Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO NEVER DIEDNicholas stared at the screen.
For eleven years, he had imagined his father's final moments.
A wet highway.
A crushed Mercedes.
A funeral.
A sealed coffin.
Now the dead man was looking directly at him.
“Why?”
His father smiled.
“Because you were always going to inherit the foundation.”
“I don't want it.”
“You already have it.”
Nicholas looked around the vault.
“You built all this?”
“No.”
His father paused.
“Your grandfather did.”
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Richard, stop.”
The screen shifted toward her.
“You still look beautiful, Eleanor.”
She didn't respond.
“You abandoned your son.”
“I protected him.”
“You lied to him.”
“So did you.”
Richard smiled.
“That's why he turned out exactly as I expected.”
Nicholas felt anger rising.
“You've been manipulating me my entire life.”
“No.”
Richard's voice became calm.
“I've been observing you.”
“For what?”
“To see whether you would become me.”
Nicholas laughed bitterly.
“And?”
Richard's expression changed.
“You disappointed me.”
Nicholas stared.
“You wanted me to become you?”
“I wanted you to understand power.”
“I understand power.”
“No.”
Richard leaned closer.
“You understand money.”
The distinction hit harder than Nicholas expected.
Richard continued.
“Power is making someone believe they are free while controlling every choice they make.”
Eleanor whispered:
“You're sick.”
Richard ignored her.
“Victoria was never the important part.”
Nicholas froze.
“What?”
“She was a test.”
“Test for what?”
“To see whether you could recognize manipulation.”
Nicholas stared at the screen.
“You used her to test me?”
“Yes.”
“People suffered.”
Richard shrugged.
“People always suffer.”
Amelia stepped forward.
“You kidnapped me.”
Richard's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked directly at her.
“I protected you.”
“You erased me.”
“I saved you from this family.”
“You destroyed my life.”
Richard said nothing.
Amelia's eyes filled with tears.
Nicholas moved beside her.
Richard smiled.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“You protect everyone.”
Nicholas frowned.
“And?”
“That is your weakness.”
The screen went black.
The vault doors suddenly locked.
A timer appeared.
10:00
Nicholas stared.
“What is that?”
Eleanor's expression changed.
“Gas.”
“What?”
“Your grandfather installed a chemical system.”
The timer began counting down.
9:42.
Nicholas rushed to the door.
Locked.
Amelia searched the walls.
“There's no exit.”
Eleanor pointed toward the ceiling.
“There has to be.”
Nicholas looked up.
A ventilation panel.
He grabbed a metal chair.
“Move.”
He smashed the panel.
Nothing.
Again.
The metal bent.
Again.
A small opening appeared.
Cold air entered.
Amelia climbed onto the chair.
“It's too narrow.”
Nicholas looked at Eleanor.
“You go.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
“No.”
He looked at the timer.
7:13.
Eleanor grabbed his face.
“You don't get to sacrifice yourself because you feel guilty.”
“I don't.”
“You do.”
“I feel angry.”
“Good.”
She pointed toward the vent.
“Use it.”
They crawled through.
The ventilation tunnel led upward.
Behind them, the vault door remained sealed.
At 2:04, they emerged into the basement.
Nicholas collapsed onto the floor.
Amelia coughed.
Eleanor stood against the wall.
Then a sound came from above.
Footsteps.
Someone was inside the house.
Nicholas looked up.
“Who?”
A woman's voice answered.
“Me.”
Victoria appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
She held a gun.
Eleanor stepped in front of Nicholas.
Victoria's hand trembled.
“I don't want to hurt anyone.”
Nicholas stared at her.
“Then put it down.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because he's watching.”
Nicholas understood.
“Your father?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
May you like
She looked terrified.
“Your father.”
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