Chapter 5 - CASSANDRA’S SECRETThe scream lasted only two seconds.
Then silence.
Julian ran toward Lily’s voice.
Security flooded the hallway.
Nora followed.
They found Lily inside the ballroom, standing beside the shattered stage.
She was unharmed.
But Cassandra’s chair had been moved.
The hospital had reported Cassandra remained under medical supervision.
So why was her chair here?
Julian noticed something beneath it.
A small bloodstained ribbon.
Claire’s ribbon.
He picked it up.
Nora immediately covered Lily’s eyes.
Julian looked at the ribbon.
“Why would Cassandra have this?”
Nora whispered:
“Because Claire gave it to her.”
Julian’s anger sharpened.
“You said Cassandra betrayed Claire.”
“I said she was the last person Claire trusted.”
“What happened after?”
Nora looked toward Lily.
“She tried to save her.”
Julian stared at her.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It will.”
He followed Nora downstairs.
She finally told him everything.
Four years ago, Claire discovered a secret financial network connecting several politicians, businessmen and criminal organizations.
The network was controlled by Vincent DeLuca.
But Vincent wasn’t acting alone.
Marcus was the strategist.
Claire stole evidence.
Vincent ordered her killed.
Marcus ordered Lily taken.
Cassandra discovered the plan.
“She was supposed to marry you because your father wanted her close to you,” Nora said.
Julian frowned.
“So Cassandra was part of it.”
“At first.”
“And then?”
“She fell in love with you.”
Julian looked away.
“She helped Claire escape.”
“Where?”
Nora hesitated.
“An old convent in Illinois.”
Julian immediately called his driver.
“We’re leaving.”
But Nora stopped him.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Claire didn’t run from you.”
Julian turned.
“She ran because she discovered something about your bloodline.”
“My bloodline?”
Nora nodded.
“She learned that Marcus wasn’t your uncle.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“He was your father.”
Silence.
Julian stared at her.
“That’s impossible.”
“Your mother was already pregnant when she married Vincent.”
Nora looked down.
“Vincent raised you publicly as his own.”
Julian’s entire understanding of his life shifted.
“Then Marcus…”
“Your biological father.”
Julian backed away.
The phone rang.
Hospital.
A nurse screamed on the other end.
“Mr. DeLuca, she’s gone.”
“Who?”
“Cassandra.”
“What do you mean, gone?”
“She disappeared from her room.”
Julian looked at Nora.
“Was she unconscious?”
“Yes.”
“Was there security?”
“Yes.”
“Then how?”
The nurse’s voice shook.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“She left a message on the mirror.”
Julian waited.
The nurse whispered:
I KNOW WHERE CLAIRE IS.
Julian closed his eyes.
For four years, he had searched for a ghost.
Now everyone around him seemed to know where she was.
Everyone except him.
He turned to Nora.
“Take me to the convent.”
Nora nodded.
But before they could leave, Thomas appeared.
He looked at Julian with terror.
“Don’t go there.”
“Why?”
“Because Cassandra wants you to.”
Julian stopped.
“What are you saying?”
Thomas whispered:
“It’s a trap.”
Then the old butler collapsed.
A knife was buried in his back.
And taped to his chest was a photograph.
Julian picked it up.
The photograph showed Cassandra standing beside Claire.
Both women were holding a newborn baby.
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On the back, someone had written:
ONE OF THEM IS LYING.
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