Chapter 8 - The Man Who Was Supposed to Be DeadThe police arrived within twenty minutes.
Alexander refused them.
Not because he didn't want Noah found.
Because he knew whoever had taken him was expecting law enforcement.
“He wants me alone,” Alexander said.
I stared at him.
“Then you're not going alone.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“He took Noah because he believes you still follow his rules.”
Alexander looked at me.
“I don't.”
“Then prove it.”
We traced the call.
Three possible locations.
All owned through shell companies.
The first was abandoned.
The second had been sold.
The third was a private estate two hours outside Manhattan.
Alexander drove.
I sat beside him.
He said almost nothing.
At the halfway point, he asked:
“Why did you really resign?”
I looked through the window.
“Because I found the room.”
“What else?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of my family?”
“Yes.”
“Of me?”
I hesitated.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
When we reached the estate, the gate was open.
No guards.
No cameras.
No vehicles.
It was too quiet.
We entered.
The front doors opened by themselves.
Noah's stuffed rabbit sat in the center of the marble floor.
Alexander picked it up.
His fingers tightened.
A speaker crackled overhead.
“Alexander.”
The voice was old.
Calm.
“Welcome home.”
Alexander looked upward.
“Nathaniel.”
A man stepped into the balcony light.
Gray hair.
Perfect suit.
Walking stick.
Cold eyes.
He looked exactly like the photographs.
My knees nearly gave out.
The dead man had a face.
Nathaniel smiled.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
“Where is my son?”
“Safe.”
“Bring him out.”
“Not yet.”
Nathaniel looked at me.
“So this is Emma.”
I said nothing.
“You resemble your mother.”
Alexander went still.
“My mother knew you?”
Nathaniel smiled.
“She feared me.”
“You ruined her life.”
“No.”
His smile disappeared.
“I protected what belonged to me.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“My son does not belong to you.”
Nathaniel laughed softly.
“The Sterling family doesn't operate on sentimental principles.”
“What do you want?”
“Control.”
“Of the company?”
“Of everything.”
Nathaniel pointed toward a table.
A legal document sat there.
“Sign that.”
Alexander looked at it.
Guardianship transfer.
Temporary custody.
Trust authority.
Everything.
Nathaniel wanted control over Noah’s inheritance.
Alexander tore it in half.
Nathaniel's smile vanished.
“You always were stubborn.”
“I learned from you.”
Nathaniel's eyes moved to me.
“Perhaps Emma can convince you.”
I stepped forward.
“You don't know me.”
“I know more than you think.”
A screen turned on behind him.
Footage appeared.
Me entering Sterling House on my first day.
Me caring for Noah.
Me looking through the old study.
Me speaking with Mrs. Bell.
Then another video.
My sister.
Lucy.
Alive.
Locked inside a room.
I ran toward the screen.
“Where is she?”
Nathaniel smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
The screen changed again.
A live camera feed.
A warehouse.
Lucy was tied to a chair.
She was barely conscious.
I screamed her name.
“LUCY!”
Her eyes opened.
She looked directly into the camera.
Then she whispered:
“Emma… don't trust Alexander.”
I turned.
Alexander was standing behind me.
Gun drawn.
And two red dots appeared on his chest.
May you like
Nathaniel said:
“You have thirty seconds to decide which person you want to save.”
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