Chapter 10 - Kendrick couldn't speak.Elena walked into the church.
She looked exactly as she had three years earlier.
No scars.
No injuries.
Nothing.
Kendrick's hands shook.
“I watched you die.”
“You watched someone die.”
He remembered Mara's words.
The woman approached Penny.
The little girl immediately ran behind Willa.
Elena stopped.
“Penny.”
The child shook her head.
“Bad Mommy.”
The words cut through Kendrick.
Elena's expression hardened.
“You're confused.”
Penny whispered:
“You killed the other Mommy.”
Kendrick looked at Elena.
“Who is she?”
Elena smiled.
“The truth is, Kendrick, you were never supposed to survive.”
The church doors locked.
Men appeared in the aisles.
Dozens.
Weapons raised.
Kendrick realized the trap.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“You were the target.”
“Why?”
“Because your father left you something.”
Kendrick frowned.
“What?”
“The final page of the ledger.”
He remembered.
His father had told him about a sealed vault.
Kendrick had never opened it.
Elena continued.
“The vault contains the names of everyone who funded the Ashford syndicate.”
“And you want it.”
“I need it.”
“You murdered Mara.”
“No.”
Elena looked toward the body.
“Mara was working for the enemy.”
Willa stepped forward.
“You killed my mother.”
Elena turned.
“No.”
“You ordered the fire.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Elena smiled.
“Your mother.”
Willa went silent.
Elena looked at Penny.
“Ask her.”
Kendrick frowned.
“What does Penny know?”
Elena crouched.
Penny stared at her with terror.
“The little girl remembers everything.”
Willa finally understood.
Penny wasn't just a witness.
She had seen the true killer.
Three years ago.
The woman who claimed to be Elena hadn't saved Penny.
She had tried to kill her.
The real Elena had intervened.
Then the fake Elena had murdered her.
The entire story had been reversed.
Willa looked at Kendrick.
“She isn't Elena.”
The woman smiled.
“Very good.”
She reached behind her ear.
A thin strip of artificial skin lifted.
Her face began to change.
Kendrick stared.
“You're a shapeshifter?”
“No.”
A medical mask fell away.
The woman revealed the face beneath.
Willa screamed.
It was her mother.
Alive.
Kendrick raised his gun.
“You.”
Her mother smiled.
“Hello, daughter.”
Willa couldn't move.
“You died.”
“I wanted you to believe that.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed you inside the Ashford house.”
Kendrick aimed at her.
“You used her.”
“Yes.”
“You murdered my wife.”
Her mother smiled.
“She discovered too much.”
“You killed Elena.”
“No.”
She looked toward the church entrance.
“Someone else did.”
A slow clap sounded.
Everyone turned.
The lights came on.
Barrett stood there.
Alive.
Beside him was Julian.
And between them...
Elena.
The real Elena.
Older.
Scarred.
Alive.
Kendrick's knees nearly gave out.
Elena looked at him.
“I told you not to trust anyone.”
Kendrick stared.
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because the person I trusted most was the one who betrayed me.”
She looked at Barrett.
Then Julian.
Then Willa's mother.
May you like
Finally, she looked at Kendrick.
“You.”
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