PART 4: THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
PART 4: THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Nobody moved.
The phone remained in Claire’s hand.
The message stayed on the screen.
ONE MISTAKE WAS ALREADY FORGIVEN.
DON’T MAKE ANOTHER.
Andrew stared at the name.
The sender.
Thomas Miller.
Sophia’s father.
Dead for five years.
His funeral had been one of the saddest days of Sophia’s life.
Andrew remembered standing beside her.
Holding her hand.
Watching her cry.
Thomas Miller was gone.
So why was he texting?
“Claire.”
Andrew’s voice was cold.
“Who sent that?”
Claire’s face had lost all color.
“I don’t know.”
Andrew looked at her.
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m not.”
The phone rang again.
Everyone jumped.
Claire looked terrified.
Andrew took it from her.
He answered.
“Who is this?”
Silence.
Then a man’s voice.
Older.
Calm.
“Andrew.”
His blood froze.
Because the voice was familiar.
Too familiar.
Not because he knew the man.
Because Sophia had played recordings of him for years.
Her father.
Thomas.
Andrew’s grip tightened.
“You’re dead.”
A quiet laugh.
“So many people keep saying that.”
Sophia stepped closer.
Her face was pale.
“Dad?”
The voice went silent.
Then:
“Sophia.”
Her knees almost gave out.
“No.”
She covered her mouth.
“You died.”
The man on the phone sighed.
“I know what everyone believes.”
Andrew stepped between Sophia and the phone.
“What do you want?”
A pause.
Then Thomas answered:
“What I always wanted.”
“My daughter.”
Andrew’s eyes narrowed.
“You tried to kill her.”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
“I tried to save her.”
Nobody spoke.
The twins stood close to Sophia.
Holding her hands.
Andrew didn’t trust this.
Not after everything.
“Explain.”
Thomas sighed.
“Three years ago, Sophia discovered something.”
Sophia looked at Andrew.
“I told you.”
“Yes.”
Thomas continued.
“She found out the fire was planned.”
Andrew’s jaw tightened.
“By who?”
Silence.
Then:
“Someone in your house.”
Everyone looked at Claire.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Andrew noticed something.
Claire wasn’t just afraid.
She was confused.
Like she didn’t know.
Thomas continued:
“Sophia knew she was in danger.”
“She contacted me.”
Andrew froze.
“You knew?”
Thomas didn’t deny it.
“Yes.”
“And you let everyone think she was dead?”
A long pause.
Then:
“Yes.”
Sophia’s face broke.
“Why?”
The pain in her voice was worse than anger.
“Why would you let me lose my children?”
Thomas answered softly.
“Because I thought I was protecting you.”
Sophia stepped back.
“Protecting me?”
“You abandoned me.”
“No.”
His voice cracked.
“I hid you.”
The room went silent.
Sophia looked confused.
“What?”
Thomas continued:
“The fire was supposed to kill you.”
Andrew felt his stomach drop.
“Who planned it?”
Thomas didn’t answer.
Because before he could…
The front door exploded open.
Everyone turned.
A man entered.
Older.
Well dressed.
Calm.
Andrew recognized him.
Because he had seen him in photos.
The man who managed Sophia’s family business.
Her uncle.
Victor Miller.
Sophia’s face turned white.
“Uncle Victor?”
Victor smiled.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
The twins immediately moved behind Andrew.
Something about him felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Victor looked around.
At Sophia.
At Andrew.
At the maid uniform.
He smiled.
“So.”
“You finally remembered.”
Andrew stepped forward.
“You.”
Victor looked amused.
“Me?”
“You’re the one behind this.”
Victor laughed.
“Behind what?”
“Your wife disappearing?”
“The fire?”
“The lies?”
Andrew’s fists tightened.
Victor tilted his head.
“You still think everything is simple.”
Sophia stared.
“What did you do?”
Victor looked at her.
“I tried to fix what your father broke.”
“My father?”
Victor nodded.
“Thomas always believed he could control everything.”
“He hid secrets.”
“He made deals.”
“And when he realized he couldn’t win…”
“He ran.”
Sophia shook her head.
“I don’t understand.”
Victor smiled.
“You were never supposed to survive.”
The words destroyed the room.
Andrew moved immediately.
But Victor continued:
“The night of the fire…”
“I was there.”
Sophia’s eyes widened.
“You?”
Victor nodded.
“But I didn’t start it.”
Andrew stopped.
“What?”
Victor looked toward Claire.
And everyone followed his gaze.
Claire froze.
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“The fire was not my plan.”
“It was hers.”
The room went silent.
Andrew turned slowly.
“Claire?”
Claire looked horrified.
“No.”
Victor continued.
“She wanted Sophia gone.”
“She wanted Andrew.”
“She wanted the children.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“That’s not true.”
Victor laughed.
“You were always too emotional.”
“You made mistakes.”
“I cleaned them up.”
Andrew looked at Claire.
His voice barely worked.
“Tell me he’s lying.”
Claire opened her mouth.
Nothing came.
And that silence was the answer.
Sophia stepped back.
“You?”
Claire cried.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
Andrew stared.
“You started the fire.”
“No!”
Claire shook her head desperately.
“I only wanted to scare you.”
“Scare me?”
Sophia’s voice broke.
“You left me burning.”
Claire collapsed into tears.
“I didn’t know you were inside.”
Nobody believed her.
Because the truth was finally standing there.
Not hidden.
Not buried.
Not denied.
Andrew looked at Sophia.
Then at his children.
And realized something.
His entire family had been destroyed by one lie.
But now…
Every secret was coming out.
Then Victor smiled.
A smile that terrified Andrew.
Because if Victor was telling the truth…
May you like
There was one question left.
Why had he waited three years to reveal it?
