Chapter 10: The Stranger Who Knew My Name
I stared at the person standing in the doorway.
My mind refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.
For years, I had been told one story.
A simple story.
My grandfather died.
Everyone moved on.
People left.
People disappeared.
That was life.
But standing in front of me was the one person I never expected to return.
My aunt Clara.
My father’s older sister.
The woman who used to braid my hair when I was little.
The woman who taught me how to ride a bike.
The woman my parents said had “chosen a different life.””
Except she wasn’t supposed to be here.
Not now.
Not after all these years.
“Simone,” she whispered.
My throat tightened.
“You’re alive.””
It was the first thing I could say.
Clara’s face crumpled.
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“You disappeared.””
“I know.””
“You stopped calling.””
“I know.””
“You let me believe you left because you didn’t care.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I know.””
I hated that answer.
Because I wanted an explanation.
I wanted anger.
I wanted something easier to understand.
Instead, she looked broken.
My father stepped forward.
“Clara, you need to leave.””
She looked at him.
The fear in his eyes was obvious now.
“You don’t get to tell me that anymore, Richard.””
The room became still.
Nobody talked to my father like that.
Nobody.
Victor stepped inside behind her.
“Simone, this is the person your father spent years trying to keep away from you.””
I looked at Clara.
“Why?””
She walked slowly toward the table.
“Because I knew what he was doing.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“You always thought you were smarter than everyone.””
“No,” Clara replied.
“I just listened when our father warned me.””
My eyes moved between them.
“Our grandfather?””
She nodded.
“He knew Richard was becoming dangerous.””
My father’s expression darkened.
“Careful.””
Clara ignored him.
“Your grandfather didn’t trust anyone with the truth except me.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
The question came out sharper than I intended.
She looked at me.
“Because Richard threatened you.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He told me if I contacted you, he would make sure you lost everything.””
I looked at my father.
He didn’t deny it.
“He said he would destroy your reputation.””
My hands curled into fists.
“He already did.””
Clara nodded.
“I know.””
She reached into her bag.
“I tried to fight him.””
She placed a stack of papers on the table.
“But I was too late.””
I picked up the first page.
A legal complaint.
Against my father.
Filed six years ago.
By Clara.
“What is this?””
“The beginning.””
I looked up.
“The beginning of what?””
“The plan to expose him.””
My father moved toward the documents.
Clara stepped in front of them.
“You won’t touch them.””
His face hardened.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.””
She smiled sadly.
“That’s what you always say when someone finally sees you clearly.””
The words hit him.
I noticed.
For the first time, someone had taken away his control.
I looked at Victor.
“What does this have to do with my grandfather?””
Victor answered.
“Your grandfather discovered Richard had been moving company assets into private accounts.””
My eyes widened.
“Stealing?””
“Redirecting,” Victor said.
“Your father prefers softer words.””
My father slammed his hand against the table.
“Enough.””
Nobody moved.
He pointed at me.
“You think these people are your allies?””
I stared at him.
“Are they not?””
His expression changed.
“Everyone here wants something from you.””
The sentence bothered me.
Because it sounded like something he would know from experience.
Clara looked at me.
“Your father is right about one thing.””
I looked at her.
“You cannot trust blindly.””
The honesty surprised me.
She continued.
“But you need to understand something.””
She touched the old photograph on the table.
“Your grandfather didn’t leave you evidence because he wanted you to destroy your family.””
She looked at my father.
“He left it because he wanted you to survive them.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
Survive.
That word again.
My phone buzzed.
Detective Miles.
I answered.
“Simone.””
His voice was urgent.
“We need you to come back to campus.””
“Why?””
A pause.
“We found something in your father’s company records.””
“What?””
His voice lowered.
“Your name appears in a file.””
My heart stopped.
“What file?””
“The one marked with your grandfather’s initials.””
I looked at the documents.
My grandfather.
The inheritance.
The evidence.
Everything connected.
Then Miles said:
“Simone, the file is labeled…”
May you like
A pause.
“Project Phoenix.””
