Chapter 7: The Man in the Photograph

Isabella had spent years believing her father abandoned the family before she was old enough to remember him. Now, her grandmother’s final message suggested he had been involved in the betrayal that destroyed the Laurent family.

She stared at the photograph, unable to look away from the familiar face of Eleanor.

“Who is the other man?” she asked.

Dominic pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. “His name is Victor Vance.”

Isabella’s head snapped up.

“Alexander’s father?”

“Yes.”

Alexander immediately stepped forward. “That’s enough, Dominic.”

Dominic didn’t even look at him. “Your father was involved in a failed acquisition attempt against Laurent Holdings. Eleanor rejected the deal, but Victor didn’t accept her decision.”

“You’re making it sound like my father committed a crime,” Alexander said.

“Did he?”

The question hung in the room.

Alexander’s silence was answer enough to make Isabella suspicious.

She turned back to Dominic. “And what does my father have to do with this?”

“That’s what we’re trying to establish.”

“You’re trying to establish?” Isabella repeated. “You came here with this photograph, so surely you know more than you’re telling me.”

Dominic’s expression remained calm, but something changed in his eyes.

“Your grandmother and my father believed your father’s disappearance was connected to the failed acquisition. They suspected he had taken something important before he disappeared.”

“What did he take?”

“A set of original ownership documents.”

Michael slowly closed the black box. “Those documents could determine who has legitimate control over several Laurent assets.”

Isabella felt the room closing in around her.

Her father had disappeared when she was a child. Her grandmother had rarely spoken about him, and whenever Isabella asked questions, Eleanor would change the subject.

She had assumed it was because the memories were painful.

Now she wondered whether the silence had been deliberate.

“Why didn’t my grandmother tell me any of this?” she asked.

“She wanted to protect you,” Michael replied. “At least, that’s what she wrote in her instructions.”

Alexander let out a bitter laugh.

“Convenient. Everyone seems to know something about Isabella’s family except Isabella herself.”

She turned toward him.

“You’re the last person who should be discussing honesty.”

His face tightened.

“Isabella, listen to me. Whatever happened between our families, it has nothing to do with our relationship.”

“Our relationship?” She shook her head. “You mean the relationship you built on a fake marriage certificate?”

Alexander lowered his voice. “I made mistakes, but I did love you.”

“Then why did you marry Vanessa?”

He had no answer.

Dominic stood, interrupting the silence.

“Mr. Vance, I believe your presence here has become unnecessary.”

Alexander ignored him and looked at Isabella.

“You should be careful who you trust. Dominic’s family has been involved in this longer than you realize.”

Dominic’s expression hardened.

“Leave.”

This time, Alexander obeyed, but not before giving Isabella one final look.

“You’ll regret shutting me out.”

The door closed behind him.

For several moments, Isabella remained seated, trying to process everything.

Dominic returned to his chair.

“You knew about Victor Vance,” she said.

“I knew about the failed acquisition. I didn’t know the full extent of his involvement.”

“But you knew my father was connected to it.”

“I knew there were questions surrounding his disappearance.”

“Why didn’t you tell me when we first met?”

Dominic leaned forward.

“Because I wanted to confirm the information before putting another burden on you.”

“That’s the same excuse everyone uses when they decide I can’t handle the truth.”

He accepted the criticism without arguing.

“You’re right. I should have told you.”

His admission caught her off guard.

Isabella looked at the photograph again. “I need to find my father.”

“Then we’ll look for him.”

She raised her eyes. “We?”

“If you choose to accept my proposal, our resources will be available to you. But even if you refuse, I won’t stop you from searching.”

“Why are you so interested in helping me?”

Dominic was quiet for a moment.

“Because your grandmother once helped my family when no one else would. I owe her a debt.”

It sounded reasonable, but Isabella had learned that reasonable explanations could hide ugly truths.

“And the marriage agreement?”

“Still stands. Two years, clearly defined terms, and no interference with your independence.”

“I haven’t agreed.”

“I know.”

He gathered his papers, then paused beside her chair.

“One more thing. Don’t return to the Vance residence, and don’t meet Alexander alone. He’s becoming desperate.”

Isabella looked up at him.

“Is that an order?”

“No.” His gaze held hers. “It’s a warning.”

For the first time, she noticed how close he was standing. His voice was calm, but there was something protective beneath it that she couldn’t quite understand.

She quickly looked away.

That evening, Alexander returned home furious.

Vanessa was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone when he threw his car keys onto the table.

“Isabella has the photograph.”

Vanessa’s fingers stopped moving.

“What photograph?”

“The one of Eleanor, my father, and Richard Sterling.”

Vanessa slowly put her phone down.

“Then she knows about Victor?”

“She knows enough to start asking questions.”

Vanessa stood and walked toward the window.

“Did she see the writing on the back?”

Alexander frowned. “Yes. It mentioned her father.”

For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely frightened.

“Then we have a problem.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

She turned around, her expression suddenly guarded.

“Five years ago, Victor didn’t just try to acquire Laurent Holdings. He made a deal with someone inside the Laurent family.”

Alexander stared at her.

“Who?”

Vanessa opened her mouth, but before she could answer, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and went pale.

Alexander noticed the caller’s name.

Unknown Number.

He took a step toward her.

“Answer it.”

Vanessa declined the call.

A message appeared immediately.

Tell Alexander what happened to Isabella’s father, or I’ll tell him myself.

Alexander snatched the phone from her hand.

“Vanessa, what happened to her father?”

She looked at him, her lips trembling.

Then she whispered, “Your father didn’t make him disappear, Alexander.”

She swallowed hard.

“Your father helped him escape.”