Chapter 11 - The Deal My Mother MadeMy mother admitted she traded me to save my father. But the contract said something far worse.
Everyone was waiting.
My mother looked at me.
“I was twenty-nine.”
Her voice shook.
“Alexander was still alive.”
I could barely hear.
“Grant had him.”
She continued.
“They offered me one choice.”
“What choice?”
“Give them the child.”
I felt sick.
“But you didn't.”
“I gave them a name.”
“What?”
“Another girl's name.”
The room went silent.
My mother looked at the council.
“I gave them the identity of a dead infant.”
My breath stopped.
“You told them Emily was dead?”
“Yes.”
“And they believed you?”
“They did.”
“Then why did they keep looking for me?”
“Because eventually they discovered the fraud.”
Nathaniel stepped closer.
“When?”
“Six months after the fire.”
He frowned.
“The fire?”
“Yes.”
My mother looked at him.
“That's when your father realized Emily had survived.”
Nathaniel's face tightened.
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he never come for her?”
“Because he couldn't.”
“Why?”
She hesitated.
“He was imprisoned.”
“In where?”
“Mercer Tower.”
Nathaniel stared.
“The tower was his prison?”
“Yes.”
My head spun.
“My entire childhood was built around a lie.”
My mother started crying.
“I was trying to save you.”
I stepped back.
“You still hid everything.”
“I know.”
“And you let me believe Daniel loved me.”
She looked confused.
“Daniel?”
He lowered his gaze.
My mother understood.
“He worked for them?”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“Then we're already late.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked at Nathaniel.
“Grant wasn't the only one who knew about the trust.”
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed.
“Who else?”
My mother whispered:
“Daniel.”
Everyone turned.
Daniel was standing near the doorway.
He looked devastated.
“I didn't know.”
My mother shook her head.
“You knew enough.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Emily, I tried to protect you.”
“You were assigned to me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you still here?”
He didn't answer.
Nathaniel's security team suddenly raised their guns.
A phone rang.
Mine.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
“Hello, Emily.”
My blood froze.
I knew that voice.
I had heard it only once.
In a nightmare.
“Who is this?”
A quiet laugh.
“You really don't remember me?”
Nathaniel's face changed.
He listened through the speaker.
The man said:
“Tell Nathaniel I'm ready for my daughter.”
Nathaniel went completely still.
I couldn't breathe.
The voice continued.
“Come to Mercer Tower alone.”
Nathaniel grabbed the phone.
“Where are you?”
The line went dead.
My mother whispered:
“He found you.”
Nathaniel looked at me.
For the first time, I saw something in his eyes that terrified me.
Not anger.
Recognition.
“He's been alive this entire time.”
“Who?”
Nathaniel answered:
“My father.”
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Then the lights in the council chamber died.
And when they returned, Daniel was gone.
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