Chapter 8 — The Father Who Returned
Richard Cross was found in a roadside motel.
He surrendered without resistance.
He was sixty-three, thin and exhausted, with Daniel’s eyes.
When Daniel saw him through the interrogation-room glass, he began to sob.
Richard did not.
“I warned Marcus to stop,” he told Detective Ruiz. “He stopped listening years ago.”
Richard explained that Marcus had built a criminal network while claiming to seek justice. He blackmailed executives, stole identities and manipulated Daniel from childhood.
“Daniel grew up believing Olivia’s family murdered me.”
Olivia faced Richard across the table.
“My father destroyed your life.”
“Yes.”
“And you let your brother prepare to destroy mine?”
Richard lowered his head.
“I returned when I learned about the wedding plan.”
“Why didn’t you contact the police?”
“Because I have spent twenty years believing powerful people control the police.”
Sophie placed the photographs before him.
“Did Marcus know I was watching Daniel?”
Richard examined them.
“He arranged for you to see.”
Everyone stared at him.
Sophie felt cold.
“What?”
“Marcus wanted a public interruption. He wanted Daniel arrested.”
That seemed impossible.
Why would Marcus sabotage his own plan?
Richard explained that Daniel had secretly decided to keep Brightwell for himself. Marcus discovered the betrayal and turned the wedding into a trap.
The anesthetic was real, but Marcus had switched the dosage.
Daniel believed Olivia would merely collapse.
Marcus ensured the dose could kill her, then positioned Sophie to witness everything.
“He wanted Daniel blamed for Olivia’s death,” Richard said. “Then he intended to blackmail Brightwell’s board with the files.”
Sophie remembered the storage-room door standing slightly open.
The timing.
The unobstructed view.
She had not discovered the conspiracy by chance.
She had been selected as the witness.
Olivia looked sickened.
“Marcus planned everyone’s role.”
Richard nodded.
“Except yours.”
He turned toward Sophie.
“You ruined the timing by stopping Olivia before she swallowed the cake. Marcus expected you to react after she collapsed.”
Sophie’s hands tightened.
“So now he wants me dead.”
Richard’s silence answered her.
Detective Ruiz entered with urgent news.
Brightwell Biotech’s main laboratory had been breached.
A refrigerated container was missing.
Richard’s face changed instantly.
“What was inside?”
Olivia checked the inventory on her phone.
“A prototype neurotoxin.”
Richard stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.
“Marcus never wanted only revenge.”
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He looked at Olivia in horror.
“He’s planning to poison the company’s public charity gala tomorrow night.”
