Chapter 6 - THE PERSON CLAIRE LEFT BEHINDThe photograph changed everything.
Because standing beside Claire was not Victoria.
Not Michael.
Not Richard.
It was Adrian’s first wife’s brother.
Thomas.
The man who died three years earlier.
Or at least…
that was what everyone believed.
Adrian stared at the picture.
Impossible.
Thomas had died overseas.
There was a funeral.
A death certificate.
A family goodbye.
Another death.
Another lie.
The message contained one final line:
Claire trusted him with the truth. Find him before they do.
Adrian immediately contacted his investigator.
“Find Thomas.”
The investigator hesitated.
“Sir, he’s dead.”
Adrian looked at the photo.
“No.”
His voice became cold.
“He wants everyone to think he is.”
Three days later, they found him.
Living under a different name.
Hidden in a small town.
And when Thomas opened the door…
the first thing he said was:
“You finally found me.”
Adrian stared.
“Why did Claire trust you?”
Thomas looked down.
“Because she knew I was the only person who could stop them.”
“Stop who?”
Thomas looked at him.
“The Blackwood family.”
Adrian froze.
“What does that mean?”
Thomas invited him inside.
Then revealed the final layer.
Before Claire died, she discovered something shocking.
The Blackwood empire was not built only by Adrian’s father.
It was built on stolen technology.
Stolen patents.
And a secret agreement that could destroy everything.
“Your father knew.”
Adrian felt betrayed.
“My father?”
Thomas nodded.
“He covered it up.”
“Why?”
“Because he thought protecting the family was more important than telling the truth.”
Adrian looked away.
His entire life was becoming a series of hidden secrets.
Every person he trusted had a different version of reality.
Then Thomas handed him a file.
“Claire left this for Ethan.”
Adrian opened it.
Inside was a letter.
The first sentence broke him.
My son is not a weakness. He is the reason this family can finally change.
Claire knew.
She knew everyone would fight over Ethan.
She knew people would see him as an inheritance.
A company.
A title.
But she wanted one thing.
For Ethan to grow up knowing he was loved.
Not owned.
Then Thomas revealed the final truth.
“The person who caused your wife’s accident…”
A pause.
“Was not Victoria.”
Adrian looked up.
“Then who?”
Thomas looked at him.
“The person who signed the order was someone you call family.”
Adrian’s phone rang.
Detective.
Urgent.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
“What happened?”
“We found evidence connected to Claire’s accident.”
“And?”
A pause.
“The fingerprints belong to…”
The detective stopped.
Adrian tightened his grip.
“Who?”
The answer came.
May you like
And everything went silent.
“Your father.”
