Chapter 1122

Sandy went sheet-white, stumbling backward, panic written all over her face.

"What's wrong with you, Sandy? Why are you looking at your dad like I'm a ghost? Lose the wig, wipe off that thick makeup. It's not Halloween, you know."

"Dad... Dad, you you're supposed to be dead." Sandy's whole body was trembling. "Don't come any closer."

"What are you even saying? You drunk or something? I'm standing right here, alive and well, and you're wishing me dead?” Tavon grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's go home. What are you doing out with these shady people anyway?"

He practically dragged her along. Sandy was so out of it, she just followed, not really knowing what was happening. It wasn't until they were in the elevator that she started to come to her senses.

She stared at Tavon's hand, felt its warmth—real, alive, unmistakably human.

When the elevator doors opened, Tavon led her to the parking garage. Sandy yanked her hand away. "No, no way. You're dead."

"Girl, you've really had too much. I'm here, standing in front of you, not dead at all." Tavon set his jaw, giving her a stern look. "I was at Nabb Mount for a bit and you just lost your mind at home. Your mom's bedridden, your brother's not well, and you— out painting the town red. You're a young woman, you know. Who's going to want to marry you if you keep behaving like this?"

But Sandy wasn't listening. She reached out, almost in a trance, and touched his face. "Is this real? You're supposed to be dead. You fell off Nabb Mount. The police made me identify your body. I buried you myself. How could you be standing here? They said they saw you fall... saw you die."

She meant the people she'd paid to make the accident happen.

Tavon was totally baffled.

"Sandy, are you still cursing me? Is that it?" Tavon's brow furrowed, not catching the meaning behind her "they."

"Come home. Now." He dropped his voice into his best dad-command.

But Sandy just couldn't process it. Tavon was supposed to be dead-she'd buried

him, cashed in his estate. Now he was right here, breathing and yelling at her. Who wouldn't freak out?

Anastasia's warning flashed through her mind-was Tavon's spirit back to haunt her?

That thought made her skin crawl. In a burst of panic, Sandy spun on her heel and bolted for the exit, flagged down a cab, and sped off.

Tavon tried to chase after her, but she was gone.

"That ungrateful girl, cursing me dead!" Tavon muttered, stamping his foot and fuming on the sidewalk.

Just then, Tavon turned and spotted Anastasia.

Anastasia and Herman had followed them out, having seen Tavon drag Sandy out of

the bar. They still thought Tavon was some actor in disguise.

Anastasia stared, then shot Herman a surprised look. "Wow, you really found & ringer. He's just like my dad.

If I

't know better'd think he'd

come back from the dead

She turned to Tavon. "Did you get anything out of Sandy just now? My dad's death-was she involved can take off the makeup now No need to keep pretending."

Tavon just looked lost. "Ana, what are you talking about? You cursing me dead, too? Just like that

ungrateful girl? I'm alive and standing right here! What, is me being alive a problem for you? What

are you and your husband doing Willowbrook?"

Anastasia and Herman exchanged glances. Sandy was gone-why was this guy still acting?

Maybe he was just really into the role?

Herman looked Tavon up and down. "You can quit the act now."

Tavon touched his own face, confused. "What act? Son-in-law, this is my actual face."

Herman's expression changed. He reached out and touched Tavon's cheek, his eyes going wide. There was no mask, no makeup. This was real.

Tavon pulled away, embarrassed. "Son-in-law, what are you doing? Don't grab my face in public, that's just weird."

Herman couldn't find words.

But he quickly regained his composure, squeezed Anastasia's hand, and said quietly, "This isn't an actor. This... this really is your dad. He's alive."