Chapter 12 - The Grave That LiedGenevieve finally confessed everything.
Her father had been framed as the murdered senator.
The real senator had escaped.
He had disappeared with Meridian's secrets.
Frank Vance had helped him.
In exchange, Frank's family had been protected.
But someone betrayed the arrangement.
Someone inside the Sterling family.
Meredith listened in disbelief.
“And my mother?”
Genevieve shook her head.
“She tried to expose Meridian.”
“My father said she betrayed him.”
“Because he never knew the entire story.”
Genevieve looked exhausted.
“My mother convinced everyone that Frank was the criminal.”
Julian stared.
“She ruined his name.”
“Yes.”
“To hide what?”
Genevieve closed her eyes.
“The fifth founder.”
Meredith frowned.
“Who?”
Genevieve reached into her pocket.
She pulled out an old school photograph.
A group of children stood outside a boarding school.
One face was circled.
Meredith.
She stared at it.
“What?”
Genevieve pointed to another child.
A boy.
“That's the fifth founder.”
Julian examined him.
Then froze.
The boy looked remarkably familiar.
Meredith's blood ran cold.
“Who is he?”
Genevieve answered:
“Your father’s first son.”
Julian looked at Meredith.
“I don't have a brother.”
“You did.”
“What happened?”
“Your mother gave him away.”
Meredith couldn't breathe.
“Why?”
“Because he was born with a blood disorder.”
Julian shook his head.
“That makes no sense.”
Genevieve continued.
“He survived.”
Meredith whispered:
“Where is he now?”
Genevieve looked toward the vault door.
“That's the problem.”
Julian turned.
“Why?”
“Because he's the person running Meridian.”
Silence.
Meredith's knees nearly gave way.
Her brother.
A man she had never known.
A man who had spent decades building a criminal empire.
A man who wanted her dead.
Suddenly the vault door locked.
The lights turned red.
A voice came through the speakers.
“Hello, Meredith.”
She froze.
The voice was calm.
Familiar.
Almost warm.
“I'm sorry we had to meet like this.”
Julian grabbed the door handle.
“Who are you?”
The voice laughed softly.
“Ask your sister.”
Meredith looked at Genevieve.
Genevieve was crying.
The speaker crackled.
“Meredith.”
A pause.
“You were always Father's favorite.”
The lights flickered.
May you like
Then the voice whispered:
“But favorites are easiest to break.”
