Chapter 2: The Secret My Father Left Behind
I didn’t believe him.
Not immediately.
People say grief changes you.
They’re right.
But they don’t always explain how.
Grief doesn’t just make you sad.
It makes you suspicious.
It teaches you to protect yourself from disappointment.
After my father died, I heard hundreds of explanations.
Some people said he worked too hard.
Some said his health problems finally caught up with him.
Some said his research became too complicated and too stressful.
But nobody ever said someone killed him.
Nobody.
I stared at Alexander Cross in the middle of that ballroom while hundreds of people watched us.
“You expect me to believe that?””
My voice came out quieter than I wanted.
Alexander didn’t look offended.
He looked like he expected my anger.
“I expect you to ask questions.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“This is absurd. Thomas Bennett was a talented scientist, but he was not some victim of a conspiracy.””
Alexander turned toward her.
“You should be careful, Victoria.””
The way he said her name made the room shift.
Like there was history between them.
A history nobody else knew.
Victoria’s face hardened.
“I have nothing to hide.””
Alexander looked back at me.
“Neither did your father.””
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving me standing among broken glass and unanswered questions.
The rest of the night passed like a dream.
My manager apologized.
The hotel director apologized.
Victoria left without another word.
But apologies don’t fix everything.
Not when your entire understanding of your family has just been ripped apart.
I went home to my small apartment on the east side of the city around midnight.
The place was quiet.
Too quiet.
Ethan’s old wheelchair ramp outside my building reminded me of everything I couldn’t solve.
My brother was asleep when I arrived.
He lived with me now.
After the accident, Ethan refused to let anyone treat him like he was helpless.
That was one thing about him.
He had my father’s stubbornness.
I found him awake on the couch watching an old basketball game.
“You’re late,” he said.
I smiled slightly.
“Hello to you too.””
He looked at my uniform.
“What happened?””
I dropped my purse on the table.
“I got fired.””
His face changed immediately.
“Claire.””
“I’m okay.””
He shook his head.
“No, you’re not.””
That was Ethan.
He always knew.
I sat beside him.
For a few minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then I told him everything.
The gala.
Victoria.
Lena.
Alexander.
My father.
When I finished, Ethan stared at the television without seeing it.
“Dad had secrets?””
I hated that question.
Because I didn’t know the answer.
“I don’t know.””
Ethan rubbed his hands together.
“Claire, remember when Dad used to disappear into the lab for weeks?””
“Yeah.””
“He always said he was close to something.””
I looked at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?””
He shrugged.
“Because I thought it was just Dad being Dad.””
That hurt because it was true.
My father was a man who carried the weight of the world and convinced everyone around him that it was normal.
The next morning, Alexander Cross came to my apartment.
I almost didn’t open the door.
Rich people showing up unexpectedly usually means trouble.
But when I saw him standing there alone, without assistants or security, I let him in.
Ethan watched him carefully.
Alexander looked at my brother.
“I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances.””
Ethan nodded.
“You knew my father?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Alexander sat down.
And for the first time, the billionaire looked tired.
“My father and Thomas Bennett worked together.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Your father?””
Alexander nodded.
“My father, Charles Cross, funded early development for neurological technology. Thomas was the scientific mind behind it.””
Ethan leaned forward.
“What technology?””
Alexander looked at both of us.
“A neural interface system. A device that could communicate with the nervous system and help restore lost connections between the brain and body.””
Silence.
I thought about Ethan.
About hospital rooms.
About doctors telling us to accept limitations.
About my father promising there would be better answers someday.
Alexander continued.
“Your father believed the technology should belong to patients. He wanted hospitals and families to access it at affordable costs.””
“And your father?””
Alexander looked away.
“My father saw something different.””
“Money,” I said.
Alexander nodded.
“Control.””
The room felt smaller.
My father’s dream suddenly had enemies.
“Where does Victoria fit into this?”” I asked.
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“She helped hide the truth.””
I stood.
“Then why is she still powerful?””
“Because powerful people protect themselves.””
I walked toward the window.
The city moved below me.
Thousands of strangers living their lives.
Not knowing how close they might be to something that could change everything.
“What happened to my father?””
Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than if he had.
Finally, he said:
“Your father discovered that research data was being stolen. He planned to expose the people involved.””
My hands curled into fists.
“And then?””
“Then he died.””
The words landed softly.
But they hurt harder than shouting.
I closed my eyes.
My father’s last day came back to me.
The phone call.
The hospital.
My mother crying.
Everyone saying it was an accident.
But now I wondered.
“Who killed him?””
Alexander looked at me.
“The person you trusted most.””
My heart stopped.
“What does that mean?””
Before he could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“What?””
A few seconds passed.
Then he stood.
“We need to leave.””
“Why?””
Alexander looked at Ethan.
“Because someone knows we’re talking.””
A chill went through me.
“What happened?””
He showed me the message.
Only four words appeared on the screen.
STOP DIGGING, CLAIRE.
Ethan’s expression turned serious.
“Who sent that?””
Alexander didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
And when he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper.
“Your uncle Robert.””
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Continue Claire’s search for the truth
- Write Chapter 3: Robert’s Warning - Reveal what happened to Thomas
