Chapter 13 - The Last Dinner
Patricia was waiting when they arrived.
She stood in the dining room.
Five place settings were arranged around the table.
Rachel stared.
"You knew."
Patricia nodded.
"I knew you would come."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mother, what did you do?"
Patricia looked at him.
"I did what I had to."
Rachel placed the letter on the table.
"My father says you know everything."
Patricia closed her eyes.
"I know enough."
"Then tell me."
Patricia sat.
Rachel remained standing.
"Why did you let me believe my father was dead?"
"Because he asked me to."
"Why?"
"Because your life was worth more than his."
Rachel's voice broke.
"That wasn't your decision."
"No."
Patricia looked at her.
"It was his."
Rachel sat across from her.
"What happened twenty-four years ago?"
Patricia took a long breath.
"Your father discovered that Jonathan was stealing from both families."
Rachel listened.
"He confronted him."
"Then?"
"Jonathan threatened your father."
"With what?"
"With you."
Rachel's hands tightened.
Patricia continued.
"Your father disappeared."
"And Vanessa?"
"Your father took Vanessa because Jonathan intended to use her against him."
Rachel looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"Because you were nineteen."
Rachel stared.
"I was nineteen."
Patricia nodded.
"Your father believed you were safer knowing nothing."
"Was I?"
Patricia looked at her.
"No."
Silence.
Daniel stepped forward.
"What about the money?"
Patricia's expression changed.
"The money was never stolen."
Rachel frowned.
"What?"
"The six million was placed into accounts controlled by your father."
"Then why did it appear in Daniel's name?"
"Because Daniel inherited the structure."
Daniel looked stunned.
"My father left it to me?"
Patricia nodded.
"But there was a condition."
"What condition?"
"That the money could only be released when Rachel had a child."
Rachel froze.
Daniel stared.
"What?"
Patricia looked at Rachel.
"Your father wanted to make sure you had a future before he revealed himself."
Rachel's heart pounded.
"Why would he involve Daniel?"
"He believed Daniel was the only person who could protect you."
Rachel looked at her husband.
"But Daniel filed for divorce."
Patricia's expression became sorrowful.
"Because someone threatened to expose the accounts."
Rachel understood.
"Daniel thought divorcing me would keep the money away from me."
"No."
Patricia shook her head.
"He thought divorcing you would keep you away from the people hunting the money."
Rachel looked at Daniel.
He didn't deny it.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
"Because I was afraid that if you knew, you'd become a target."
Rachel stared at him.
"And now?"
"Now you're already a target."
A sound came from outside.
A car door slammed.
Patricia stood.
"He's here."
Daniel looked toward the windows.
"Who?"
Patricia whispered.
"The man your father warned me about."
Rachel's heart stopped.
"Jonathan?"
Patricia shook her head.
"No."
She looked at Daniel.
"Your father."
Daniel froze.
"My father is dead."
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
"He died publicly."
Then she whispered:
"But privately, he survived."
The front door opened.
Footsteps entered the house.
Rachel reached for Daniel's hand.
A man's voice echoed through the hallway.
"Patricia."
Rachel knew the voice.
She had heard it in old recordings.
May you like
Daniel's father.
Alive.
