Chapter 6: The Secret Behind Daddy’s Face
“Mommy told me never to trust the man who wears Daddy’s face.””
The words left Lily’s mouth like a whisper.
But they hit me harder than a scream.
The stranger’s expression changed instantly.
For the first time since he appeared, he wasn’t confident.
He wasn’t smiling.
He looked terrified.
I stepped between him and my daughter.
“What does that mean?””
The man said nothing.
“Answer me!””
My voice echoed across the lake.
Ethan moved closer to Lily.
“She remembered.””
I turned toward him.
“You knew she remembered this?””
He looked ashamed.
“I knew she was close.””
“Close?””
My hands curled into fists.
“My daughter spent a year unable to speak, and you knew she was carrying this memory?””
Ethan lowered his head.
“Claire made me promise not to force her.””
“Why?””
“Because memories like this don’t disappear because someone tells you to forget.””
He looked at Lily.
“They hide until the person feels safe enough to face them.””
I wanted to argue.
I wanted to blame him.
But then I looked at my daughter.
The girl who had spent a year trapped inside her own fear.
And I realized Ethan might have been the only person who understood what she had been through.
The stranger suddenly took a step back.
“You don’t know what Claire did.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell me.””
He laughed bitterly.
“You still think she was the victim.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who are you?””
The man stared at me.
“My name is Adrian.””
The name meant nothing.
But the way Ethan reacted told me everything.
“You know him,” I said.
Ethan’s face went pale.
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
Ethan looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
“He’s the reason my mother disappeared.””
Silence.
Adrian smiled.
“Your little friend loves playing the hero.””
Ethan ignored him.
“My mother discovered Marcus’s plan.””
“Marcus?””
Adrian nodded.
“Your brother-in-law wasn’t working alone.””
I felt a chill.
“Who else?””
Adrian looked directly at me.
“You.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“You were never supposed to survive.””
I stared at him.
The words didn’t make sense.
“You’re saying Marcus tried to kill me?””
“No.””
Adrian stepped closer.
“I’m saying Marcus tried to erase you.””
I looked down at the papers again.
The documents.
The photograph.
The impossible truth.
My entire life felt like a story someone else had written.
“What are you talking about?””
Adrian pointed at me.
“You were Daniel Ashford.””
He paused.
“But you weren’t the original heir.””
The air disappeared from my lungs.
“What?””
“Your father had another son.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“You were that son’s replacement.””
I felt dizzy.
“Stop speaking in riddles.””
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Your father had an affair before he married your mother. A child was born.””
He pointed at himself.
“Me.””
Nobody moved.
The lake.
The trees.
The wind.
Everything disappeared.
“You’re lying.””
Adrian smiled sadly.
“That’s what Marcus wanted you to believe.””
I looked at Ethan.
He wasn’t surprised.
Which meant he knew.
“You knew.””
Ethan nodded slowly.
“Claire found out.””
My chest tightened.
“She found out Adrian was my brother?””
“Yes.””
“And she kept this from me?””
Ethan swallowed.
“She was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
A broken laugh.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I looked at the sky.
“Protect me from what?””
Nobody answered.
Then Lily stepped forward.
Her small voice cut through everything.
“Mommy said…”
Everyone turned.
She held onto my hand.
“She said the wrong son was wearing the crown.””
My blood ran cold.
Adrian looked at her.
“She told you that?””
Lily nodded.
“She said Daddy was kind.””
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“And she said the other one was angry.””
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
For a moment, he looked hurt.
Not angry.
Hurt.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He stared at the message.
Then whispered:
“He found out.””
“Who?””
Adrian looked at me.
“Marcus.””
A second later, headlights appeared between the trees.
Not one car.
Several.
Ethan grabbed Lily’s hand.
“We have to go.””
But it was too late.
Black vehicles surrounded the lake.
Doors opened.
Men stepped out.
And walking in front of them was the man I trusted most after Claire died.
Marcus Vale.
He smiled.
“Daniel.””
My blood turned cold.
“Where’s Claire?””
Marcus looked at me.
Then at Lily.
And said:
“She was never missing.””
I froze.
“What?””
Marcus smiled.
“She was hiding.””
My heart stopped.
“Where?””
He looked behind him.
A woman stepped out of the car.
A woman wearing a long coat.
A woman with tears in her eyes.
A woman I had buried one year ago.
“Daniel…”
May you like
My knees almost gave out.
Because the voice belonged to my wife.
