Chapter 10 - The truth tore through the mansion faster than fire.Adrian was not Charles Howard's biological son.
He had been adopted.
His real father was someone Elena had never met.
Someone connected to her mother's family.
Elena looked at Adrian.
“Did you know?”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
His mother spoke weakly from the bed.
“Your father's name was Michael Vale.”
Ruiz frowned.
“Vale?”
Elena remembered the name.
Her grandfather's old business partner.
“He disappeared.”
Her mother nodded.
“He discovered the fraud too.”
Charles stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Ruiz raised his weapon.
“Not another step.”
Charles smiled.
“You think paperwork will save you?”
“No.”
Ruiz looked around.
“Evidence will.”
He held up the recorder.
“We have your voice.”
Charles looked at Elena.
“Turn around.”
She didn't.
“You've been trapped here for seventeen years.”
Her mother nodded.
“They wanted to know what I had found.”
“What did you find?”
Her mother stared at Charles.
“The original trust.”
Ruiz's expression sharpened.
“Where is it?”
Her mother smiled weakly.
“Elena has it.”
Everyone turned.
Elena frowned.
“I've never seen it.”
Her mother reached toward her.
“Your wedding ring.”
Elena looked at the platinum band on her finger.
“My ring?”
“Take it off.”
She did.
Her mother pointed to the inside.
“There is a compartment.”
Elena stared.
Ruiz examined the ring.
Using a small tool, he opened the hidden section.
Inside was a tiny folded piece of paper.
A code.
Nothing more.
Charles's expression changed.
He knew what it was.
“The vault.”
Elena looked at him.
“What vault?”
Charles backed away.
Ruiz noticed.
“You know.”
Charles suddenly lunged.
Ruiz blocked him.
The two men struggled.
Adrian grabbed Charles.
“Where is it?”
Charles pushed him away.
“You idiot.”
Ruiz handcuffed him.
“Tell me.”
Charles laughed.
“You're too late.”
A loud explosion shook the mansion.
The lights went out.
Smoke filled the corridor.
Elena heard a scream.
Vanessa.
She ran toward the sound.
In the darkness, someone grabbed her wrist.
She turned.
A voice whispered:
“Your mother was right.”
Elena froze.
The hand released her.
When emergency lights returned, nobody was there.
On the floor lay another photograph.
It showed Elena as a little girl.
Beside her stood a man.
Her real father.
And across his face someone had drawn a red X.
On the back was a message:
HE WASN'T MURDERED BY CHARLES.
Elena looked at her mother.
“Who killed him?”
Her mother's eyes filled with tears.
“You're not ready.”
Elena knelt beside her.
“I am.”
Her mother whispered:
“It was Adrian's real father.”
Adrian stared.
“But Michael Vale was my father.”
His mother shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed toward Charles.
“Michael wasn't your father.”
Then she whispered the final truth.
“Charles was.”
Adrian's face collapsed.
“But you said—”
“I said you weren't his biological son.”
She closed her eyes.
“He was your father.”
Adrian stared in horror.
Charles smiled.
The room became silent.
Then Ruiz's radio crackled.
An officer shouted:
“Detective! The vault has been opened!”
Ruiz looked up.
“What vault?”
May you like
The officer answered:
“The one under the chapel.”
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