Chapter 13 - Elena stared at the woman.Same dark eyes.
Same jawline.
Same scar beneath the left ear.
It was like looking into a mirror from another life.
The woman smiled.
“Hello, sister.”
Elena couldn't speak.
Ruiz's voice came from behind the wall.
“Police! Drop your weapons!”
Cross immediately raised his gun.
Adrian fired.
The hallway erupted.
Ruiz's officers rushed in.
Cross fled through a side passage.
The unknown woman followed.
Elena stood frozen.
“My sister?”
Adrian grabbed her arm.
“We need to move.”
She pulled away.
“Who is she?”
Adrian swallowed.
“Her name is Nora.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know.”
Nora's voice echoed from the passage.
“You knew more than you admitted.”
She stepped back into view.
“Don't listen to him.”
Elena stared.
Nora continued.
“Our mother had twins.”
Elena shook her head.
“My mother never told me.”
“She was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Nora looked at Adrian.
“From him.”
Adrian stiffened.
“You've spent years blaming the wrong person.”
Elena looked between them.
Nora pointed at Dr. Cross's discarded gun.
“He didn't work for Charles.”
Ruiz approached.
“Then who did?”
Nora answered:
“The Howard family trust.”
Ruiz frowned.
“What?”
Nora smiled.
“The trust isn't just money.”
She pulled a flash drive from her pocket.
“It controls companies, judges, private security firms, even political donations.”
Elena stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because I was raised inside it.”
Adrian looked at Nora.
“You were the one watching Elena.”
“Yes.”
“You were the one who placed the cameras.”
“Yes.”
“You set the trap.”
Nora nodded.
“I wanted Vanessa to push her.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Nora's expression hardened.
“I knew Vanessa would attack.”
“You let it happen?”
“I needed her caught.”
Elena stared in disbelief.
“I could have died.”
Nora looked at her stomach.
“You almost did.”
“Why risk me?”
“Because there was no other way to expose everyone.”
Ruiz stepped in.
“You manipulated a violent crime to collect evidence.”
Nora smiled.
“Detective, you're thinking too small.”
She handed him the flash drive.
“What is this?”
“The real inheritance ledger.”
Ruiz examined it.
Nora continued.
“It proves Charles stole the Howard fortune.”
“And who owns it legally?”
Nora looked at Elena.
“She does.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
“The entire estate?”
“The companies. The properties. The trust.”
Ruiz looked at the files.
“This is worth billions.”
Nora nodded.
“That is why everyone wanted her dead.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“What about me?”
Nora looked at him.
“You're the decoy heir.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“All these years...”
Then a shot shattered the window.
Nora dropped.
Elena screamed.
Ruiz rushed toward her.
Blood spread across Nora's shoulder.
She wasn't dead.
But the sniper had an angle.
Ruiz shouted:
“Get everyone underground!”
Adrian pulled Elena down.
Another shot.
Then another.
The mansion fell into chaos.
Ruiz dragged Nora behind cover.
“Can you move?”
“Yes.”
“Who is the shooter?”
Nora looked toward the roof.
Then whispered:
“The person who started this.”
“Who?”
Nora's eyes found Elena.
“Your mother.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
May you like
Nora closed her eyes.
“She ordered the first murder.”
