Chapter 13 - The ChurchThe church was empty.
The same church where Julian had kissed me yesterday.
The same altar where I had promised forever.
Now it looked like a crime scene waiting to happen.
I walked down the aisle alone.
“Hello?”
My mother was nowhere.
Victoria stepped out from behind the altar.
She held a gun.
Beside her stood Stephen Vale.
I stopped.
“You lied about everything.”
Stephen smiled.
“Not everything.”
“What does that mean?”
He raised a folder.
“Your father’s trust.”
I stared.
“You want it.”
“We need it.”
“You destroyed my family.”
Victoria laughed.
“Your family destroyed itself.”
She looked at Julian, who had entered through the side door.
“I told you not to bring him.”
Julian stepped forward.
“I’m done obeying you.”
Victoria lifted the gun.
“Then die.”
Julian stopped.
Stephen shook his head.
“Wait.”
He looked at me.
“Sign the transfer.”
I laughed.
“You really think I’m going to sign?”
“Your mother is alive.”
He gestured toward the basement.
“She can remain alive.”
I looked at Victoria.
“Release her.”
“Sign first.”
I stepped toward the table.
The transfer document was already prepared.
I picked up the pen.
Julian whispered:
“Elena, don’t.”
I ignored him.
Victoria smiled.
“Smart girl.”
I signed.
She laughed.
“It’s done.”
I placed the pen down.
Then looked at her.
“But you made one mistake.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“You assumed the document mattered.”
I pulled out my phone.
“I sent a copy to federal investigators.”
Victoria froze.
Stephen lunged toward me.
Julian tackled him.
Chaos exploded.
Victoria fired.
The shot went into the ceiling.
My mother appeared from the basement doorway.
She had freed herself.
Catherine and Marcus entered behind her with officers.
Victoria screamed.
“No!”
She tried to run.
Police surrounded her.
Stephen was dragged away.
Julian stood breathing heavily.
He looked at me.
“You knew they were coming.”
I nodded.
“I learned from you.”
He almost smiled.
Then Victoria shouted.
“You think you won?”
Everyone turned.
She stared at me.
“The transfer is valid.”
I frowned.
“No.”
She smiled.
“There is no way around it.”
Then Stephen suddenly laughed.
The officers stopped.
He looked at Victoria.
“You forgot something.”
She turned.
Stephen whispered:
“The trust amendment.”
Her face changed.
“What amendment?”
Catherine stepped forward.
“The amendment your husband filed yesterday.”
I looked at Julian.
“What did you do?”
He took a folded paper from his pocket.
“I never filed the transfer.”
He handed it to me.
I read it.
The trust contained a clause.
Any attempt to obtain control through fraud automatically triggered a transfer to a protected independent foundation.
Meaning the Whitmores got nothing.
Victoria’s face collapsed.
“You…”
Julian looked at her.
“I told you.”
He turned toward me.
“I was supposed to become a monster.”
His voice broke.
“But I changed my mind.”
Victoria was taken away.
The church became silent.
I looked at Julian.
“I don’t forgive you.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“But I owe you one thing.”
“What?”
“The truth.”
He looked at me.
“I know.”
I walked past him.
Then stopped.
“There’s one thing you haven’t told me.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“Who killed my father?”
Julian’s face went pale.
He looked toward my mother.
She began to cry.
May you like
And Julian whispered:
“It wasn’t Victoria.”
