Chapter 12 - The Clock RoomIsabella ran to the clock room.
Every second felt stolen.
Nathan had disappeared.
Her mother's secrets were unfolding.
Three sisters had emerged from a family nightmare.
And somewhere in the mansion, someone who knew everything was still moving unseen.
The clock room was hidden behind the library.
Isabella inserted the silver key into the antique grandfather clock.
A mechanism clicked.
The entire back panel opened.
Inside was a small metal box.
She opened it.
Documents.
Cash.
A passport.
And a recording device.
She pressed play.
Gabriel appeared on a small screen.
He looked exhausted.
“If Isabella sees this, then the family has already begun destroying itself.”
Isabella stared.
He continued.
“Your real danger is not Richard.”
A pause.
“It is Helena.”
Isabella's heart stopped.
“No.”
Gabriel continued.
“She knows what happened to the original Vale fortune.”
Helena entered the room.
“Turn it off.”
Isabella backed away.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“You knew everything.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because some truths destroy more people than lies.”
Isabella shook her head.
“That's what Father said.”
“I am not your father.”
“You let me mourn you.”
Helena's eyes filled with tears.
“I thought it would keep you alive.”
“Then why are three daughters alive?”
Helena closed her eyes.
“Because I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“I trusted Richard.”
She revealed the final secret.
She had once helped Richard hide the stolen wealth.
Not for money.
For protection.
She believed the family was being targeted by people more dangerous than them.
But when she discovered what Richard had become, she tried to escape.
He imprisoned her.
Then he erased her identity.
“And Gabriel?”
“He discovered the accounts.”
“Who killed him?”
Helena whispered:
“I did.”
Isabella stared.
“You?”
“I didn't know what else to do.”
Her mother broke down.
“I thought he was going to expose everyone.”
A voice came from behind.
“So she finally admitted it.”
Richard.
He stood in the doorway.
Gun raised.
But before he could fire, Celeste attacked him.
The gun flew across the floor.
They struggled.
Isabella ran toward the weapon.
But someone else reached it first.
Nathan.
He emerged from the shadows.
He aimed at Richard.
Everyone froze.
Richard laughed.
“So this is how you repay me.”
Nathan's hands trembled.
“You killed my father.”
“I did.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed Isabella's life.”
“Yes.”
Nathan's finger tightened around the trigger.
Isabella stepped toward him.
“Nathan.”
He looked at her.
“You should hate me.”
“I do.”
That answer broke him.
“But I don't want you to become him.”
Nathan lowered the gun.
Richard smiled.
Then a shot rang out.
Richard fell.
Everyone screamed.
But the shooter wasn't Nathan.
It was Helena.
She stood holding a second gun.
Richard stared at her.
“You…”
Helena's voice was steady.
“This ends tonight.”
Richard smiled despite the blood.
“No.”
He looked toward Isabella.
“It ends with her.”
May you like
Then he pressed a hidden button.
The entire estate began to shake.
