CHAPTER 1: THE SCREAM FROM THE COFFIN
Emily Parker was fourteen years old when billionaire Richard Hawthorne changed her life forever.
Before meeting him, she had spent her childhood in a crowded orphanage on the outskirts of Boston. She had learned not to expect much from life. Every year she watched other children get adopted while she remained behind.
Then Richard Hawthorne walked through the doors.
He was one of the richest men in America. The founder of Hawthorne Industries. Newspapers constantly wrote about his wealth, his investments, and his luxurious lifestyle.
Yet when he sat down beside Emily, he didn't ask about grades or achievements.
He asked a simple question.
"What do you dream about?"
No one had ever asked her that before.
Months later, Emily became his adopted daughter.
For the first time in her life, she had a home.
Richard treated her like his own child.
Unfortunately, his biological children did not.
His son, Jason, and daughter, Victoria, viewed Emily as an intruder.
To them, she was nothing more than a poor orphan who had somehow entered their wealthy world.
As years passed, Richard's relationship with his biological children grew worse.
Jason constantly demanded money for failed business ventures.
Victoria spent millions on luxury vacations, jewelry, and designer clothes.
Neither seemed interested in their father.
Only his fortune.
Meanwhile, Emily stayed close to him.
She accompanied him to doctor appointments.
She helped him during difficult days.
She listened when he felt lonely.
And Richard often told her something strange.
"If anything ever happens to me, trust your instincts, Emily."
At the time, she never understood what he meant.
Then one night everything changed.
Richard was found unconscious in his bedroom.
Doctors arrived within minutes.
Hours later, they declared him dead.
Official cause: cardiac arrest.
The news shocked the country.
Television channels interrupted regular programming.
Stock markets reacted immediately.
But inside Hawthorne Mansion, something felt wrong.
Jason and Victoria barely shed a tear.
Instead, they immediately began discussing inheritance lawyers.
Company shares.
Private accounts.
Properties.
Private islands.
Yachts.
Emily sat silently while listening to them divide their father's empire before he had even been buried.
The next day, the cremation ceremony was held.
Only a handful of people attended.
The billionaire's biological children arrived late.
After standing beside the coffin for less than five minutes, they left.
They claimed they had an urgent meeting with attorneys.
Soon, only Emily remained.
The massive crematorium felt cold and empty.
She placed her trembling hand on the coffin.
"Thank you for saving me, Dad," she whispered.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
The crematorium employee nodded respectfully.
Then he activated the conveyor system.
Slowly, the coffin began moving toward the blazing furnace.
Emily watched through blurry eyes.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Thenā
A sound.
A faint muffled thump.
Emily's heart stopped.
She looked around.
The room was silent.
Then she heard it again.
A weak scratching sound.
Coming from inside the coffin.
"STOP!"
The employee jumped.
"What?"
"I heard something!"
The man shook his head.
"You're grieving."
"No. I heard it."
The coffin continued moving.
Only inches remained before the furnace.
Then came a third sound.
Louder.
A desperate bang.
Emily screamed.
"STOP IT RIGHT NOW!"
The panic in her voice shocked everyone.
The employee slammed the emergency button.
The conveyor halted.
The coffin stopped less than two feet from the flames.
Workers gathered around.
Emily pointed at the coffin.
"Open it."
The employee hesitated.
"Miss, your father was examined by doctors."
"OPEN IT!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
Finally, they agreed.
Three workers began removing the screws.
The lid slowly lifted.
Everyone leaned forward.
And then every person in the room froze.
Because lying beside Richard Hawthorne's body was something no one should ever find inside a coffin.
A second human hand.
Fresh.
May you like
Bloody.
And still warm.
