Chapter 11 - The Original LedgerMason stared at the ledger in Vanessa's hands.
“You had it.”
Vanessa nodded.
“For six years.”
Emma stepped forward.
“Why?”
“Because if Adrian got it, everyone would die.”
Grace looked at her.
“You should have destroyed it.”
“I tried.”
“You couldn't.”
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
Mason pointed toward the ledger.
“Give it to me.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because you still don't understand.”
She opened the first page.
A list of names.
Politicians.
Bankers.
Judges.
Businessmen.
People who had built careers on the Whitmore fortune.
Mason stared.
“This could destroy half the city.”
“Exactly.”
Emma looked at Vanessa.
“And my sister?”
Vanessa closed the ledger.
“I kept her alive.”
“You imprisoned her.”
“I hid her.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You framed me.”
Vanessa's face twisted.
“I needed Adrian to believe I had control.”
Emma's voice hardened.
“You accused me because you knew I would find Grace.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“That was part of it.”
Mason turned.
“What?”
Vanessa whispered:
“I knew you were investigating.”
Emma stared.
“How?”
“Because I hired you.”
Silence.
“What?”
Vanessa took a breath.
“I knew your identity from the beginning.”
Emma's heart pounded.
“You deliberately hired me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To keep you close.”
“You were afraid of me?”
“I was afraid of what you would uncover.”
Mason stepped toward her.
“You used my employee as bait.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“I was trying to stop Adrian.”
“You almost ruined an innocent woman's life.”
“I know.”
Then Grace spoke.
“Vanessa.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“You told me there was only one person Adrian feared.”
Vanessa nodded.
Grace continued:
“You lied.”
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“No.”
“There is another.”
Mason frowned.
“Who?”
Grace looked directly at him.
“You.”
Mason laughed bitterly.
“Why would Adrian fear me?”
“Because your father left something for you.”
“What?”
Grace pointed at the ledger.
“Read the last page.”
Mason opened it.
The final page contained a handwritten message.
To my son.
Mason's hands trembled.
His father had written:
If you're reading this, then I failed to protect you.
Mason read aloud.
“Your mother knows where the original records are hidden.”
He turned the page.
The next sentence made him stop.
Trust no one in this family.
Emma stared at Vanessa.
Then Grace.
Then Mason.
A loud crash echoed upstairs.
Detective Collins ran toward the staircase.
A second later she shouted:
“Mason!”
He followed.
The mansion's front windows had been shattered.
Police vehicles outside had been disabled.
And on the driveway was a burning car.
Inside was Thomas.
Alive.
Barely.
Mason dragged him out.
Thomas coughed blood.
He grabbed Mason's shirt.
“Your father…”
“What?”
“He wasn't killed by Adrian.”
Mason froze.
“Then who killed him?”
May you like
Thomas whispered:
“Your mother.”
