Chapter 13 - The Woman Wearing My Mother's FaceThe truth was worse than betrayal
Maxwell reacted first.
He caught her wrist.
The syringe missed my neck by an inch.
Gideon tackled her to the floor.
“Who are you?”
She struggled.
“Let me go!”
Maxwell ripped the syringe from her hand.
“Answer me.”
She laughed.
Then smiled directly at me.
“You're finally asking the right question.”
My skin crawled.
“Where is my mother?”
She said nothing.
Maxwell pulled her up.
“Where is Klara?”
The woman smiled.
“Dead.”
I couldn't breathe.
“No.”
“She died fourteen years ago.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“I was paid to become her.”
“How?”
“Plastic surgery.”
My knees weakened.
“Who hired you?”
“Richard.”
My mother was dead.
For fourteen years.
And I had just hugged a stranger pretending to be her.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I asked:
“Why?”
“To make you trust Maxwell.”
I looked at him.
The woman laughed.
“Your real mother told Richard that Maxwell betrayed him.”
Maxwell stiffened.
“He didn't.”
“She did.”
“No.”
“She told Richard you helped her steal the ledger.”
Maxwell shook his head.
“My mother was never on my side.”
The woman smiled.
“That is what you were supposed to believe.”
Gideon frowned.
“Explain.”
She looked at me.
“Klara betrayed Richard.”
Then at Maxwell.
“She betrayed Anya.”
My breath stopped.
“What did she do?”
“She told Richard where Anya was hiding.”
Maxwell's face became empty.
“No.”
“She was the reason your mother died.”
He stared at her.
“You're lying.”
“Ask the real question.”
“What?”
“Why did Klara save Martha?”
Silence.
The woman looked at me.
“Because Martha isn't Richard's daughter.”
Everything stopped.
“What?”
The woman laughed softly.
“Richard only believes she is.”
Maxwell stepped closer.
“Who is her father?”
The woman smiled.
“Thomas Vale.”
My chest tightened.
“Gideon's father?”
“Yes.”
Gideon stared.
“No.”
The woman continued.
“Thomas had an affair with Klara.”
My mind was spinning.
“That isn't possible.”
“It is.”
Maxwell asked:
“Then why did Richard think she's his daughter?”
“Because Klara told him.”
“Why?”
“To protect Thomas.”
Gideon looked devastated.
“You're saying my father is Martha's father?”
“Yes.”
“And Richard knows?”
“He knows now.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Slow applause.
We turned.
Richard stood in the doorway.
He looked at the woman.
“Well done.”
She bowed her head.
Richard looked at me.
“You always were difficult.”
Maxwell raised his gun.
Richard smiled.
“Shoot me.”
Maxwell hesitated.
Richard looked at Gideon.
“Your father is waiting downstairs.”
Gideon froze.
“What did you do?”
Richard answered calmly.
“I offered him his son's life.”
Gideon lowered his weapon.
Richard nodded.
“Good.”
Maxwell looked at me.
Then at Richard.
“You're bluffing.”
Richard smiled.
“Am I?”
A gunshot echoed from the basement.
Gideon ran.
We followed.
At the bottom of the stairs, Thomas Vale was tied to a chair.
Blood covered his face.
Gideon dropped beside him.
“Dad.”
Thomas looked up.
His eyes found me.
“Martha.”
His voice was barely audible.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
I stared.
“You're my father?”
Thomas nodded.
Then he whispered:
“There's something you need to know.”
“What?”
He looked at Maxwell.
“Your father isn't Richard.”
Maxwell frowned.
“Who, then?”
Thomas swallowed.
“The real Richard Rourke died fourteen years ago.”
I looked at the man standing upstairs.
Richard smiled.
Thomas continued:
“That man is an imposter.”
May you like
The smile vanished from Richard's face.
And for the first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
