Chapter 11 - The police moved me into protective custody.For the first time in weeks, I slept behind a locked door with armed officers outside.
But sleep brought no peace.
It only brought Leo.
I dreamed of the hospital.
His tiny hand.
His red blanket.
His voice.
Mommy, am I going home tomorrow?
I woke crying.
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
“Clara, listen carefully.”
“What happened?”
“The trust filing has been challenged.”
“By whom?”
“Chloe.”
I sat upright.
“What?”
“She submitted a sworn statement admitting the property fraud.”
I stared at the wall.
“Why?”
“Because she wants immunity.”
“From what?”
“Everything.”
I wasn't sure whether to be angry or relieved.
Daniel continued.
“She has agreed to testify against Julian.”
That afternoon, Chloe arrived with an attorney.
She looked exhausted.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“You won't get it.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
“Then tell me everything.”
She sat down.
“Julian met me five years ago.”
Before me.
“Yes.”
“At the time, he was working for Ethan.”
“What were they doing?”
“Finding wealthy families with weak inheritance structures.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“They searched for inherited properties that had complicated histories.”
“And mine?”
“Your grandmother's property was one of them.”
“How did he know me?”
“He was introduced to you intentionally.”
My whole body went cold.
“By whom?”
“Your financial adviser.”
I remembered the man.
Mr. Parker.
He had handled the transfer of my grandmother's inheritance.
I had trusted him.
Chloe said:
“They planned the marriage.”
I stared at her.
“You're telling me Julian married me because of my house.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“From the beginning.”
I looked away.
Every memory of my relationship suddenly felt contaminated.
Our first date.
Our first vacation.
Our wedding.
Leo's birth.
Were any of them real?
I asked the one question I feared most.
“Did Julian ever love Leo?”
Chloe's face changed.
“I don't know.”
“Answer me.”
“He did care about him.”
“Then why?”
“Because Ethan told him Leo could complicate the inheritance.”
My stomach turned.
“That's not an answer.”
Chloe began crying.
“Julian said the child made you less willing to sell.”
So they waited.
Until Leo was vulnerable.
Until I was vulnerable.
Then they moved.
I looked at her.
“What about the insurance?”
“Julian arranged it through a private broker.”
“And the surgery?”
“He had another plan.”
“What plan?”
“To remove you from the picture.”
“How?”
Chloe hesitated.
“He told Ethan that if you were incapacitated, the trustee process would be easier.”
I stared at her.
“Incisa...”
“Your grandmother's trust has a clause. If you become legally incapacitated, temporary trustees can be appointed.”
My blood ran cold.
“And who would become trustee?”
“Julian.”
So the surgery wasn't about killing me.
It was about taking control of my assets while I was unable to fight.
A different kind of murder.
A legal murder.
I leaned back.
“And the property?”
“The house contains documents that could expose their entire business network.”
“What documents?”
“Your grandfather's original records.”
I already knew.
But Chloe shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“There's something else.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small envelope.
“This was given to Julian by Ethan.”
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My grandmother.
Standing in front of the house.
Beside her was a young man.
A boy.
I stared.
The boy looked about ten years old.
He had my eyes.
My mouth went dry.
“Who is this?”
Chloe stared at the photograph.
“Your grandmother had another child.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What?”
“A son.”
“That isn't possible.”
“She gave him away.”
“Why?”
Chloe shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then she gave me one final document.
A birth certificate.
Mother: Evelyn Sterling.
Father: Richard Sterling.
Child:
Alexander Sterling.
I stared at the name.
My grandfather had another son.
An uncle I had never known existed.
And beside his name was a note.
Deceased.
Date of death:
Twenty-eight years ago.
Cause:
Unconfirmed.
I looked at Chloe.
“Why does this matter?”
She whispered:
“Because Ethan believes your uncle's death was connected to the original property dispute.”
Then her attorney interrupted.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“She received a call this morning.”
“From whom?”
“Julian.”
I looked up.
“What did he say?”
May you like
Chloe swallowed.
“He said he knows where Clara is.”
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