Chapter 12 - MidnightWe decided not to go.
Then I changed my mind.
Because traps work both ways.
At 11:55 p.m., Khloe's team surrounded the warehouse.
Julian and I entered through the front.
The building was empty.
No guards.
No lights.
Just one chair in the center.
A projector turned on.
Vivienne appeared on the wall.
“Welcome.”
I felt Elena stir in my arms.
“This is about her,” I said.
Vivienne smiled.
“Yes.”
A video played.
It showed my father.
Years ago.
He was sitting in an office with Julian's grandfather.
They were discussing the trust.
Then my father said:
“She must never know what she is.”
I froze.
“What?”
Julian stared at the screen.
My father continued.
“If they discover her bloodline, they'll use her.”
His words echoed.
“You're hearing an old conversation,” Julian said.
I couldn't breathe.
My father's voice continued.
“Clare must believe the trust was created for the Vance family.”
The video ended.
I turned toward Julian.
“He lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Julian looked helpless.
“Because he wanted you safe.”
A second video appeared.
This one showed Vivienne.
Years younger.
Standing beside my father.
They were talking privately.
She said:
“If your daughter marries Julian, the trust becomes untouchable.”
My stomach dropped.
Our marriage had been planned.
Not by Julian.
By our families.
I turned toward him.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“I don't believe you.”
“I swear.”
A third video appeared.
My father again.
But this time he looked directly into the camera.
“If you're seeing this, then Clare has become trustee.”
He paused.
“And Julian is not who you think he is.”
The screen went black.
I looked at Julian.
He seemed devastated.
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know.”
The projector turned on again.
A final message appeared.
Find the original birth registry.
Then the building lights exploded.
Alarms screamed.
Security rushed in.
Someone had triggered the fire system.
In the chaos, a masked figure grabbed Elena.
I screamed.
Julian tackled him.
The man dropped the baby.
I caught her.
Security pinned the attacker.
He was young.
Maybe thirty.
He had no weapons.
Only a small flash drive.
Khloe took it.
“Who sent you?”
He smiled.
“You're already too late.”
“Who?”
He looked at me.
“Your father.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He's alive.”
The entire room went silent.
Julian stared at him.
“That’s impossible.”
The man laughed.
“That's what they wanted you to believe.”
He turned to me.
“Your father didn't die nine years ago.”
I felt the world tilt.
“No.”
“He disappeared.”
“Why?”
The man smiled.
“Because he discovered the real owner of the Vance empire.”
Khloe gripped the flash drive.
“Who?”
The attacker looked at Elena.
Then at me.
“You.”
I stared at him.
“Me?”
He nodded.
“Your father didn't create the trust to protect the Vance family.”
He smiled.
“He created it to transfer the empire away from them.”
I looked at Elena.
The baby was sleeping peacefully.
May you like
The attacker lowered his voice.
“And tonight, your father wants his daughter back.”
