Chapter 19 - THE MAN WHO OWNED EVERYTHING
The mansion became a prison.
Grace, Daniel, Richard, Elena, and Michael were trapped inside.
The security system activated.
Every door locked.
Every phone lost signal.
Then the grandfather's voice filled the room.
"You've all been very disappointing."
Grace stepped toward the speaker.
"Where is my son?"
"Safe."
"Bring him to me."
"You still think you are in control."
Grace looked at Richard.
He was shaking.
"You knew."
Richard nodded.
"I suspected."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of him?"
"Yes."
The speaker laughed.
"Your father was always afraid."
Grace looked at Elena.
"How long?"
Elena answered.
"Twenty-one years."
Grace froze.
"You knew he survived."
"No."
"Then why are you afraid?"
"Because I knew he had people everywhere."
A monitor turned on.
Noah appeared.
He was sitting in a room.
Beside him stood a man.
Old.
Gray hair.
Walking cane.
Grace stopped breathing.
Her grandfather.
Alive.
He looked into the camera.
"Hello, Grace."
She stepped toward the screen.
"You killed my father."
He smiled.
"Your father betrayed me."
"You killed my mother."
"I tried."
"You destroyed my life."
"No."
His smile vanished.
"I gave you a life."
Grace stared.
"You manipulated everyone."
"Of course."
"Daniel?"
"A useful distraction."
"Celeste?"
"A witness."
"Rachel?"
"A messenger."
"Victor?"
"A soldier."
Grace's voice became cold.
"And Noah?"
Her grandfather's expression softened.
"The future."
Grace felt sick.
"You want control of the trust."
"No."
He leaned toward the camera.
"I want control of the next generation."
Daniel stepped forward.
"You won't touch my son."
The grandfather smiled.
"Your son?"
He pressed a button.
Another screen appeared.
DNA records.
Daniel's face turned white.
Grace stared.
"No."
Her grandfather spoke slowly.
"Daniel is not Noah's biological father."
Silence.
Grace's world collapsed.
Daniel looked at her.
"I didn't know."
The grandfather continued.
"Because the child was conceived before your marriage."
Grace shook her head.
"No."
Richard stepped forward.
"He's lying."
But Grace noticed something.
Richard wasn't surprised.
She turned.
"You knew."
Richard said nothing.
Daniel looked devastated.
"Grace?"
She couldn't answer.
Her grandfather smiled.
"Now you understand."
Grace stared at the DNA report.
Then she noticed the name.
BIOLOGICAL FATHER: RICHARD MORGAN.
Her father.
The room went silent.
Grace looked at Richard.
He whispered:
"I didn't know."
Daniel staggered backward.
Elena covered her mouth.
Grace felt the floor disappear beneath her.
Then Noah's voice came from the speaker.
"Mommy?"
Grace looked up.
Her grandfather smiled.
"Now, Grace..."
May you like
He raised the final card.
"...you know why I needed Noah."
