Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO DIED TWICEThe answer came at the hospital.
The medical examiner revealed that the body found in the warehouse had been badly burned.
Identification had been based on dental records.
But those records were incomplete.
Damian refused to accept the possibility.
"My mother is alive."
The investigator nodded.
"Possibly."
Brianna stared at the security footage.
Their mother entered the hospital with the missing uncle.
Why?
They tracked the man's car.
It led to an underground parking garage.
Damian and Ethan entered first.
Brianna and Ariana followed.
The garage was empty.
Then a voice came from behind them.
"You took your time."
Everyone turned.
Their mother stood there.
Alive.
Older than Brianna remembered.
Tired.
But alive.
Ariana ran toward her.
"Mom!"
Their mother cried as she embraced both daughters.
"I thought you were dead," Brianna whispered.
"I needed everyone to believe I was."
"Why?"
"Because Victor wasn't the real enemy."
Damian stepped forward.
"Then who is?"
Their mother looked at him.
"Your uncle."
A man's voice came from the darkness.
"Finally."
A tall man stepped into the light.
Damian stared at him.
Uncle Richard.
The missing Blackwood.
The man everyone thought was dead.
Richard smiled.
"You were always a stubborn child."
Damian clenched his fists.
"You killed my father."
Richard didn't deny it.
"I saved this family."
"You destroyed it."
"I built it."
Richard explained everything.
Victor Hale had once threatened to expose the Blackwoods.
Richard had manipulated both sides.
He encouraged Victor's revenge.
He manipulated the parents.
He arranged the trust.
He pushed Ariana toward the wedding.
He separated Brianna from Damian.
He had even orchestrated Ariana's disappearance.
Brianna's face twisted with anger.
"Why?"
Richard looked at her.
"Because power must remain with the person who understands how to use it."
"You ruined our lives."
"I created a future."
Damian stepped toward him.
"You used everyone."
Richard smiled.
"Yes."
His smile widened.
"And now I'm almost finished."
He pressed a button.
A screen in the garage lit up.
News channels were showing the same story.
Blackwood empire collapse.
Government investigation.
Bank accounts frozen.
Properties seized.
Richard's expression was satisfied.
"Everything now belongs to me."
Damian stared at the screen.
"You transferred the assets."
Richard nodded.
"Months ago."
Brianna's heart sank.
"The trust."
Richard laughed.
"The trust was only the beginning."
Ariana whispered,
"Then why did you need Brianna?"
"Because she was the legal key."
Richard turned toward her.
"And now she has activated the final transfer."
Brianna froze.
"What transfer?"
Richard smiled.
"The one that makes me the legal owner."
Damian grabbed Richard.
"You're not getting anything."
Richard looked toward the entrance.
Armed men surrounded them.
"You already lost."
Damian released him.
Richard walked away.
Then their mother grabbed Brianna's hand.
"Listen to me."
"What?"
"There is one way to stop him."
She placed a tiny key in Brianna's palm.
"This opens the original trust archive."
"Where?"
Their mother whispered the location.
Brianna's eyes widened.
"The wedding church."
Their mother nodded.
"The truth is still there."
Suddenly a gunshot rang out.
The lights went dark.
When they came back on, Richard was gone.
So was Damian.
Ariana screamed.
Brianna ran toward the exit.
Outside, Richard's vehicle disappeared into the night.
Damian was inside.
A message arrived on Brianna's phone.
Bring the key to the church.
Come alone.
May you like
Or Damian dies.
:::
