Chapter 15 - What Happened That NightGenevieve remembered the night.
She had been seven years old.
There had been shouting.
A gunshot.
Her father had carried her into a basement.
He had told her to hide.
Then he had left.
She heard another gunshot.
Then silence.
She had stayed hidden for hours.
When her mother found her, Helena had said:
“Your father is gone.”
Genevieve had believed him dead.
But she later discovered the truth.
He had survived.
He had been imprisoned.
And Helena had orchestrated it.
Because Frank had threatened to expose Meridian.
Genevieve told the others.
Meredith listened quietly.
“Where was my father?”
Genevieve shook her head.
“He came that night.”
Meredith stiffened.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“He tried to save Frank.”
“What happened?”
“Your mother stopped him.”
Meredith closed her eyes.
So much of her childhood had been built around a lie.
Her father hadn't abandoned Frank.
He had tried to protect him.
And someone had destroyed their family from within.
Suddenly a gunshot echoed upstairs.
Everyone froze.
Richard shouted:
“Down!”
The ceiling cracked.
Dust fell.
Another shot.
Julian grabbed Meredith.
Genevieve pulled Frank behind cover.
Then the doors burst open.
Helena Vance entered.
She held a pistol.
Meredith stared.
“You.”
Helena smiled.
“You finally understand.”
Julian raised his weapon.
“Drop it.”
Helena laughed.
“You all still believe this is about money.”
She looked at Meredith.
“It never was.”
“What do you want?”
“The trust.”
Meredith shook her head.
“You already lost.”
“No.”
Helena smiled.
“I have one thing you forgot.”
She held up a phone.
On the screen was a live video.
A man sat tied to a chair.
Meredith gasped.
Her father.
Adrian's voice came from the phone.
“You have ten minutes.”
Julian shouted:
“Where is he?”
Helena smiled.
“Bring me the trust key.”
Meredith touched her necklace.
“No.”
Helena tilted her head.
“Then your father dies.”
Meredith stared at the screen.
Her father looked directly at her.
His lips moved.
She couldn't hear him.
But she understood.
He was saying:
Don't trust her.
Then the screen changed.
It showed another prisoner.
Richard.
Then Frank.
Then Genevieve.
Each tied to a chair.
Helena smiled.
“Choose.”
Meredith stared at the three faces.
Her father.
Her uncle.
Her future sister-in-law.
Only one could be saved.
May you like
Helena whispered:
“Ten minutes.”
