Chapter 13 - The Second HeirMy mother survived.
The bullet grazed her shoulder.
But the message on the window changed everything.
Alexander moved Noah to a secure location.
Lucy finally appeared two hours later.
Alive.
Bruised.
Furious.
She hugged me so hard I couldn't breathe.
I cried anyway.
“You're alive.”
“I told you I would come back.”
“You disappeared.”
“I was hiding.”
“Why didn't you contact me?”
“Because Nathaniel had people everywhere.”
She looked at Alexander.
“I don't know whether to trust you.”
“You don't have to.”
Lucy nodded.
“That is the first sensible thing you have said.”
We gathered around a table.
My mother.
Lucy.
Alexander.
Me.
And Noah sleeping nearby.
Lucy placed a small metal box on the table.
“I stole this from Nathaniel.”
Inside was a key.
A black USB drive.
And a photograph.
The photograph showed a young girl.
Lily.
Beside her stood Alexander's late wife.
On the back was written:
THE SECOND HEIR KNOWS EVERYTHING.
“Where is Lily?” I asked.
Lucy looked at me.
“Here.”
The door opened.
Lily walked in.
Alexander couldn't speak.
She stared at him.
“You don't remember me.”
“I've never met you.”
“Yes.”
She smiled sadly.
“You weren't supposed to.”
Lily sat down.
“Mom told me you loved me.”
Alexander's eyes filled.
“She also told me I abandoned you.”
“She lied to protect you.”
“From my father?”
“Yes.”
Lily turned toward my mother.
“Your mother told me the truth.”
I looked at my mother.
“You knew Lily?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Twenty years.”
“Then why was she hidden?”
“Because your father planned to use her against Alexander.”
Lily placed the USB drive on the table.
“I have the original trust.”
Alexander leaned forward.
“Where?”
“On this.”
He connected the drive.
A video began.
His late wife appeared.
She looked directly into the camera.
“Alexander, if you're seeing this, then Noah is safe.”
She paused.
“If Emma is with you, trust her.”
Alexander looked at me.
The video continued.
“Eleanor will try to make you believe Emma is the threat.”
A long silence.
“She isn't.”
Another document appeared.
A DNA report.
Emma Harper.
Alexander Sterling.
The result:
Half-sibling relationship.
Alexander stared at the screen.
I felt numb.
My mother's voice trembled.
“He is your half-brother.”
Alexander stood.
Neither of us spoke.
Then Noah woke.
He walked into the room.
Looked at Alexander.
Looked at me.
Then smiled.
“Does that mean she's family?”
Alexander looked at him.
“Yes.”
Noah smiled wider.
“Then Emma can stay.”
I began crying.
But before anyone could speak, the video changed.
Alexander's late wife looked frightened.
“There is one more thing.”
Her eyes moved off-camera.
“As soon as this file is played…”
She stopped.
The door behind her opened.
Someone entered.
She whispered:
“He found me.”
The recording ended.
The room was silent.
Then the building's fire alarm began.
Smoke filled the hallway.
My mother screamed.
“Everyone out!”
I grabbed Noah.
Alexander grabbed Lily.
Lucy opened the door.
Fire rushed into the corridor.
Someone had set the entire floor on fire.
And across the hallway, through the smoke, stood Eleanor.
She was holding a lighter.
May you like
She looked directly at me.
And smiled.
