Chapter 7 - The Night My Father Almost Lost Me
The darkness swallowed the room.
I screamed.
Arthur grabbed my hand immediately.
"Maya, stay with me."
Somewhere downstairs, glass shattered.
Then came the sound of hurried footsteps.
My heart pounded so violently I thought I might faint.
"Is it Richard?"
Arthur didn't answer.
He pulled out his phone and switched on the flashlight.
The pale beam lit his face.
He looked frightened.
But his voice stayed calm.
"Behind me."
We moved toward the hallway.
A security alarm began ringing.
Then Marcus's voice came through Arthur's phone.
"Sir, stay upstairs. Security has identified an intruder near the east entrance."
Arthur stopped.
"Is everyone safe?"
"The housekeeper and staff are being moved to the secure area."
A terrible thought hit me.
"Mom!"
Arthur looked at me.
"Your mother is at the hospital. She's safe."
I swallowed.
Then a man's voice shouted from downstairs.
"ARTHUR!"
Arthur froze.
I recognized the anger even though I'd never heard the voice in person.
Richard.
"COME DOWN HERE!"
Arthur took a slow breath.
He spoke into the phone.
"Marcus, Richard is inside the house."
"We know. Police are on their way."
Richard shouted again.
"I KNOW SHE'S HERE!"
My knees weakened.
Arthur held my hand tighter.
"You are not going downstairs."
I looked toward the stairwell.
"What does he want?"
"Control."
His voice hardened.
"And he's not getting it."
We moved into Arthur's study.
He closed the heavy door.
Then he locked it.
I backed toward the desk.
My breathing grew faster.
Locked door.
Dark room.
Angry man outside.
For one terrible moment, I was back in Denise's basement.
I could smell damp concrete.
Hear her footsteps.
Feel the panic of knowing nobody would come.
"No," I whispered.
Arthur turned.
"Maya?"
I shook my head.
"I can't."
He approached slowly.
"Look at me."
I covered my face.
"I can't be locked in again."
Arthur immediately moved toward the door.
He unlocked it.
Then stepped away.
"You're not trapped."
I looked at him through tears.
"You opened it?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"But Richard—"
"Security is nearby. We can keep it closed without making you feel imprisoned."
I began crying.
He crouched in front of me.
"You're safe with me."
I wanted to believe him.
I wanted to believe that safety could last.
Then footsteps thundered outside.
Someone hit the door.
"ARTHUR!"
Richard's voice.
Arthur stepped between me and the entrance.
"Richard, leave."
"OPEN THE DOOR!"
"No."
A loud bang shook the frame.
I flinched.
Arthur spoke quietly into his phone.
"Marcus, he's outside the study."
A guard shouted from the hallway.
"Mr. Bennett, step away from the door!"
Richard cursed.
There was a brief struggle.
Then a heavy thud.
I pressed my hands over my ears.
The next sound was a police officer shouting:
"Hands where we can see them!"
Everything went quiet.
Arthur waited until Marcus confirmed the hallway was secure.
Then he opened the door.
Richard was on his knees.
Two officers held his arms behind his back.
He wore an expensive gray coat.
His hair was disheveled.
And his expression was filled with hatred.
The moment he saw me, he began struggling.
"There she is!"
Arthur moved in front of me.
Richard laughed bitterly.
"Look at her! You really think she's yours?"
Arthur's voice was cold.
"We have the DNA test."
Richard stopped laughing.
For the first time, fear crossed his face.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Your mother ruined everything."
I trembled.
He continued.
"She could've taken the money and disappeared."
Arthur took a step forward.
An officer held out his hand.
"Sir, please."
Richard smiled.
"Twenty years, Arthur. Twenty years, and you never suspected a thing."
Arthur's face twisted.
"You stole my daughter."
Richard shrugged.
"You were always too emotional."
I heard myself speak.
"Why?"
Everyone turned.
Richard stared at me.
I took one step forward.
"Why did you hate me?"
He looked surprised.
Then amused.
"I didn't hate you."
I shook my head.
"You destroyed my life."
He looked straight into my eyes.
"You were inconvenient."
Something inside me broke.
Not into sadness.
Into anger.
For twenty years, I had believed I deserved what happened to me.
Now I was looking at the man responsible.
And he was telling me my suffering had been nothing more than a business problem.
I wiped my cheeks.
"You don't get to decide what I'm worth."
Richard's smile disappeared.
I took another step.
"My mother loved me."
Arthur stood beside me.
"My father wanted me."
I lifted my chin.
"And you couldn't take that away forever."
Richard lunged toward me.
The officers immediately restrained him.
Arthur pulled me behind him.
Richard shouted and struggled, but the officers led him away.
His voice echoed through the hallway.
"YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S COMING!"
Then he was gone.
I began shaking.
Arthur wrapped his arms around me.
"It's over."
But I wasn't sure.
Richard had sounded too confident.
Too certain.
Hours later, after the power was restored and the police finished their initial interviews, Rachel arrived.
She looked exhausted.
"I have news."
Arthur frowned.
"About Richard?"
She nodded.
"He may be charged in connection with the confinement and fraud investigation. Denise has also started cooperating."
I stared at her.
"Cooperating?"
"She's offered information about Samuel Price."
Arthur crossed his arms.
"What information?"
Rachel opened her folder.
"Samuel allegedly arranged the false letters and controlled the records used to conceal Maya's existence."
I felt sick.
"And the doctor?"
"Investigators are reviewing his role, too."
Arthur nodded.
"Good."
Rachel didn't smile.
"There's more."
She placed a photograph on the desk.
An older Black man in a dark suit stood beside Richard.
I recognized him from Arthur's family pictures.
"Grandpa?"
Arthur stared.
"That's my father."
Rachel nodded.
"The photograph was taken two days before his fatal car accident."
I frowned.
"What does it mean?"
Rachel hesitated.
"There's a witness who claims your grandfather had discovered the scheme and was preparing to report Richard."
Arthur gripped the desk.
"And?"
"The witness also says your grandfather's car had been tampered with."
The room became silent.
I looked at Arthur.
He was staring at the photograph.
His lips moved, but no words came out.
Then he whispered:
"My father didn't die in an accident."
Rachel nodded slowly.
"We don't know that yet. But investigators are reopening the case."
Arthur sank into his chair.
I knelt beside him.
"Dad?"
He covered his face.
"My father tried to protect you."
I held his hand.
And for the first time, he was the one who needed me to be strong.
But before we could process the discovery, Rachel's phone rang.
She answered.
Then went completely still.
"What do you mean the evidence room?"
Arthur looked up.
Rachel's voice sharpened.
"Was anyone hurt?"
My stomach dropped.
She ended the call.
Her face was white.
"The original silver capsule was taken from temporary storage."
Arthur stood.
"By whom?"
Rachel swallowed.
"A person using credentials linked to Samuel Price."
I stared at her.
May you like
And suddenly, Richard's final words echoed in my head.
You have no idea what's coming.
