Chapter 7: The Father Who Came Back
For a moment, nobody moved.
The man standing in the doorway looked at me with tears in his eyes.
Alexander Hayes.
My father.
The man I had spent my entire childhood believing was dead.
He took one hesitant step toward my bed.
"Claire, sweetheart.""
I stared at him.
"Don't call me that.""
His face crumpled.
"I know I don't deserve it.""
"Where were you?""
He swallowed.
"Claire—"
"Where were you when my mother died? Where were you when I graduated? When I got married? When I spent five years wondering why I wasn't enough for my husband?""
My voice broke.
"Where were you?""
Alexander lowered his head.
"I was trying to keep you alive.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently everyone in this family has been protecting me by lying to me.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Claire, your father was forced into hiding.""
I turned toward him.
"And you? Were you forced to pretend you were dead, too?""
Richard didn't answer.
Vincent, however, found the entire situation amusing.
He leaned against the doorframe, adjusting his expensive watch.
"This is becoming rather sentimental.""
Alexander turned sharply.
"Get out.""
Vincent smiled.
"Still giving orders, Father?""
"You're not welcome here.""
"Interesting. I own this hospital.""
Alexander's eyes hardened.
"No, Vincent. You manage the hospital. There's a difference.""
Vincent walked into the room.
His two bodyguards followed.
Marcus immediately stepped between them and my bed.
"That's far enough.""
Vincent glanced at him.
"Move.""
"I'm responsible for Mrs. Moretti's safety.""
Vincent laughed.
"You're responsible for your paycheck.""
Marcus didn't move.
Vincent looked toward me.
"Claire, I think we've had enough of this performance.""
I stared at him.
"Leave.""
He raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me.""
His smile disappeared.
For five years, I had watched people lower their heads whenever Vincent entered a room.
I had watched grown men tremble when he spoke.
But now, lying in a hospital bed, I discovered something unexpected.
I wasn't afraid of disappointing him anymore.
Vincent approached my bedside.
"You need to understand something. Whatever Richard and Alexander have told you, the Moretti family assets are mine.""
Alexander stepped forward.
"Those assets were established by my investment group.""
Vincent turned.
"And your investment group collapsed when you disappeared.""
"Because you stole it.""
"Because you were too weak to protect it.""
Richard struck his cane against the floor.
"Enough!""
The room fell silent.
Richard looked at Vincent.
"I gave you everything. My name. My businesses.
My trust. I even covered up your mistakes when you were young.""
Vincent's jaw tightened.
"And you still chose her.""
Richard glanced at me.
"She is my granddaughter.""
Vincent laughed.
"She's a signature on a document.""
I felt my stomach twist.
He continued.
"Let's stop pretending this is a family reunion. Claire has a legal interest in the trust. I need her to transfer it. Once that's done, everyone can go back to their lives.""
I stared at him.
"And what happens to me?""
He looked genuinely confused.
"What do you mean?""
"After I sign?""
He shrugged.
"You'll have a comfortable life.""
"With you?""
"Of course.""
I looked at the man I had once loved.
"Do you think I'll ever share a home with you again?""
His expression darkened.
"You're emotional. You're sick. You're not thinking clearly.""
Alexander moved closer to the bed.
"She doesn't need to think clearly to know she wants nothing to do with you.""
Vincent's gaze turned murderous.
"Stay out of this.""
Alexander pulled a folded document from his coat.
"Actually, I believe it's time you stopped pretending you own everything.""
He placed the document on my bedside table.
It was a court order.
A temporary injunction freezing several assets associated with the Moretti family trust.
Vincent picked it up.
His eyes moved across the first page.
For the first time, his face changed.
"What is this?""
Alexander spoke calmly.
"A legal challenge filed three hours ago. Your access to the trust's controlling assets has been suspended pending an investigation.""
Vincent looked at Richard.
"You authorized this?""
Richard nodded.
"I should have done it years ago.""
Vincent crumpled the corner of the document.
"You have no idea what you've started.""
Alexander stepped forward.
"I know exactly what I've started.""
Vincent turned toward his bodyguards.
"Get him out.""
Marcus immediately raised his radio.
"Security to the private wing. Now.""
One of the bodyguards stepped forward.
Marcus blocked him.
For several seconds, the room was filled with tension.
Then Dr. Hayes entered.
She looked at Vincent.
"Mr. Moretti, I am ordering you to leave this patient's room.""
He stared at her.
"You're making a mistake.""
"No. I'm following medical protocol.""
Vincent looked around.
His father.
His biological father-in-law.
The hospital security officer.
The physician.
For the first time, nobody was obeying him.
He slowly adjusted his coat.
"Fine.""
He turned toward me.
"Enjoy your little victory, Claire.""
I met his eyes.
"I will.""
He leaned closer.
"But remember something. You married me because you wanted a beautiful life. I gave you everything.""
I whispered, "You gave me a beautiful cage.""
His expression became unreadable.
Then he walked out.
The door closed.
I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
Alexander sat beside my bed.
"Can I hold your hand?""
I looked at him.
I wanted to say no.
I wanted to demand seven years of explanations.
But I also wanted to know what it felt like to have a father.
Slowly, I placed my hand in his.
He began crying.
"I'm sorry, Claire.""
I looked away.
"Tell me everything.""
And he did.
He told me how he had met my mother when they were both young. How Richard had introduced them. How they had built the first medical investment company together.
He explained that when Vincent discovered the existence of the trust, he began manipulating the family.
First came financial irregularities.
Then threats.
Then the mysterious fire at the old Moretti estate.
My mother had escaped that night.
Alexander had helped her disappear.
Richard had arranged his own disappearance shortly afterward.
But Vincent had never stopped searching for them.
"Why didn't you come for me?"" I asked.
Alexander closed his eyes.
"Because Vincent threatened to destroy anyone who helped me reach you. I believed that keeping my distance would keep you safe.""
"And marrying me to Vincent?""
His expression collapsed.
"That was never part of my plan.""
I stared at him.
"Then how did Vincent find me?""
Alexander looked at Richard.
Richard answered.
"Someone inside the family gave him your location.""
"Who?""
Neither man spoke.
Then my phone rang.
A familiar name appeared.
Sophia Reynolds.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was unusually calm.
"Claire, darling. I hope you're feeling better.""
I said nothing.
She continued.
"I heard Alexander has arrived. What a touching reunion.""
"What do you want?""
"To offer you a little advice.""
"Go ahead.""
"Don't trust him. Ask him what happened to your mother the night she disappeared.""
I glanced at Alexander.
Sophia laughed softly.
"You see? Everyone has secrets.""
"Why are you calling me?""
"Because Vincent has been very upset.""
I almost laughed.
"That sounds like his problem.""
Her voice hardened.
"He's not the only person who can make your life miserable.""
I ended the call.
Alexander looked concerned.
"What did she say?""
I showed him the phone.
He stared at Sophia's name.
Then he reached for my hand.
"Claire, there's something we need to discuss.""
"What?""
He hesitated.
"Before your mother disappeared, she left a sealed envelope with me.""
I waited.
"It contained evidence that Sophia Reynolds was connected to the fire.""
My heart began pounding.
"Connected how?""
Alexander's face turned pale.
"Because Sophia was there the night your mother vanished.""
He looked toward Richard.
"And she wasn't alone.""
May you like
Richard closed his eyes.
"Vincent was there, too.""
