Chapter 8 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be DeadHer mother had survived the fire, but the truth she carried was worse than death.

Sophia could not move.

Her mother stood three feet away.

Older.

Thinner.

But unmistakable.

Those eyes.

That face.

The same small scar beside her eyebrow.

"Mom."

Her mother covered her mouth.

Then crossed the room and pulled Sophia into her arms.

Sophia broke.

Everything she had buried came loose at once.

She cried against her mother's shoulder.

Her mother stroked her hair.

"I'm sorry."

"You're alive."

"I had to stay dead."

"Why?"

Her mother looked at Enzo.

"Because he was looking for us."

Enzo frowned.

"Who?"

"Edward Vale."

Sophia stepped back.

"Why would the Attorney General hunt our family?"

Her mother walked toward the archive.

"Because your father discovered the truth."

She touched one of the shelves.

"Edward built the network."

Sophia stared.

"Then who was my father working with?"

"Matteo."

Enzo's jaw tightened.

"You knew my brother."

Her mother nodded.

"He saved us."

Sophia looked at her.

"Then why did you let me believe he was dead?"

"He had to disappear."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you were being watched."

"By whom?"

Her mother took a breath.

"Everyone."

Sophia shook her head.

"That isn't an answer."

Her mother opened a file.

Inside was Sophia's birth certificate.

Except there were two.

One read:

SOPHIA ELIZABETH CASTELLAN.

The second was different.

SOPHIA MARIE VALE.

Sophia stared.

Her face went pale.

"What is this?"

Her mother began crying.

"Your father adopted you."

The room went silent.

"What?"

"Marcus was your legal father."

Sophia's voice cracked.

"But my biological father..."

Her mother looked at Enzo.

"Was Edward Vale."

Enzo's expression became stone.

Sophia stepped backward.

"No."

Her mother nodded.

"I'm sorry."

"No."

"Edward was young. Ambitious. Dangerous."

"You're lying."

"He wanted control of the courts before you were born."

Sophia's hands trembled.

"And you?"

"I loved Marcus."

"Did he know?"

"Yes."

"Did he know Edward was my father?"

"From the beginning."

Sophia stared at the documents.

Everything she believed about herself was collapsing.

Her talent.

Her family.

Her father's obsession with protecting her.

The fire.

Why someone had tried to kill her.

"Then Edward wants me because..."

"Because you're his daughter."

Sophia looked at Enzo.

He hadn't moved.

His eyes were fixed on the birth certificate.

"Does Matteo know?"

Her mother nodded.

"He knows everything."

"Where is he?"

"He's trying to stop Edward."

Enzo stepped forward.

"Where?"

Her mother hesitated.

"At the old federal archives."

Sophia frowned.

"Why there?"

"Because Edward keeps the original records there."

Enzo looked at the clock.

"Then we go."

Sophia grabbed his arm.

"Wait."

He turned.

"My father left a message saying not to trust you."

Enzo's gaze darkened.

"I know."

"Why?"

"Because he wanted me to protect you."

She stared.

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because your father also left me a second message."

"What?"

Enzo reached into his wallet.

A tiny folded paper.

He handed it to her.

Sophia opened it.

Her father's handwriting.

When she learns she is Vale's daughter, she will believe she is cursed.

Below it:

Tell her blood is not destiny. Choices are.

Sophia's eyes filled.

Her mother touched her shoulder.

"He loved you."

"I know."

"No," her mother whispered. "You don't."

She stepped closer.

"Your father died protecting a secret."

"What secret?"

Her mother looked toward Enzo.

"That Edward wasn't the mastermind."

Sophia froze.

"Then who was?"

A gunshot tore through the room.

Her mother jerked backward.

Blood spread across her dress.

"Mom!"

Sophia caught her.

Enzo fired toward the doorway.

Arthur stood there.

But he wasn't aiming at them.

He was shooting someone behind them.

A man fell.

Arthur looked at Sophia.

"Your father was right."

He dropped the gun.

"The blood doesn't matter."

He glanced at the body.

"But the person who raised you does."

Sophia looked down.

The dead man wore Edward Vale's ring.

Arthur whispered:

"Edward isn't the one who ordered the fire."

Sophia looked up.

"Then who did?"

Arthur met her eyes.

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"Your father."

Sophia stopped breathing.