Chapter 3: THE WILLIAMS MANSION

I ran through the front doors of the Williams estate before the car fully stopped.

The house was enormous, white marble and glass, the kind of home that appeared in magazines. I grew up here. I took my first steps on these floors. But today I could not see any of it. I could only see the hallway leading to my father’s room.

“Where is he?” I grabbed the arm of the nearest staff member.

“The master bedroom, Miss Williams. The doctor is with him.”

I took the stairs two at a time, Anthony behind me. When I pushed open the bedroom door, my father was sitting up in bed with an oxygen tube in his nose, arguing with a doctor.

“I told you I am fine. Get that thing off my face.”

“Father.” My voice cracked.

Benjamin Williams turned his head and saw me. His face changed. The stubbornness melted away, and his eyes, my eyes, the same brown, went soft and full.

“There she is,” he whispered. “My girl.”

I crossed the room and fell into his arms. He smelled like cedar and old books and home. His hand patted my back, strong despite the medical equipment surrounding him.

“I am here,” I said into his shoulder. “I am home. I am sorry it took so long.”

“Three years too long.” He pulled back and held my face in both hands, studying me. His expression darkened. “You are too thin. And those circles under your eyes... that boy starved you.”

“He did not starve me.”

“He starved your spirit. That is worse.” Benjamin released my face and pointed a firm finger at me. “No more. You promised me. Three years, and then you come home. You kept your word. Now keep the rest of it.”

I nodded. “I will.”

Anthony leaned against the doorframe. “Before the family reunion makes me weep, can someone tell me what the doctor said?”

The doctor, a thin man with nervous hands, cleared his throat. “Mr. Williams experienced a mild cardiac episode this morning. His condition is stable, but he needs rest and reduced stress. No major decisions, no heated conversations, no overexertion for at least four weeks.”

Benjamin waved a hand. “I have been running a company for forty years. A little chest pain is not going to stop me.”

“It will stop you,” I said firmly. “Because I am taking over. Starting now.”

The room went still.

Benjamin looked at me with something between pride and surprise. “You are sure? I planned to give you time to settle in. The board meeting is not until next month.”

“Move it up. I have had three years of rest.” The words tasted bitter because they were not true. Three years of suffering, not resting. But I did not say that. “I know this company, Father. I studied every report you sent me. I reviewed every quarterly filing. I am ready.”

Anthony grinned from the doorway. “I told you she would say that.”

Benjamin laughed, then winced and pressed a hand to his chest. “Fine. Fine. But you will need to be introduced to the board. And to the public. No one outside this family knows that the Williams heir exists.”

“Then let us tell them.”

“There is a charity gala in two weeks. Every major company in London will be represented.” Benjamin’s eyes sharpened despite his condition. “That is where we announce you.”

“Perfect.”

Anthony pushed off the doorframe and walked toward me. “In the meantime, I will bring you up to speed on current operations. There is... something you should know about one of our acquisition targets.”

“Which one?”

He hesitated, glancing at our father.

“Tell her,” Benjamin said.

Anthony looked at me. “Valentine Industries. Richard’s company. It has been losing money for six months straight. Their innovation pipeline dried up. Their biggest client dropped them last quarter. We own thirty percent of their debt. If we call it in, they fold within thirty days.”

I stood very still.

“I did not arrange this,” Benjamin added quietly. “The market did. His company was propped up by a consultant who suddenly vanished six months ago. Around the same time you stopped feeding him ideas, I assume.”

My throat felt tight. I turned away, walked to the window, and looked out at the garden below. Roses and hedgerows and stone paths I used to run along as a child.

“What do you want to do?” Anthony asked behind me.

“Nothing. Not yet.” I pressed my fingers against the glass. “The gala comes first. After that, I will decide.”

They accepted this answer. Anthony squeezed my shoulder and left. Benjamin closed his eyes to rest. And I stayed at the window, watching the clouds gather.

My phone buzzed. The old phone. The one connected to my life as Richard’s wife.

His name flashed on the screen.

I stared at it. The phone vibrated again and again, his name pulsing like a heartbeat.

I did not answer. And I did not turn it off either. I just watched it ring until it stopped, and then I set it on the windowsill and walked away.