Chapter 10 - The GunshotThe chapel doors slammed open.
Vivian appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was dressed in black.
Her hair was soaked from the rain.
But her face was calm.
Too calm.
"Emma."
Emma stood beside Lily.
Vivian looked at Lily.
For the first time, fear flashed across her face.
"So you're alive."
Lily stepped backward.
"You knew."
Vivian smiled.
"Of course I knew."
Emma stared.
"You kidnapped her."
"No."
Vivian's smile faded.
"Your father did."
Emma's anger exploded.
"You helped him."
Vivian shrugged.
"I did what I had to do."
"Why?"
"Because Lily was worth billions."
Emma's stomach turned.
Vivian continued.
"Your mother found the money trail. Your father panicked. My father panicked. Adrian's family panicked."
She slowly descended the stairs.
"Everyone was protecting themselves."
"And my mother?"
Vivian's expression hardened.
"She refused."
"Who killed her?"
Vivian looked at Emma.
"Ask Adrian."
Emma froze.
"Why would Adrian know?"
"Because he was there."
A gunshot exploded.
The bullet struck the wall beside Vivian.
Everyone screamed.
Adrian appeared at the chapel entrance.
"Get away from Emma!"
He raised the gun.
Vivian stared at him.
"You always were terrible at choosing sides."
Adrian looked at Lily.
"I told you to leave."
"I couldn't."
Vivian smiled.
"You still protect them."
Adrian's face was pale.
Emma turned toward him.
"You were there?"
Adrian said nothing.
"At my mother's death?"
"I arrived too late."
Emma's voice cracked.
"That's not an answer."
"It was the night everything changed."
"Tell me!"
Adrian looked at Vivian.
Then at Emma.
"I saw your father."
Emma froze.
"What was he doing?"
"He was holding the evidence."
"And my mother?"
"She was alive."
Emma's tears fell.
"Then why didn't you save her?"
Adrian looked devastated.
"Because your father had you."
Emma stared.
"What?"
"He threatened to kill you."
"You were afraid of him?"
"I was twenty-four."
Adrian's voice broke.
"He put a gun to your head."
Emma's heart shattered.
"I was there."
"Where?"
"The car."
Emma shook her head.
"I don't remember."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Your father drugged you."
Emma covered her mouth.
"He made you believe you were asleep at home."
Lily stepped forward.
"Adrian."
He looked at her.
"You didn't tell her everything."
Adrian's expression changed.
"No."
Emma turned.
"What didn't he tell me?"
Lily whispered:
"Your mother gave Adrian something before she died."
"Where is it?"
Adrian looked away.
Vivian laughed softly.
"It's been hidden for years."
Emma stared.
"What?"
Vivian reached into her coat.
A folded document appeared.
"Your mother signed it."
Adrian shouted:
"Don't!"
Vivian threw it onto the floor.
Emma picked it up.
It was a legal document.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
A beneficiary clause.
She read it twice.
Her name.
And an unfamiliar second name.
Emma looked at Adrian.
"Who is Sarah Blake?"
Adrian's face went white.
Lily gasped.
Vivian smiled.
"There it is."
Then another gunshot rang out.
This time, someone screamed.
Adrian fell to his knees.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Emma ran toward him.
"Adrian!"
He grabbed her hand.
"Don't trust..."
His eyes fluttered.
"Don't trust Sarah."
Emma stared at the blood on her fingers.
Sarah.
May you like
Who was Sarah?
And why was everyone terrified of her?
