Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CIRCLEJosiah gathered every loyal man he had.

The city woke to sirens.

Safehouses were activated.

Weapons were moved.

Money disappeared from accounts.

Contacts stopped answering.

Someone had declared war.

But Willow barely noticed.

She sat beside Mia in a dark room.

The little girl rested her head against Willow's shoulder.

“Are we going to die?”

Willow looked at her.

“No.”

Mia's eyes searched hers.

“How do you know?”

“Because I'm not done fighting.”

Josiah entered.

He placed a file on the table.

“We found the Circle's leader.”

Willow looked up.

“Who?”

He opened the file.

A photograph.

An elegant woman in her sixties.

“Evelyn Vale.”

Willow frowned.

“Vale?”

Josiah's expression was grim.

“My mother.”

Willow stared.

“Your mother?”

“She founded the Circle.”

Mia looked confused.

“Grandma?”

Josiah nodded.

Mia's face went pale.

“She came to my room.”

Josiah immediately crouched.

“When?”

“Before Uncle Adrian appeared.”

“What did she say?”

Mia whispered:

“She told me Daddy wasn't my real family.”

Josiah closed his eyes.

Everything clicked.

His mother had spent years manipulating him.

Making him believe Elena's death was an accident.

Making him fear his enemies.

Making him build a criminal empire she could eventually control.

Willow looked at the file.

“Why does she want Mia?”

Josiah answered:

“Because Mia is the heir.”

“Heir to what?”

“The Vale network.”

Willow frowned.

“You're saying your daughter is the key to the entire organization?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn't you know?”

Josiah looked away.

“Because Elena hid it.”

A phone rang.

Everyone froze.

Josiah answered.

His mother's voice came through.

“You've finally figured it out.”

Josiah's expression turned murderous.

“Where is Mia's mother?”

A pause.

“Dead.”

Willow froze.

“My mother?”

“No.”

Evelyn laughed.

“Her real mother.”

Willow looked at Mia.

Evelyn continued.

“You've been chasing the wrong woman.”

Josiah's jaw tightened.

“What do you want?”

“The ledger.”

“You don't have it.”

“I don't need the ledger.”

She paused.

“I need the person who can open it.”

Josiah looked at Willow.

The realization hit them simultaneously.

Willow.

Her father's experiments.

Project Mirror.

Her genetic access.

She wasn't only involved.

She was the key.

Evelyn said:

“Bring Willow to the old courthouse.”

“And Mia?”

“Alive.”

“Promise?”

“No.”

The line went dead.

Josiah turned.

“I'm going.”

Willow shook her head.

“We're going.”

“No.”

“They need me.”

“They'll kill you.”

“They'll kill Mia first.”

Josiah looked at her.

Then at Mia.

Finally, he nodded.

The courthouse was deserted.

Every window was black.

They entered through the main doors.

At the center of the courtroom stood Evelyn.

Elegant.

Calm.

Surrounded by armed men.

Mia was beside her.

Willow stepped forward.

“Let her go.”

Evelyn smiled.

“So much like your father.”

Willow froze.

“My father?”

“He told you he protected you.”

“Yes.”

“He lied.”

Evelyn reached into her purse.

She pulled out a DNA report.

She handed it to Willow.

Willow read it.

Her heart stopped.

The father listed on the document wasn't the man standing beside her.

It wasn't Josiah.

It wasn't anyone she knew.

The report contained another name.

A name that made Adrian's face turn white.

Evelyn whispered:

“Your father isn't dead.”

She pointed toward Josiah.

“He's standing right there.”

Willow looked at Josiah.

His face had gone completely pale.

Mia whispered:

“Daddy?”

Evelyn smiled.

“Tell them the truth, Josiah.”

He said nothing.

Evelyn's smile widened.

“Tell Willow who her father really is.”

Josiah closed his eyes.

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Then whispered:

“Adrian.”