Chapter 8 - UNDER THE CEMETERYThe old Blackwood cemetery was hidden behind thick trees.
Ariana led Brianna through the darkness.
Rain began falling.
They reached a massive stone monument.
"Here."
Brianna looked around.
"What are we looking for?"
Ariana pointed toward the crypt.
"My mother told me something when I was little."
"What?"
"She said the dead were the only people the family couldn't threaten."
They entered.
Inside was a staircase.
It led underground.
At the bottom was a steel door.
Ariana used the stolen key.
The door opened.
Rows of storage cabinets filled the room.
Brianna pulled one open.
Inside were contracts.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Letters.
A complete history of the Blackwood family.
Ariana found a folder labeled Hale.
Inside was a medical file.
Another folder was labeled Brianna.
Brianna opened it.
Her adoption papers were there.
Except she had never been adopted.
She had been registered under a false surname when she was born.
The paperwork identified Victor Hale as her biological father.
Then she found something worse.
A second document.
A death certificate.
Her name.
The date was fifteen years ago.
Brianna stared at it.
"Why would there be a death certificate for me?"
Ariana's face became pale.
"Because Dad wanted the world to believe you were dead."
"Why?"
Ariana read the next page.
"To activate the trust."
Brianna frowned.
"That makes no sense."
"It does."
Ariana continued reading.
"If Brianna were legally declared dead, the trust would transfer to the next heir."
"That means you."
Ariana nodded.
"But someone stopped it."
"Who?"
Ariana looked at the signature.
"Mom."
Their mother had secretly blocked the transfer.
She had saved Brianna.
And that was when Victor began controlling the family.
Brianna covered her mouth.
"So Mom protected me."
Ariana nodded.
"For years."
Then they heard footsteps.
Both sisters froze.
Someone was approaching.
Ariana extinguished the flashlight.
The footsteps grew louder.
A shadow appeared beneath the door.
The handle moved.
Brianna held her breath.
The door opened.
A man stepped inside.
It was Ethan.
Damian's brother.
Ariana nearly screamed.
"What are you doing here?"
Ethan looked exhausted.
"I've been looking for you."
Brianna stared at him.
"You were with Ariana on my wedding day."
He nodded.
"I was."
"Why?"
Ethan closed the door.
"Because she was trying to escape."
Ariana stared at him.
"And you helped."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Ethan looked at Brianna.
"Because I knew what our father had done."
Brianna whispered,
"Damian's father?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Ariana.
"Victor."
Silence.
Ethan continued.
"Victor isn't just your father."
Brianna frowned.
"What else is he?"
Ethan swallowed.
"He killed Damian's father."
Ariana stepped backward.
"No."
"He destroyed the Blackwood family before Damian ever inherited the company."
Brianna stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because Damian's father stole Victor's fortune."
Ethan pulled out a file.
"But that's not the worst part."
Brianna's hands trembled.
"What is?"
Ethan looked directly at her.
"Damian was adopted."
Brianna froze.
"What?"
Ethan's voice dropped.
"And his biological father was Victor Hale's greatest enemy."
Suddenly the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded.
Ethan fell.
Brianna screamed.
Someone had entered the room.
Ariana grabbed her hand.
"RUN!"
As they fled, Brianna looked back.
Ethan was lying motionless on the floor.
May you like
And beside him was Victor Hale.
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