Chapter 7 - The Second AttemptMy father's funeral was held three days later.
There were cameras everywhere.
People cried.
People gave speeches.
People called him a devoted father.
I stood behind the cemetery fence.
Watching.
Not mourning.
Not yet.
Juliette arrived alone.
She looked older than she had at the wedding.
Daniel was missing.
Marcus stood beside me.
"He'll come for the ledger."
"I don't have it."
Marcus looked at me.
"Don't lie to me."
I stared at him.
"You lied first."
He said nothing.
I pulled out a second ledger.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"From your office."
He reached for it.
I stepped back.
"You've been working with them."
"No."
"Then explain why your name appears beside twelve payments."
He looked genuinely shocked.
"I never received those."
"Someone used your identity."
He studied the pages.
Then whispered:
"Juliette."
Before I could respond, the cemetery gates closed.
A limousine stopped outside.
Daniel stepped out.
He was holding a gun.
Everyone ran.
He walked toward us.
"Caroline."
Marcus drew his weapon.
Daniel smiled.
"You still don't understand."
"What?"
"You were never the heir."
I froze.
"The trust was a decoy."
He opened a folder.
"The real fortune belongs to someone else."
"Who?"
Daniel looked toward the cemetery.
At my mother's grave.
"Your mother."
My mother was standing behind us.
Alive.
Daniel smiled.
"Hello, Evelyn."
My mother went white.
Daniel raised the gun.
"Tell her."
She didn't speak.
"Tell Caroline what you did."
My mother closed her eyes.
"I made a deal."
"With whom?"
She looked at me.
"The man who controls the ledger."
Daniel smiled.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
A sniper shot cracked through the air.
Daniel dropped.
But before he hit the ground, he smiled.
He had been expecting it.
He pointed toward the cemetery.
"There."
We turned.
A figure was running between the graves.
Marcus chased him.
I followed.
We reached the far side of the cemetery.
The figure disappeared behind a mausoleum.
Inside, I found a wooden box.
My name was carved into it.
I opened it.
Inside was a child's bracelet.
Mine.
And a photograph.
My mother holding me as a baby.
Standing beside her was a man I had never seen.
May you like
On the back:
YOUR REAL FATHER.
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