Chapter 8 - The Mother Who LiedBeatrice stared at her mother.
“No.”
Her mother nodded.
“I killed him.”
Maggie stood.
“Why?”
“Because he was going to take Beatrice.”
“But he died twelve years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you wait until now?”
Her mother shook her head.
“Because I was afraid.”
Dante's gaze sharpened.
“Tell us everything.”
She looked at him.
“You're like him.”
“Like who?”
“Thomas.”
Dante stepped back.
Beatrice interrupted.
“Mom.”
Her mother took a breath.
“Thomas didn't die in an accident.”
“What happened?”
“He came to the house.”
“When?”
“Twelve years ago.”
“Why?”
“To take Beatrice.”
Her mother described the night.
Thomas arrived with two men.
Michael had been dying.
Beatrice was nineteen.
Maggie sixteen.
Thomas carried legal papers claiming custody of the family's trust.
Michael refused.
Thomas pulled a gun.
A struggle followed.
Beatrice's mother grabbed a fireplace poker.
She struck him.
Once.
Thomas fell.
He hit his head.
He died.
Michael helped hide the body.
Then he made everyone believe Thomas had disappeared.
But the real secret was what happened afterward.
Michael discovered the Wilkes trust had a clause.
If Thomas disappeared without a confirmed heir, the assets would remain frozen.
For twelve years.
Until one specific date.
August 21, 2026.
Tonight.
Beatrice's birthday was September.
Maggie's was September too.
The date mattered because the trust was scheduled to unlock at midnight.
Tonight.
Dante looked at his watch.
“Four hours.”
Her mother nodded.
“Once it unlocks, the heir controls the trust.”
Beatrice understood.
“That's why they need me.”
“And why they want you to confess publicly,” Dante said.
Beatrice looked at him.
“What confession?”
“That you're Thomas Wilkes's daughter.”
“But that's already true.”
“Not legally.”
The pieces clicked.
If she publicly claimed the inheritance before midnight, the Wilkes family could challenge it.
If she remained silent, the trust would transfer to the fallback beneficiary.
Alexander.
Beatrice sat down.
“What is the fallback beneficiary?”
Her mother whispered:
“The person Thomas believed would carry on his bloodline.”
Dante answered.
“Alexander.”
Silence.
Beatrice's phone buzzed.
A live video link.
She opened it.
Maggie appeared.
She was standing inside an enormous ballroom.
Beatrice recognized it.
The Wilkes private estate.
Alexander stepped into frame.
He looked exactly as Beatrice remembered.
Clean suit.
Calm face.
Ordinary.
That made him terrifying.
“You found your mother.”
Beatrice said nothing.
Alexander smiled.
“Good.”
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“You already know the truth.”
“No.”
He looked into the camera.
“I know the version your mother invented.”
He turned the camera.
Behind Maggie stood another person.
Victoria Lane.
Beatrice gasped.
Victoria was alive.
Bruised.
Terrified.
Alexander spoke.
“She knows what your mother did.”
Victoria looked at the camera.
“I’m sorry.”
Beatrice felt betrayed.
“What did I do to you?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“Then why?”
“Because they threatened my son.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Everyone in this story has a reason.”
Beatrice said:
“And you?”
His smile faded.
“My reason is simple.”
He held up a photograph.
Thomas Wilkes.
“I was supposed to inherit everything.”
Then he revealed another image.
A DNA report.
Alexander Wilkes.
Biological father:
Thomas Wilkes.
Beatrice stared.
Then Alexander turned the page.
The second line showed:
Beatrice Gallagher.
Probability:
99.99%.
The room went silent.
Alexander smiled.
“Now tell me.”
“Who are you really?”
Before Beatrice could answer, the screen went black.
Then one final message appeared.
MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.
Dante looked at her.
“No.”
Beatrice stood.
“Yes.”
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
“Then why go?”
She picked up the DNA report.
“Because for the first time in my life, someone is telling me to be afraid.”
May you like
She looked toward the clock.
“And I'm tired of obeying.”
