Chapter 10: The Man Who Stole Our Names
The gun was pointed directly at my chest.
Charles stood halfway down the cellar staircase, his expensive suit looking strangely out of place among the dusty cabinets and broken kitchen equipment.
Behind me, Daniel slowly raised his hands.
Chef Bennett stepped sideways, positioning himself between Charles and the exit.
"Put the weapon down, Charles," Detective Morris said.
Charles laughed.
"Detective, I don't believe you're in a position to give me instructions.""
"You are holding an illegal firearm inside a property you don't own. Put it down.""
He ignored her.
His eyes remained fixed on the green leather book in my hands.
"Give it to me, Maya.""
I tightened my grip.
"No.""
His expression hardened.
"Don't make this difficult.""
"You've spent my entire life lying to me. You stole my grandmother's work, took my sister, and made my mother disappear. And now you want me to hand over the last thing she left behind?""
Charles shook his head.
"Your grandmother was an unstable woman. She destroyed everyone who tried to help her.""
"Then why are you so afraid of a book?""
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
"Because that book contains documents that could destroy my family.""
"Your family?""
He laughed bitterly.
"You still don't understand.""
He took another step.
"Thomas Hayes was not the innocent man you remember. He was a thief, a coward, and a liar. He took everything that belonged to me.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Thomas never stole anything from you.""
Charles swung the gun toward him.
"Stay where you are.""
I looked at the letter again.
My grandfather was Anna's and my biological father.
That meant Charles had spent twenty-eight years pretending to be our father while knowing we weren't his children.
But why?
Why had he taken Anna?
Why had he threatened Sarah?
And why had he spent so much money trying to recover the inheritance?
"Who is Margaret Ashford?"" I asked.
Charles looked at me.
"My mother.""
"And the inheritance?""
"Was supposed to remain with me.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Margaret's will explicitly stated that her grandchildren would receive equal shares of her estate.""
Charles's jaw tightened.
"That will was manipulated.""
"No," Daniel replied.
"It was witnessed and legally registered.""
Charles turned toward me.
"Your grandfather and Eleanor convinced my mother to change the will. They used your birth to steal the Ashford estate.""
I looked at the book.
"Then why did you pretend Anna was your daughter?""
His expression changed.
"Because I needed access to the inheritance.""
Silence filled the cellar.
Charles continued.
"Margaret had left instructions that her estate would pass to her biological grandchildren. I knew Thomas had two daughters. I also knew Eleanor would never allow me to control their shares.""
"So you took Anna.""
"I raised her.""
"You kidnapped her.""
"I gave her a life she could never have had with that woman.""
"She didn't even know her real name!""
Charles's face twisted.
"She had everything. Private schools, beautiful clothes, a home, opportunities. What did Eleanor give her? A tiny apartment and a lifetime of resentment?""
I stepped toward him.
"She gave me a family.""
He stared at me.
Then his voice dropped.
"Your mother made a terrible mistake when she chose Thomas over me.""
I looked at Daniel.
Something about that sentence bothered me.
"Why did my mother ever trust you?""
Charles lowered the gun slightly.
"Because I was her husband.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
He smiled without warmth.
"Sarah and I were married before she met Thomas. We had a daughter. Anna.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
"Ask your mother.""
Daniel looked at him sharply.
"That marriage was annulled.""
Charles turned toward him.
"On paper.""
The room went silent.
Then he looked at me.
"Your grandmother convinced Sarah to leave me. Thomas took my wife and raised my daughters. My mother changed her will.
Eleanor stole my recipes. And everyone expected me to simply accept it.""
I felt sick.
"Your marriage ended because Sarah left you.""
"She was manipulated.""
"She was trying to protect her children.""
Charles's eyes hardened.
"Those children were supposed to be mine.""
He raised the gun again.
"Now give me the book.""
Detective Morris moved slightly to the left.
"Charles, this is your final warning.""
He turned toward her.
And that was when Daniel moved.
He grabbed a metal tray from the nearby shelf and threw it toward Charles.
The gun fired.
The shot exploded through the cellar.
I dropped to the floor.
Chef Bennett pulled me behind a cabinet as Detective Morris lunged forward.
There was a struggle.
A crash.
Then a shout.
"Gun down!""
When I looked up, Charles was on his knees.
Detective Morris had his arm twisted behind his back.
The gun lay several feet away.
He stared at me with pure hatred.
"You have no idea what you've done.""
I stood slowly.
"Actually, I think I do.""
I held up the green book.
"And I'm going to make sure everyone knows.""
Two hours later, Charles was in police custody.
The original documents had been secured.
Detective Morris informed us that the evidence suggested multiple offenses, including fraud, unlawful detention, and the falsification of medical records.
But I barely heard her.
I was reading my grandmother's letter.
There was another page hidden inside the back cover.
My darling Maya,
I need to tell you one final thing.
Thomas was not the only man who helped raise you.
Before he died, he asked me to find someone who could protect both of you if Charles ever returned.
That person has been beside you longer than you realize.
I frowned.
I read the sentence again.
Then I looked up.
Chef Bennett was standing beside the cellar entrance.
He was staring at the letter.
His face had gone pale.
"Chef?""
He slowly removed his glasses.
"Your grandmother asked me to keep a promise.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What promise?""
He looked directly at me.
"To tell you the truth when you were old enough.""
May you like
He paused.
"Thomas Hayes was my father.""
