Chapter 7: The Stranger Who Knew My Past
The man standing at the entrance of the Collins mansion looked like someone who had spent years carrying secrets.
He was not old.
Maybe in his forties.
His dark coat was soaked from the ocean mist outside, and his expression was calm.
Too calm.
Like he had expected this moment for a very long time.
But the thing that frightened Samantha most was not his appearance.
It was what he called her.
*Samantha Carter.*
Not Samantha Collins.
Carter.
Her mother’s last name.
A name she had never been allowed to carry.
Nobody moved.
The entire mansion seemed frozen.
Victoria stared at the man like she was seeing a ghost.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
The stranger looked at her.
“You said that twenty years ago too.””
Samantha’s heartbeat accelerated.
“You know my mother?””
The man’s eyes moved toward her.
And something changed.
For a moment, the cold expression disappeared.
He looked sad.
“I knew Elizabeth.””
Samantha stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
The man slowly removed his gloves.
“My name is Marcus Vale.””
Daniel immediately stiffened.
The name clearly meant something.
Adrian noticed.
“Daniel?””
Daniel’s face was tense.
“Marcus Vale was involved with Elizabeth’s case.””
Samantha looked between them.
“Involved how?””
Marcus entered the mansion without waiting for permission.
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
“You don’t belong here.””
Marcus smiled slightly.
“Neither did Samantha, according to you.””
Victoria went silent.
That sentence hit harder than an accusation.
Samantha looked at Marcus.
“Tell me why you’re here.””
Marcus studied her face.
Then he said:
“Because your mother left something for you.””
Samantha’s breath caught.
“Another letter?””
“No.””
He reached inside his coat.
But before he could take anything out, Daniel moved in front of Samantha.
“Stop.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Still protecting Elizabeth’s daughter?””
Daniel’s voice was cold.
“I’m protecting Samantha from people who hide the truth.””
Marcus looked around the mansion.
“Interesting.””
His eyes moved to Victoria.
“Because that’s exactly what this family has been doing.””
Samantha felt overwhelmed.
Too many secrets.
Too many people claiming they knew her mother.
She raised her voice.
“Enough.””
Everyone stopped.
She looked at Marcus.
“You came here knowing who I am.””
“Yes.””
“You know my mother.””
“Yes.””
“You know what happened twenty years ago.””
Marcus hesitated.
“Yes.””
Samantha’s eyes narrowed.
“Then start talking.””
For a moment, Marcus said nothing.
Then he walked toward the living room.
“I knew Elizabeth before she met Victoria.””
Victoria’s face changed.
Samantha noticed.
“You knew her before?””
Marcus nodded.
“She was different from everyone in this world.””
He looked at the ocean outside.
“She didn’t care about money. She didn’t care about status. She cared about people.””
Samantha swallowed.
“That sounds like her.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Because you’re like her.””
The words surprised Samantha.
For years, Victoria had told her she was not special.
Now strangers kept telling her she carried something beautiful from a mother she barely remembered.
Marcus continued.
“Elizabeth discovered something.””
“What?””
“She discovered that the Carter family had been targeted.””
Daniel frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Marcus looked at him.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.””
Daniel’s expression darkened.
Samantha looked confused.
“My family?””
Marcus nodded.
“Your mother’s family built their fortune years ago. But they also made enemies.””
Adrian crossed his arms.
“Who?””
Marcus looked toward the document on the table.
“The people who wanted control.””
Samantha frowned.
“That doesn’t explain why my mother disappeared.””
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“It does.””
Everyone turned.
Victoria’s face became pale.
Samantha stared.
“What does she have to do with it?””
Marcus sighed.
“Your mother trusted the wrong person.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Say her name.””
Marcus looked directly at Victoria.
“She trusted Victoria.””
The room erupted.
“No.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No, that’s not true.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You received money.””
Victoria froze.
Samantha felt her stomach drop.
“What?””
Marcus continued.
“Before Elizabeth disappeared, someone paid Victoria Collins a large amount of money.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Where is the proof?””
Marcus reached into his coat.
“I brought it.””
He placed a file on the table.
Samantha opened it.
Inside were bank records.
Her eyes moved across the page.
A payment.
A huge payment.
Made to Victoria Collins.
The date was two days before Elizabeth disappeared.
Samantha looked up slowly.
“Mother?””
Victoria looked broken.
“I can explain.””
Samantha laughed quietly.
“That’s what you always say.””
Victoria reached toward her.
“Samantha, please.””
But Samantha stepped away.
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“You don’t get to ask me to trust you.””
Victoria stopped.
The pain on her face was real.
But Samantha couldn’t ignore the evidence.
Not anymore.
Daniel grabbed the document.
“Who paid you?””
Victoria looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
Nobody believed her.
Marcus did not even look surprised.
“You know.””
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“I never met him.””
“Who?””
She looked at Samantha.
And whispered:
“Your grandfather.””
The room went silent.
Samantha froze.
“My grandfather?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Elizabeth’s father.””
Daniel looked shocked.
“That’s impossible.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You thought he died before Elizabeth disappeared.””
Daniel said nothing.
Samantha looked confused.
“My grandfather is alive?””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
A cold feeling spread through her.
“Why?””
Marcus answered:
“Because he wanted control of the Carter family.””
Samantha shook her head.
“But why would he hurt his own daughter?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Because Elizabeth refused to give him what he wanted.””
“What?””
Marcus stared at the photograph of Elizabeth.
“You.””
Samantha went still.
The answer felt impossible.
“My grandfather wanted me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Marcus took a deep breath.
“Because you were the heir.””
The word echoed through the room.
Heir.
Samantha almost laughed.
She had spent twenty years washing dishes.
Living in a forgotten room.
Being treated like she had no value.
And now someone was telling her she was an heir.
“To what?””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Tell her.””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
Samantha turned.
“What?””
Daniel slowly sat down.
“Your mother’s family owned more than people knew.””
Adrian looked surprised.
“The Carter Group?””
Daniel nodded.
“The original company.””
Samantha stared.
A company worth billions.
The one Adrian’s family had connections with.
“You’re saying…”
Marcus finished the sentence.
“You are the last legal heir to the Carter fortune.””
The room became silent.
Samantha looked at Victoria.
Suddenly everything made sense.
The secrecy.
The isolation.
The way Victoria treated her.
She had never been trying to make Samantha disappear because she was worthless.
She had been trying to make sure nobody knew Samantha mattered.
But one question remained.
Samantha looked at Marcus.
“If my grandfather wanted control…”
She swallowed.
“What happened to my mother?””
Marcus did not answer immediately.
That scared her more.
Finally, he said:
“Elizabeth found out the truth.””
Daniel’s fists tightened.
“She discovered her own father was behind everything.””
Marcus nodded.
“She planned to expose him.””
Samantha whispered:
“And then?””
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“She never got the chance.””
The room became silent.
Victoria covered her face.
“No…”
Samantha stared.
“Mother?””
Victoria slowly lowered her hands.
Her eyes were filled with guilt.
“I tried to stop her.””
Samantha felt her heart break.
“Stop her from what?””
Victoria looked at her.
“I tried to convince Elizabeth not to leave.””
“And?””
Victoria’s voice became barely audible.
“And someone followed her.””
Nobody moved.
Samantha whispered:
“Who?””
Victoria looked toward Marcus.
Then Daniel.
Then finally Samantha.
“The person who made sure Elizabeth disappeared…”
She paused.
“…was someone inside this family.””
Before anyone could respond, Marcus’s phone suddenly rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What is it?”” Adrian asked.
Marcus answered.
For a few seconds, he listened.
Then his face went pale.
“No.””
Everyone watched him.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
“He knows Samantha is alive.””
Samantha felt cold.
“Who?””
Marcus looked at her.
“The man who has been searching for you.””
A pause.
“The man who tried to erase your existence twenty years ago.””
Outside the mansion, a black car stopped near the gates.
And inside it…
someone was watching the house.
Someone who had waited two decades for this moment.
Marcus looked toward the window.
“He’s coming for you.””
Samantha whispered:
“Who?””
Marcus answered with a name.
A name that made Victoria collapse.
“Richard Carter.””
The man who was supposed to be dead.
May you like
The man who was Samantha’s grandfather.
The man who wanted her gone.
