Chapter 7: The Truth Buried Under Valecrest
I didn’t sleep.
Not that night.
Not the next morning.
Sleep requires trust.
And I had spent twenty-five years trusting the wrong people.
By sunrise, I had printed every document Daniel could find.
Old contracts.
Financial records.
Court files.
Anything connected to my father’s company.
Valecrest Holdings had always looked perfect from the outside.
A billion-dollar empire built on vision and discipline.
But now every success story looked like a carefully painted wall hiding cracks underneath.
Amelia sat across from me at the kitchen table.
She looked exhausted.
I wondered how many nights she had spent like this.
Alone.
Afraid.
Carrying a truth she couldn’t share.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
She looked at me.
“Are you sure?””
“No.””
I pushed the papers aside.
“But I’m done being protected.””
She nodded.
“Your father didn’t start as a monster.””
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
She looked down.
“It’s supposed to help you understand.””
I stayed silent.
“Richard Vale was brilliant. Everyone knew that. But he was obsessed with control.””
She touched the bracelet.
“When I was born, he didn’t tell anyone.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“Why?””
“My mother wasn’t someone he wanted connected to his public image.””
I felt sick.
“He hid you.””
“Yes.””
“And my mother?””
Amelia looked away.
“She knew.””
That hurt.
“My mother knew?””
“She wanted to tell you.””
I sat back.
“My entire life was built on lies.””
Amelia reached across the table.
“I’m sorry.””
I pulled my hand away.
Not because I hated her.
Because I didn’t know where to place all this pain.
A knock interrupted us.
Daniel entered holding a folder.
“We found something.””
He placed it down.
“Your father’s offshore accounts.””
I opened it.
The numbers were impossible.
Millions moved through hidden companies.
“What am I looking at?””
Daniel pointed.
“Payments.””
“To who?””
He hesitated.
“People connected to your disappearance.””
My heart stopped.
I turned the page.
There were names.
Private investigators.
Security firms.
Law offices.
Then one name appeared repeatedly.
Victor Hale.
My hands tightened.
“He helped my father.””
“Yes.””
Amelia nodded.
“He was there.””
I looked at her.
“What exactly happened that night?””
She took a deep breath.
“The night I disappeared, I found proof that your father was transferring your inheritance into companies he controlled.””
I stared.
“But I was seventeen.””
“Exactly.””
She continued.
“He had six months before you became legally independent.””
“So he planned to take everything?””
“Yes.””
“And you found out?””
She nodded.
“I copied the files.””
“Why?””
“Because I wanted to show you.””
My chest tightened.
“You were trying to save me.””
“Yes.””
The words were almost a whisper.
“But I never got the chance.””
“Why?””
Her face changed.
Fear returned.
“Because Victor found me first.””
The room went silent.
“What did he do?””
“He told me your father knew everything.””
She looked at the floor.
“He said if I went to you, you would die.””
I froze.
“Die?””
“He showed me pictures.””
“Of what?””
“You.””
My stomach dropped.
“Pictures of me?””
“Yes.””
Amelia’s voice shook.
“He had been following you.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“How long?””
“Months.””
Daniel looked disturbed.
“Why would Victor do that?””
Amelia looked at him.
“Because Richard Vale wasn’t the only dangerous man in that company.””
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she looked at the folder.
“There is one thing missing.””
“What?””
“The original documents.””
“What documents?””
“The ones proving your father’s crimes.””
I frowned.
“But you had copies.””
“No.””
Her face turned pale.
“I had one copy.””
“Where is it?””
She looked at me.
“I gave it to someone.””
“Who?””
Before she could answer, the apartment lights flickered.
Then went out.
Daniel immediately reached for his phone.
“Everyone stay still.””
A sound came from the hallway.
A slow knock.
Three times.
Nobody moved.
Then a voice came from outside.
A voice I recognized.
“Lucienne.””
My blood froze.
Because I knew that voice.
It belonged to my lawyer.
The man who had handled every major decision of my life.
The man who had guided Valecrest after my father died.
The man who had always told me:
“I’m here to protect you.””
Daniel whispered:
“Who is it?””
I stared at the door.
And answered:
“Martin.””
The knocking stopped.
Then Martin spoke.
“Lucienne, open the door.””
May you like
A pause.
“I know Amelia is inside.””