Chapter 9 - The Man at the DoorThe door opened three inches.
Then stopped.
Richard stood behind the wall with Detective Mason.
Ethan remained motionless.
A man's voice came through the gap.
“I don't have much time.”
Mason shouted,
“Step away from the door!”
A pause.
Then the man stepped inside.
He was taller than Ethan.
Older by several years.
His face carried a thin scar near the left eyebrow.
Olivia stared.
She had seen him before.
At the café.
At the train station.
In the old photograph.
“Julian.”
The man's eyes softened.
“Hello, Olivia.”
Ethan stared at his brother.
“You're alive.”
Julian gave a faint smile.
“You knew that.”
“I thought…”
“You thought I was dead because everyone told you to.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Did you poison my daughter?”
Julian looked shocked.
“No.”
“Did you move her injector?”
“No.”
“Then why were you watching her?”
“Because I knew someone would try.”
Richard narrowed his eyes.
“How?”
Julian reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small notebook.
“I've been tracking the person behind the trust.”
“What trust?”
“The one Olivia was named beneficiary of.”
Ethan stared.
“Who?”
Julian looked directly at him.
“Our mother.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
“She arranged the settlement.”
“She wouldn't.”
“She did.”
Richard interrupted.
“What settlement?”
Julian looked at him.
“The night Olivia was born, Maria discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
“She wasn't your biological daughter.”
Richard flinched.
Julian continued.
“Maria agreed to raise Olivia if Evelyn transferred twenty-four million dollars into a protected trust.”
Richard's voice cracked.
“You're saying Maria sold my daughter?”
“No.”
Julian shook his head.
“She saved her.”
“From what?”
“From her biological father.”
Richard stepped closer.
“You.”
Julian's expression changed.
“Yes.”
Ethan stared at his brother.
“You're Olivia's father.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew?”
“Not at first.”
Julian looked at Olivia.
“I was nineteen when I found out.”
“What happened?”
“My mother threatened to destroy anyone who exposed the truth.”
Richard's fists tightened.
“Why?”
“Because Olivia was the key to controlling the Bellamy Trust.”
Richard frowned.
“Why would a child control a trust?”
“Because my father created the trust after discovering our family had stolen millions from investors.”
Richard understood.
“Olivia was supposed to inherit it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Julian pulled another document from his coat.
“Because my father intended to expose the family through her.”
Richard read it.
The trust required Olivia to turn twenty-five before she could access the principal.
She would become twenty-five in two weeks.
Richard looked up.
“So that's why tonight.”
Julian nodded.
“She turns twenty-five in fourteen days.”
“And someone wanted her dead before then.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Julian's expression darkened.
“Not Evelyn.”
Richard was stunned.
“Then who?”
Julian looked at Ethan.
“Ask him.”
Everyone turned.
Ethan looked devastated.
“Julian.”
“You promised.”
“I was trying to protect her.”
“By marrying her?”
Richard stepped between them.
“What exactly are you accusing Ethan of?”
Julian's voice became cold.
“He knew the trust would unlock when Olivia turned twenty-five.”
Richard looked at Ethan.
“You knew?”
Ethan nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“And you still married her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ethan looked at Olivia.
“Because I was told she would die if I didn't.”
Richard froze.
“Who told you?”
“My mother.”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“She lied.”
Ethan looked furious.
“You disappeared for nineteen years.”
“I was trying to survive.”
“You left me.”
“I was forced to.”
“And then you came back and decided to use Olivia.”
Julian shook his head.
“I came back because I discovered who actually killed our father.”
Richard stepped forward.
“Who?”
Julian looked toward the hallway.
“Daniel Voss.”
Richard's heart dropped.
“Maria's lawyer.”
“Yes.”
“What does he want?”
“The trust.”
“How?”
Julian looked at Olivia.
“By making her sign it over.”
“She would never.”
“Not willingly.”
A terrible silence followed.
Julian reached into his pocket and handed Richard a photograph.
It showed Olivia sitting in a chair.
Her hands tied.
A clock behind her.
The time read 11:45.
Richard stared.
“When was this taken?”
“Tonight.”
Olivia's voice trembled.
“But I'm here.”
Julian nodded.
“The photograph was taken four minutes ago.”
Everyone froze.
Richard looked toward the security cameras in the house.
Someone had just been inside.
Then the lights went out.
May you like
In the darkness, Olivia screamed.
When the emergency lights returned, she was gone.
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