Chapter 13 - The truth came in fragments.Daniel.
That was Kendrick's birth name.
He had been the son of a rival family.
His parents were murdered.
The Ashfords took him.
They raised him as their own heir.
Kendrick had never known.
His memories had been altered through years of psychological conditioning.
Not hypnosis.
Trauma.
Isolation.
Manipulation.
His entire childhood had been built around one lie.
He was an Ashford.
Jonathan had needed a perfect heir.
Someone who would inherit the empire without ever questioning it.
But Elena discovered the truth.
That's why she was targeted.
That's why Penny was important.
She had witnessed the conversation between Elena and Jonathan.
She knew Daniel's real identity.
And somehow, she had remembered.
Willa stood beside the vault.
“So my mother knew?”
Elena nodded.
“She helped Jonathan at first.”
“Why?”
“Power.”
“And then?”
“She changed.”
Willa looked at the floor.
“She betrayed everyone.”
Elena shook her head.
“She tried to save you.”
The mansion shook.
An explosion rocked the east wing.
Jonathan's men had arrived.
Kendrick loaded his weapon.
“Where is he?”
Elena pointed upward.
“The roof.”
They climbed.
Jonathan stood at the edge of the building.
Behind him was a helicopter.
Willa ran toward him.
“You murdered my family!”
Jonathan looked at her.
“Your family murdered itself.”
Kendrick stepped forward.
“You stole my life.”
Jonathan laughed.
“I built your life.”
“You built a cage.”
“And you became exactly what I wanted.”
Kendrick aimed.
Jonathan smiled.
“Shoot.”
Kendrick hesitated.
Jonathan knew he wouldn't.
Then Willa stepped beside him.
“He's afraid.”
Kendrick glanced at her.
Jonathan laughed.
“Of what?”
Willa looked at Jonathan.
“Of becoming you.”
Jonathan's smile vanished.
Kendrick fired.
The bullet struck Jonathan's shoulder.
He stumbled.
His guards raised their weapons.
Titan charged.
The dog knocked one man over.
Willa grabbed Penny.
Elena fired.
Barrett covered the stairs.
Julian reached Jonathan.
For a moment, the two men stared at each other.
Then Julian said:
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
Jonathan whispered:
“You're my son.”
Julian smiled.
“No.”
He pushed him toward the edge.
Jonathan caught the railing.
Kendrick rushed forward.
Julian grabbed his wrist.
“Don't.”
Jonathan stared up.
“You're not going to let me die.”
Kendrick looked at him.
“You're right.”
He pulled Jonathan back.
Everyone stared.
Jonathan laughed.
“You still have your father's weakness.”
Kendrick shook his head.
“No.”
He turned him over to the police.
“I'm not killing you.”
Jonathan's face darkened.
“Then you lose everything.”
Kendrick stepped closer.
“I already did.”
Jonathan was dragged away.
For the first time, the war was over.
Or so they thought.
That night, Kendrick sat beside Penny.
Willa stood by the window.
Elena was packing.
“You're leaving?”
Elena nodded.
“I have things to fix.”
“After all this?”
“There are still people hunting us.”
Kendrick stood.
“Stay.”
Elena looked at him.
“I can't.”
Penny ran to her.
“Mommy.”
Elena hugged her.
Then she whispered something.
Penny's expression changed.
She looked toward Willa.
“Mama said there is one more secret.”
Willa frowned.
“What?”
Penny pointed at her.
“Mommy said you're pregnant.”
The room went silent.
Willa stared.
“What?”
Kendrick looked at her.
Elena looked away.
Willa's hand slowly moved to her stomach.
“I can't be.”
Elena smiled sadly.
“You can.”
Kendrick stared at Willa.
Then at Elena.
“What aren't you telling us?”
May you like
Elena's face went pale.
“It's not his child.”
