Chapter 10 - The Betrayal No One Saw ComingHer name was Evelyn Price.
For twelve years she had been Caleb's personal attorney.
She had handled his businesses.
His trusts.
His inheritance.
His legal affairs.
Caleb had trusted her completely.
Now she stood beside Martin.
“You,” he whispered.
Evelyn smiled.
“You always were easier to manipulate than your mother.”
Caleb's jaw tightened.
“How long?”
“Since you inherited the estate.”
Martin stepped forward.
“You thought you were a millionaire because of your intelligence.”
Caleb stared at him.
“I made my own money.”
“You inherited the platform that made it possible.”
Evelyn opened the folder.
“Your companies were quietly structured through Hart assets.”
Caleb felt sick.
“You own everything.”
“No.”
Martin smiled.
“You do.”
Then he held up another document.
“And that's the problem.”
Caleb's mother stepped outside.
“Martin.”
He looked at her.
“You should have stayed dead.”
She smiled.
“So should you.”
Martin raised the gun.
George moved first.
The shot struck the railing.
People screamed.
Caleb dragged his mother inside.
Olivia grabbed the babies.
Evelyn stood frozen.
Martin shouted,
“Get the children!”
Chaos erupted.
Clara slammed the door.
George tackled one of the men.
Caleb ran through the back hallway with Olivia.
They reached a hidden cellar.
But the door wouldn't open.
Caleb looked at the lock.
It required a key.
Olivia reached into her pocket.
She pulled out the same tiny key from the estate.
She inserted it.
The door opened.
Inside was a tunnel.
Caleb stared.
“Where does this go?”
“To the river.”
They ran.
The babies cried.
Olivia held them tightly.
At the end of the tunnel was a boat.
They climbed aboard.
Caleb started the engine.
Behind them, gunfire echoed.
Then something struck the boat.
The engine sputtered.
Caleb cursed.
Olivia looked back.
A black SUV had reached the riverbank.
Martin stood beside it.
He shouted something.
Caleb couldn't hear.
Then George appeared behind Martin.
Blood covered one side of his shirt.
“Dad!”
George pointed toward the river.
“Go!”
Caleb hesitated.
George shouted,
“GO!”
The boat surged forward.
Caleb looked back one final time.
His father stood alone on the bank.
Martin raised his weapon.
Then the river bent sharply.
The scene disappeared.
Caleb's eyes filled with tears.
He looked at the children.
Olivia whispered,
“Your father knew this was coming.”
Caleb nodded.
Then he noticed something tucked beneath the baby's blanket.
A small envelope.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
On the back, written in his mother's handwriting:
“Caleb, when you find this, ask Olivia why she was chosen.”
Caleb looked at her.
“What does this mean?”
Olivia went pale.
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because if I tell you…”
She looked at Lily.
“They'll know where the last piece is.”
Caleb stared at her.
“What last piece?”
May you like
Olivia whispered,
“The money.”
