Chapter 10 - The Family DinnerWe entered Mercer Tower through the underground garage.
My father moved like a man who had spent his life expecting gunfire.
My mother stayed close to me.
Gabriel, injured but stubborn, followed.
At the elevator, my father stopped.
“Wait.”
He examined the ceiling camera.
“Someone is watching.”
“Elias?”
“No.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
The elevator doors opened.
Inside stood Celeste.
Perfectly dressed.
Calm.
Smiling.
My mother stepped backward.
Celeste looked at her.
“Well.”
She laughed softly.
“Helena.”
My mother trembled.
Celeste turned toward me.
“And you.”
I stared.
“You knew.”
“Of course.”
“You knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you let Adrian marry me?”
“Because I wanted the trust.”
Her honesty stunned me.
“You hurt me.”
She shrugged.
“That was Adrian.”
“You protected him.”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because he was my son.”
“You knew he beat me.”
Celeste's face remained cold.
“You survived.”
I stepped closer.
“He tried to kill me.”
“And yet you walked into the church.”
I whispered:
“You're a monster.”
She smiled.
“No.”
She touched the elevator button.
“I'm a mother.”
The elevator began descending.
The lights flickered.
Celeste looked at my father.
“Did you really believe you could hide forever?”
He answered:
“I knew you would find me.”
“Then why return?”
“For my daughter.”
Celeste laughed.
“She isn't your daughter.”
My mother suddenly said:
“She isn't yours either.”
Celeste's smile vanished.
“What?”
My mother continued.
“Julian's records were altered.”
My father looked at her.
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying Evelyn isn't Adrian's cousin.”
The elevator stopped.
Everyone stared at her.
Celeste whispered:
“Who is she?”
My mother looked at me.
“She is Julian Mercer's daughter.”
Celeste shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Julian had no daughter.”
“He did.”
“Then who was the mother?”
My mother's expression broke.
“Me.”
Silence.
I felt dizzy.
“My mother…”
She nodded.
“I was Julian's secret daughter.”
Celeste stared at her in horror.
“That means…”
“Yes.”
My mother looked at me.
“You aren't connected to Adrian by blood.”
Celeste's face turned pale.
“She belongs to the trust.”
My father stepped forward.
“Now you understand.”
Celeste suddenly drew a gun.
She aimed at my mother.
Everyone froze.
“You ruined my life.”
My mother looked at her.
“You ruined your own.”
Gunshot.
My father tackled Celeste.
The bullet hit the ceiling.
Gabriel grabbed Celeste's arm.
I backed against the elevator wall.
Then the doors opened.
Beyond them was a dark conference room.
Adrian sat at the head of the table.
Clara was tied beside him.
Elias stood behind them.
And six other people occupied the room.
Judges.
Bankers.
Politicians.
Men I had seen on television.
Elias smiled.
“Welcome home, Evelyn.”
I stared at the room.
“Where is the trust?”
Elias pointed toward me.
“Inside her.”
He pressed a button.
The floor beneath my feet opened.
May you like
I dropped.
Darkness swallowed me.
