Chapter 25: The Father's Visit

Richard Whitmore came to Moretti House alone.

He looked smaller than Scarlett remembered. Not physically—he was still tall, still dressed in a suit worth more than most people's cars—but guilt had hollowed him from the inside.

Scarlett met him in the formal sitting room. Alexander offered to stay. Scarlett refused.

'I need to hear him without anyone protecting me from the pain,' she said.

So Alexander waited outside the door, close enough to destroy, far enough to respect her choice.

Richard stood when Scarlett entered. His eyes went to the bruise on her cheek, and for once, he looked truly horrified.

'Who did that?'

'One of the consequences you helped create.'

He flinched. 'Scarlett, I never wanted you harmed.'

'You wanted me controlled. Is that supposed to comfort me?'

Richard sank into a chair. 'The company was drowning. Your grandfather left me with debts, restrictions, enemies—'

'Grandfather left safeguards because he knew you were weak.'

Pain crossed his face. 'I was your father.'

'No,' Scarlett said, voice shaking. 'You were a man who loved me when I made him proud and abandoned me when I became inconvenient.'

Richard covered his face with one hand.

For a second, Scarlett saw memories instead of crimes. Her father lifting her onto his shoulders. Her father clapping at her graduation. Her father crying beside her hospital bed before Evelyn taught him distance.

Then she remembered the recording.

'Did you know Evelyn planned the accident?'

Richard looked up too quickly. 'No.'

'Did you suspect?'

Silence.

Scarlett's heart broke in the quiet.

'Get out,' she whispered.

'Scarlett—'

'Get out before I ask Alexander to drag you out.'

Richard stood unsteadily. At the door, he turned back.

'There is something you do not know about your mother's death.'

Scarlett went still.

Richard's eyes filled with shame. 'Evelyn was there that night.'

Then he left.

Alexander entered immediately after, but Scarlett barely saw him.

Her mother. Her accident. Her stolen life.

Everything was connected.