Chapter 5 - The Father Who Never Died
The man standing in the hospital doorway looked exactly like the photograph.
Older.
Tired.
But alive.
Adrian couldn't move.
For three years, he had carried the memory of his father's funeral.
The black suit.
The flowers.
The closed casket.
The final goodbye.
He remembered standing beside his mother while people told him he had to be strong.
He remembered hearing the words:
"Richard Cole is gone."
But now the man who was supposed to be gone was standing only a few feet away.
Looking at him.
Waiting.
"Adrian."
His father's voice broke something inside him.
Not because it brought comfort.
Because it brought anger.
Adrian took one step forward.
"You're dead."
Richard looked at him silently.
"I know."
The answer made Adrian's expression change.
"You know?"
Richard walked into the room and slowly closed the door behind him.
"I know what everyone believes."
Adrian's hands tightened.
"You let me bury you."
Richard didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"You let me think I lost my father."
"I had no choice."
Adrian laughed bitterly.
"No choice?"
His voice became louder.
"You disappeared. You let me mourn you. You let me believe my family was destroyed."
Richard looked at Lily.
Then at Sofia.
"You don't understand what was happening."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Then explain it."
Richard remained quiet.
That silence made Adrian even angrier.
For years, he had wanted answers.
Now the person who had them was standing in front of him.
And still refusing to speak.
"Tell me why my wife died."
Richard's face changed.
Pain appeared for a moment.
Then disappeared.
"Because she found the truth."
Adrian froze.
"What truth?"
Richard looked at Daniel.
Daniel looked away.
Adrian noticed.
"You all know."
Nobody answered.
The silence was unbearable.
Finally, Richard spoke.
"Your wife discovered someone was using your company to move money and information."
"Who?"
Richard looked at him.
"Someone close to you."
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
Richard stepped closer.
"You need to stop protecting people who never protected you."
Adrian stared.
"What does that mean?"
Richard reached into his coat.
Adrian immediately became alert.
But Richard only pulled out an old envelope.
He placed it on the table.
"Your wife left this for you."
Adrian looked at the envelope.
His name was written across the front.
The handwriting was familiar.
His wife's handwriting.
His fingers trembled as he touched it.
"Why didn't I get this?"
Richard looked away.
"Because it was taken."
"By who?"
Richard didn't answer.
Adrian opened the envelope.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Only a few words.
"If you're reading this, trust nobody."
Adrian stared.
Then another line caught his attention.
"Especially the person who tells you they saved me."
His eyes moved upward.
"What does this mean?"
Nobody spoke.
Then Sofia whispered:
"Your wife knew someone would try to rewrite what happened."
Adrian looked at her.
"Who saved her?"
Sofia's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know."
Richard suddenly interrupted.
"We don't have time."
Adrian looked at him.
"You don't get to say that."
Richard ignored him.
"Someone knows Lily is here."
Daniel immediately checked the hallway.
"He's right."
Adrian noticed the fear on Daniel's face.
"You know who it is."
Daniel didn't answer.
Adrian walked toward him.
"Who?"
Daniel looked at Richard.
Then at Adrian.
"The person who caused all of this."
The hospital lights flickered again.
Everyone stopped.
A sound came from outside.
Footsteps.
Not one person.
Several.
Daniel moved toward the door.
"They found us."
Adrian looked at Lily.
The little girl was shaking.
He immediately moved beside her.
"No one is taking her."
Richard watched him.
For a moment, Adrian saw something in his father's eyes.
Pride.
Like he was seeing the son he always wanted.
Then the emotion disappeared.
"Adrian."
He looked up.
"Take Lily and leave through the emergency stairs."
Adrian frowned.
"What about you?"
Richard didn't answer.
"Go."
Adrian refused to move.
"After everything you did, you think I'll trust you?"
Richard looked at him.
"You shouldn't."
That answer surprised Adrian.
Richard continued.
"But you should trust your wife."
Adrian froze.
"What?"
Richard pointed at the envelope.
"She knew I would come back."
Adrian stared at him.
"She knew you were alive?"
Richard nodded.
"She was the only person who knew the truth before she died."
The footsteps outside became louder.
Daniel locked the door.
"They're almost here."
Sofia held Lily tightly.
Adrian looked between everyone.
His father.
His wife's friend.
The investigator who lied.
The little girl who knew more than anyone.
Everyone had secrets.
Everyone had hidden something.
But one thing was clear.
Someone was coming for Lily.
The door handle suddenly moved.
Once.
Everyone froze.
A voice came from outside.
"Open the door."
Nobody moved.
The voice continued.
"Adrian, you don't know what you're protecting."
Adrian looked at Richard.
His father whispered:
"Don't open it."
The voice outside changed.
It became softer.
Almost familiar.
"Adrian..."
The room went silent.
Because the person outside said something only one person should know.
A secret from the night his wife died.
A secret nobody else heard.
The voice whispered:
"Your wife wasn't alone when she crashed."
Adrian's face went pale.
The door handle moved again.
Slowly.
May you like
Then the person outside whispered the name of the person who was with her...
"She was with..."
