C509 Your Father Is Dead

Miller remained alone in the living room. For a long time, he stared at the empty chair where Darry had been sitting. Samson was dead. His sons were divided, and his granddaughters were caught in the middle of a conflict that threatened to destroy the family from within. He had spent years building the Gupta family's power and ensuring that its army remained strong enough to fulfil the government's expectations. Yet now, when his family needed him most, he could not find a decision that would satisfy everyone. Tears gathered in his eyes. “Samson,” he whispered. His voice broke. “You were my firstborn son.” He lowered his head into his hands. “And now you're gone.” Miller allowed himself to grieve without trying to hide it behind the authority of his position. He wanted justice for his son. He wanted the person responsible to answer for what had happened. But he also knew that if he allowed grief to dictate every decision, there might soon be no family left to protect. And that was a thought he could barely bear. Meanwhile, Darry entered his villa and closed the door behind him. For several seconds, he stood in silence, trying to steady his breathing. His confrontation with Victor had left him angry, but beneath that anger was something much more painful. Samson was dead.

His older brother, a man who had been part of his life for years, was gone. And no matter how much Darry wanted to defend Hanna, he could not erase the fact that she had become connected to his brother's death. He rubbed his face before reaching for his phone. There was only one person he needed to speak to. Hanna. He dialled her number. It rang twice before she answered. “Second Father?” Her voice was tense, as though she had been waiting for his call. “What happened? Did you stop him?” Darry closed his eyes. He had rehearsed what he wanted to say, but now that he had to tell her the truth, every word seemed impossible. “My child…” His voice broke. “I'm sorry.” There was a brief silence on the other end. “What do you mean?” Darry swallowed hard. “I couldn't reach him in time. They got to him first.” Hanna stopped breathing for a moment. “Second Father, what are you saying?” Darry struggled to continue. “Your father is dead, my child.” For several seconds, Hanna made no sound. Then a broken cry escaped her. “My father?” Darry pressed the phone closer to his ear. “I'm sorry, Hanna.” “No…” Her voice trembled. “No, no, no. What do you mean he's dead?” She began crying harder. “My father is dead?” Darry's own eyes filled with tears. “Yes, my child.” Hanna let out another cry, the kind that came from somewhere deeper than words. Her father was dead. And she would never see him again.

For several moments, Darry could hear only her sobbing. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would somehow be all right. But he knew he couldn't make that promise. Finally, he spoke again. “I'm sorry, Hanna. I should have reached him sooner.” Hanna's crying gradually subsided enough for her to speak. “Who did it?” Darry hesitated. He knew the answer would make the situation worse, but he couldn't lie to her. “Alicia.” Hanna went silent. Then her voice changed. “Alicia did this?” Darry nodded instinctively, even though she couldn't see him. “Yes. That's what I was told.” Hanna took a shaky breath. For a moment, she seemed unable to process the words. Hanna wiped her face, trying to steady herself. “What happens now, Second Father?” Darry looked towards the window. “I spoke to Victor and Miller. They know I've been in contact with you.” Hanna's expression tightened. “You told them where I am?” “No. I didn't give them your location. You don't have to worry I will protect you with everything I have.” She exhaled shakily. “Thank you.” Hanna wiped her tears again. “What did grandpa Miller say?” “He said the government's mission comes first. He will consider her punishment later.”

Hanna gave a bitter laugh. “So even after what she did, they are still protecting her. Yet they are chasing after me.” “It's more complicated than that.” “Is it?” Her voice sharpened. “My father is dead, Second Father. He is never coming back. And they're talking about keeping Alicia in command as though nothing happened?” Darry closed his eyes. “I understand that you're angry.” “No, you don't!” The sudden outburst startled him. Hanna began crying again. “You don't know how I feel. Being betrayed by my own family like this. My blood family is chasing after me for killing someone who is not even related to us. Yet they are letting Alicia who killed my father walk free. They are protecting a stranger rather then their own blood." Her voice cracked. “My biggest regret is that I wasn't there to protect my father. I should have spoken to him. I should have found a way to see him. Now I can't even tell him…” She stopped, unable to finish. Darry remained silent, allowing her to grieve. After a while, Hanna drew a shaky breath. “Thank you for protecting me, Second Father. I know you could have told them where I was, but you didn't.” “You're my child, Hanna. I won't abandon you.” She nodded, wiping her cheeks. “But tell Grandpa something for me.” Darry frowned. “What is it?” “Tell him that all of this is his fault. He is to be blamed for all this.” “Hanna...” “No. He needs to hear it.” Her voice grew cold. “And Alicia…” “I will make Alicia pay for what she did.”

Darry tried to calm her down. “Hanna, listen to me...” “No, Second Father. You have protected me, and I'm grateful. But I will not forgive Alicia for taking my father from me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “She took him away from me. I will make her regret it a hundred times over.” Darry's heart sank. “My child, don't make a decision while you're grieving. Think carefully before you do anything.” Hanna said nothing. “Promise me you won't rush into something that could get you killed.” After a long pause, she answered. “Don't worry, I'll be careful.” It wasn't the reassurance Darry had hoped for. But it was all she offered. “Please stay where you are for now,” he told her. “Don't draw attention to yourself. I'll contact you if anything changes.” “Thank you, Second Father.” The call ended. Darry lowered his phone slowly. He had protected Hanna from Victor, but he had not protected her from the truth. Darry feared that no amount of advice would stop Hanna from seeking revenge. He could only hope that, this time, she would listen before allowing her grief to make another decision for her. But Hanna was already thinking about what came next.

Hanna sat motionless for several minutes after ending the call. Her tears had left her face damp, and her hands trembled in her lap. Her father was dead. The words continued repeating in her mind, each time bringing a fresh wave of pain. She remembered the times Samson had protected her, the moments they had disagreed, and the things she had wanted to tell him but had left for another day. She had believed there would always be another opportunity. Now there wasn't. She pressed her hands against her face and cried again. For a brief moment, she was no longer the woman who had spent months running from the Gupta family. She was simply a daughter who had lost her father. But grief could change shape. And as the minutes passed, her sorrow began to harden into anger. Alicia. The name alone made Hanna's hands tighten. Killing your son was not enough for you to step away. Now wait and see what's coming. She reached for her phone. She dialled Charlie's number. She answered after a few rings. “Ann?” Hanna's eyes narrowed at the alias. “Charlie, inform everyone that I am on my way. I need to speak to them." There was a pause. “Ann, that might be hard.” Hanna straightened. “What is hard?” “Most of the men aren't here. You sent them to collect the shipment from Alvaro. Only a few have remained behind.”

Hanna closed her eyes in frustration. For a moment, she had forgotten about the shipment. Her mind had been consumed by the news of Samson's death, leaving little room for anything else. “Damn it.” Charlie remained quiet. Hanna paced the room, trying to think. She wanted to make a move immediately. She wanted revenge. But she couldn't ignore the fact that most of her men were away. Going ahead without them would be reckless. “Fine,” she finally said. “I'll come tomorrow morning.” “Are you sure?” “Yes. Make sure the men are ready when I arrive.” “All right, Ann.” Hanna ended the call. For several seconds, she stared at the phone in her hand. Tomorrow morning. She would have to wait until then. She hated waiting. She felt like she had no control over what had happened. But she knew she couldn't afford to act without thinking. She lifted her head, and the tears in her eyes began to dry. Alicia you will pay.