Chapter 14 - THE ORIGINAL WILLThomas looked older than the photographs.
But his eyes were steady.
Evelyn turned toward him.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Thomas smiled sadly.
“You should have told the truth.”
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
He held up a leather folder.
“Your lies did.”
Evelyn pointed her gun at him.
“Give me that.”
Thomas didn't move.
“This is the original will.”
She fired.
The bullet struck the wall beside him.
Cross tackled Evelyn.
The gun skidded across the floor.
Jonathan rushed forward.
Vivian grabbed Lily.
Claire stood frozen.
Thomas opened the folder.
“The trust belongs to Mark's daughter.”
Evelyn screamed.
“No!”
“The clause you altered was invalid.”
Thomas handed the documents to Cross.
“Every transfer made under Evelyn's control can be traced.”
Cross scanned the papers.
“She's finished.”
Evelyn laughed wildly.
“You think money is all I did?”
Everyone went silent.
She looked directly at Claire.
“Tell them.”
Claire's face went pale.
“Tell them what?”
Evelyn smiled.
“That you were never supposed to survive.”
Rachel stepped forward.
“What?”
Evelyn looked at the twins.
“The accident when you were nine wasn't an accident.”
Rachel stopped breathing.
“I…”
“Your father tried to leave with Claire.”
Evelyn's voice trembled with rage.
“I stopped him.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“You pushed her.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Yes.”
Claire shook.
“You…”
“I needed control.”
Claire took a step backward.
The woman who had spent her life fearing water suddenly seemed nine years old again.
Rachel grabbed her sister.
“Claire.”
Evelyn continued.
“And after the accident, I made you believe Claire forgot everything.”
Claire cried.
“You made me think I was crazy.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because frightened people are easier to control.”
I stepped between Evelyn and Lily.
“It's over.”
She looked at me.
“No.”
Evelyn reached into her coat.
Another weapon.
Before she could raise it, Jonathan hit her arm.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Cross took her down.
Silence.
For the first time in three days, nobody moved.
Then Lily whispered:
“Daddy?”
I turned.
She was crying.
“Is Aunt Claire coming home?”
Claire knelt and hugged her.
“Yes.”
Outside, police lights filled the streets.
Evelyn was arrested.
Jonathan surrendered.
Thomas gave his statement.
And by sunrise, the story of our family had changed forever.
But one question still haunted me.
Why had Claire hidden the truth about Lily's biological father?
I asked her as we sat outside the chapel.
She looked at me.
“Because the answer wasn't supposed to be me.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Claire took my hand.
“Your father wanted Lily to know the truth when she turned eighteen.”
“What truth?”
Claire looked toward Thomas.
Then whispered:
“Lily was born from a secret marriage.”
My stomach dropped.
“To whom?”
She hesitated.
May you like
Then said:
“Your father.”
