexander Sterling.
Not the name printed on every document I had ever seen.
A different name.
One that had been buried for twenty-nine years.
And the moment Richard heard it, the color disappeared from his face.
I knew then that he had been lying to me.
Maybe not about everything.
But about this.
My grandmother was unconscious in the back of the car.
Julian sat beside her, pressing a towel against the bullet wound in her shoulder.
“Keep pressure here,” he told Thomas.
Thomas nodded.
I couldn't take my eyes off Julian.
“You know who my father is.”
He didn't answer.
“Don't lie to me.”
“I won't.”
“Then tell me.”
Julian looked at me.
“There are things your family kept hidden for a reason.”
“That sentence is becoming very convenient.”
“I know.”
“You knew Alexander wasn't my biological father.”
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“How long?”
“Years.”
“How many?”
“Long enough.”
I laughed once.
“That's not an answer.”
“No.”
“Who is he?”
Julian looked toward the window.
“I can't tell you.”
I stared at him.
“You can't?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because the man you're asking about is alive.”
The car seemed to stop moving.
“What?”
Julian finally looked at me.
“He's alive.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said—”
“I said he's alive. I didn't say I know where.”
“Who is he?”
Julian's jaw tightened.
“There are people who would kill to keep that name buried.”
“Then let them come.”
His eyes softened.
“Maya—”
“No.”
I leaned closer.
“Twenty-nine years of lies are enough.”
Julian didn't answer.
So I made a decision.
“We're going to see Richard.”
His expression changed.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because whatever name you refuse to tell me…”
I looked at my phone.
“…Richard knows it.”
Richard was in his apartment when we arrived.
Or what used to be his apartment.
The place had been searched.
Furniture overturned.
Drawers emptied.
A painting lay shattered against the wall.
Richard stood near the kitchen counter with a cut above his eyebrow.
He looked at me.
Then at Julian.
Then at my grandmother bleeding in the back seat.
“What happened?”
“Your father happened,” I said.
Richard's expression hardened.
“My father?”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
“I'm not.”
He stepped toward the door.
Then stopped when he saw the gun in Julian's hand.
“Fine.”
He raised his hands.
“I don't know where Daniel is.”
“Then tell me what you do know.”
Richard looked at me.
“What did you find?”
“The safe.”
His face went white.
“What safe?”
“The one behind my mother's portrait.”
Richard swallowed.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“What was inside?”
“Evidence.”
He looked away.
“About Daniel?”
“About everyone.”
Silence.
Then I said:
“Your father knew Alexander wasn't my biological father.”
Richard's head snapped toward me.
For the first time since I had known him, I saw genuine fear.
“Who told you that?”
“My grandmother.”
“Your grandmother is alive?”
“Barely.”
Richard looked down.
“Then you need to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because if Daniel knows you found out, he'll come for you.”
“He already came.”
Richard's eyes moved toward the blood on my sleeve.
“What happened?”
“Your people shot my grandmother.”
His face twisted.
“My people?”
“Daniel's people.”
Richard shook his head.
“I don't control them.”
“You worked for him.”
“I was forced.”
“You married me.”
His voice broke.
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You used me.”
“I know.”
I stepped closer.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“What truth?”
“The name.”
His breathing changed.
“What name?”
“The name my father was never supposed to tell me.”
Richard stared at me.
I whispered:
“Who is my real father?”
He looked at Julian.
Julian gave him a warning glance.
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
“Tell me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I say it…”
He looked toward the window.
“…he'll know I betrayed him.”
“Who?”
Richard's lips barely moved.
“The man who raised me.”
I froze.
“Daniel?”
Richard nodded.
“He isn't your father.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Richard looked at me.
“You don't understand.”
“What?”
“Daniel isn't my biological father either.”
The room went silent.
I looked at Julian.
He wasn't surprised.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“Of course he knew.”
I turned back.
“Then who is Daniel?”
Richard hesitated.
“A man who built an empire by making everyone believe he belonged to a family he had already destroyed.”
“What does that mean?”
“My grandfather was the real Vance.”
“Then Daniel?”
“An outsider.”
“Who was he?”
Richard's voice dropped.
“Daniel Vale.”
The name hit the room like a gunshot.
I stared.
“Vale.”
Richard nodded.
“Your mother's family knew that name.”
Julian's expression changed.
“The Vale archives.”
Richard looked at him.
“You know them too.”
I looked between them.
“What are the Vale archives?”
Neither answered.
I slammed my hand against the table.
“Enough!”
Both men went silent.
“I have spent my entire life being told pieces of the truth.”
I pointed at Richard.
“You know something.”
Then Julian.
“You know something.”
“And my grandmother knows something.”
I looked toward the car.
“Everyone knows something except me.”
My voice cracked.
“So tell me.”
Richard looked at me.
“The name you want isn't Daniel.”
“Then who?”
He whispered:
“Gabriel Vale.”
I stopped breathing.
The name meant nothing.
And yet the moment he said it, Julian's face told me everything.
He knew it.
He feared it.
I looked at him.
“Who is Gabriel Vale?”
Julian didn't answer.
Richard did.
“Your real father.”
I couldn't speak.
The room seemed too small.
Too quiet.
Too cold.
“Where is he?”
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You just said he's alive.”
“He was.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
My heart raced.
“Where?”
Richard looked at the floor.
“He came to me.”
“Why?”
“To warn me.”
“About what?”
“You.”
I stared.
“Me?”
“He said if you ever discovered the truth, everyone around you would become a target.”
“That's already happened.”
Richard looked ashamed.
“He knew.”
“How?”
“Because he was the one who ordered your mother to disappear.”
My blood ran cold.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She found out about him.”
“What did she find out?”
Richard swallowed.
“That he wasn't the man everyone thought he was.”
“Who was he?”
Richard looked at Julian.
“Tell her.”
Julian shook his head.
“You tell her.”
Richard took a breath.
“Gabriel Vale was once Alexander Sterling's closest friend.”
I frowned.
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“They built Sterling Capital together.”
I stared.
“My father?”
“Alexander was the public face.”
“And Gabriel?”
“The strategist.”
Julian stepped forward.
“He was the architect behind the trust.”
I turned toward him.
“You knew him.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My father worked for him.”
Richard laughed.
“Your father?”
Julian looked at him.
“Alexander.”
Richard shook his head.
“Not Alexander.”
My stomach dropped.
“What do you mean?”
Julian's voice was quiet.
“Gabriel was my biological father.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
Julian nodded.
“Yes.”
“You're Gabriel Vale's son?”
“Yes.”
“And you knew he was my father?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He told me.”
“When?”
“Before he disappeared.”
My mind raced.
“Then why did you help me?”
“Because he asked me to.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew Daniel would eventually come for you.”
“Why?”
“Because you are the only person who can expose him.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“That's not all.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
Richard reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a folded photograph.
He handed it to me.
I opened it.
Three men stood outside a building.
Alexander Sterling.
Gabriel Vale.
Daniel Vance.
But there was someone else.
A woman.
My mother.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Me.
I turned the photograph over.
A date.
And beneath it, four words:
THE WRONG CHILD SURVIVED.
My stomach turned.
“What does that mean?”
Richard looked at me.
“I don't know.”
Julian took the photograph.
His face changed.
“This isn't possible.”
“What?”
He stared at the date.
“This photograph was taken three days before Gabriel disappeared.”
“So?”
“Your mother wasn't supposed to be there.”
“Why?”
Julian looked at Richard.
Richard whispered:
“Because she was supposed to be dead.”
The next morning, my grandmother woke.
She was pale.
Weak.
But conscious.
I sat beside her hospital bed.
“Tell me about Gabriel.”
Her eyes opened.
For several seconds, she simply stared at me.
Then she whispered:
“You found his name.”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“I prayed you never would.”
“Why?”
“Because once you know his name, you become visible.”
“I am already visible.”
“Not to him.”
I frowned.
“He's alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
I leaned closer.
“Did he love my mother?”
She hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Did she love him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she leave?”
My grandmother's eyes filled with tears.
“Because she discovered that Gabriel had betrayed Alexander.”
I froze.
“What did he do?”
“He stole the Black Orchid account.”
“Why?”
“To fund something.”
“What?”
She looked at me.
“An escape.”
“For whom?”
“Children.”
I stared.
“Children?”
“Children of wealthy families.”
My stomach tightened.
“Like Lily?”
“Yes.”
“Gabriel was protecting them?”
“No.”
She whispered:
“He was collecting them.”
I stood.
“What?”
My grandmother continued.
“Gabriel believed wealthy families were corrupt.”
“So?”
“He believed their children were the only people who could inherit something different.”
I stared.
“He took children?”
“Some willingly.”
“Some?”
“Some were hidden.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how does Daniel fit into this?”
My grandmother looked frightened.
“Daniel was Gabriel's most loyal soldier.”
“Until?”
“Until Gabriel chose your mother over him.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“Daniel loved your mother.”
I felt sick.
“He was obsessed with her.”
“And Gabriel?”
“Loved her.”
“And Alexander?”
“Loved her too.”
Three men.
One woman.
One child.
One fortune.
I suddenly understood why so many secrets had been buried.
This wasn't just a financial war.
It was personal.
That night, Richard came to the hospital.
He stood outside my grandmother's room.
I looked at him.
“Why are you here?”
He held out a file.
“I found this in my father's safe.”
I took it.
“What is it?”
“Your marriage file.”
I frowned.
“I already know about that.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“This is different.”
I opened it.
Inside was my name.
Richard's name.
And beneath them:
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: PRODUCE HEIR.
I stared.
My hands began shaking.
Richard whispered:
“I didn't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
“You knew they wanted Lily.”
“I didn't know why.”
“You knew enough.”
He looked broken.
“I was supposed to marry you.”
“Why?”
“To access the trust.”
“And Lily?”
He shook his head.
“I didn't know they wanted a child.”
I looked at him.
“Then why did you stay after she was born?”
Richard's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I fell in love with her.”
I almost laughed.
“You never protected her.”
“I was afraid.”
“You were always afraid.”
“I know.”
He stepped closer.
“I made terrible choices.”
“Yes.”
“I hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“I hurt Lily.”
“Yes.”
His voice broke.
“But I never gave them her location.”
I stared at him.
“Then who did?”
Richard's face changed.
“I don't know.”
I felt cold.
Because there was only one possibility.
Someone close to me had given Daniel the information.
Someone who knew where Lily was.
Someone who knew about the ring.
Someone who knew about the safe.
Someone who knew about Gabriel.
My phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
ASK JULIAN WHAT HAPPENED TO GABRIEL VALE.
I looked at Julian through the glass wall.
He was standing at the end of the corridor.
Watching me.
Then another message arrived.
ASK HIM WHY HE WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE YOUR FATHER.
I lifted my eyes.
Julian saw the phone in my hand.
His expression changed.
He knew.
I walked toward him.
“Julian.”
He didn't move.
“What?”
I held up the phone.
“Were you the last person to see Gabriel Vale?”
Silence.
His eyes closed.
“Yes.”
My heart sank.
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“And what happened?”
Julian looked at me.
“I helped him disappear.”
“Why?”
“He asked me to.”
“Where did he go?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“Then tell me why.”
Julian stepped closer.
“Because Gabriel knew someone was going to kill him.”
“Who?”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“Your husband.”
I froze.
“Richard?”
Julian nodded.
“Richard was ordered to kill his own father.”
I turned toward Richard.
He was standing at the end of the corridor.
His face had gone white.
“I didn't do it,” he whispered.
Julian looked at him.
“You were supposed to.”
Richard shook his head.
“I couldn't.”
I stared at both men.
One had hidden my father.
The other had been ordered to kill him.
And somewhere in the middle of their lies was the truth about the man whose blood ran through my veins.
Then my phone vibrated again.
One final message.
GABRIEL VALE IS NOT HIDING FROM YOU.
I opened it.
HE IS HIDING YOU FROM THE WORLD.
A photograph appeared.
My daughter, Lily.
Alive.
Sitting beside a man with silver hair.
A man I had never seen before.
But somehow recognized.
Because even from a photograph, I could see the same eyes staring back at me.
My eyes.
May you like
And beneath the photograph were five words:
YOUR FATHER WANTS TO MEET YOU.
