Chapter 13 - Ava survived.Barely.

Daniel managed to stop the bleeding while Julian worked frantically to disable the system.

Elena stood over the central console.

The countdown continued.

08:52:11.

Victoria sat beside Ava.

She looked broken.

“You saved me.”

Ava's eyes opened.

“You're still my mother.”

Victoria began to cry.

It was the first time Elena had ever seen her cry.

Julian looked at Elena.

“We need another key.”

She knew what he meant.

“Victor.”

“No.”

Daniel pointed toward the screen.

“Look.”

A location appeared.

An offshore platform.

Forty miles from the coast.

Victor was broadcasting from there.

Elena stared.

“He wants us to come.”

Daniel nodded.

“He's forcing us to leave the vault.”

Julian looked at Isabella.

“What does he want?”

Isabella answered.

“Me.”

Elena frowned.

“Why?”

“Because I know the final password.”

Julian looked toward the countdown.

“What happens when it reaches zero?”

Isabella whispered:

“The system releases everything.”

“Can we stop it?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“All three sisters must authorize the shutdown.”

Elena looked at Ava.

Then Isabella.

“Then we do it.”

Isabella shook her head.

“Victor won't let us.”

Elena smiled.

“Then we'll make him.”

The plan was simple.

Too simple.

Julian and Daniel would enter the offshore platform.

Elena, Ava, Isabella, and Victoria would stay behind and prepare the shutdown.

But nobody trusted the plan.

Especially Elena.

She noticed Victoria watching Isabella.

“There's something you're not telling us.”

Victoria looked at her.

“No.”

“You've lied enough.”

Victoria sighed.

“There is another account.”

“What account?”

“Victor's personal account.”

“Where?”

“Inside the vault.”

Elena frowned.

“Why isn't it on the system?”

“Because I never had access.”

“Who did?”

“Your father.”

Daniel looked at her.

“You knew?”

Victoria nodded.

Daniel's face hardened.

“You didn't tell me.”

“I was afraid.”

He laughed bitterly.

“Afraid of Victor?”

“No.”

She looked at her children.

“Afraid of what would happen if the account opened.”

Julian asked:

“What is in it?”

Victoria whispered:

“Names.”

“Whose names?”

“The people Victor was afraid of.”

Elena stared.

“Politicians?”

“No.”

“Police?”

“No.”

“Who then?”

Victoria's eyes moved toward Isabella.

“His enemies.”

Isabella suddenly smiled.

“I know exactly where it is.”

Everyone turned.

She walked to the center console.

Entered a code.

A hidden file appeared.

PROJECT ASCENSION.

Elena frowned.

“What is that?”

Isabella opened it.

The file contained genetic profiles.

Dozens.

Hundreds.

Then one name.

ELENA VALE.

Elena's blood ran cold.

“Why am I in this?”

Isabella looked at her.

“Because you're not Elena Vale.”

“What?”

Isabella pulled up another file.

A birth certificate appeared.

The name wasn't Elena.

It was Evelyn Sterling.

Elena couldn't breathe.

Victoria lowered her head.

Ava whispered:

“What's happening?”

Isabella looked at Elena.

“Mother gave you a new identity.”

Elena stared at the document.

Her name.

Her date of birth.

Her blood type.

Everything.

Then she saw the father's name.

Daniel Sterling.

She began shaking.

“I am your daughter,” Daniel said.

“But...”

He looked at her.

“You always were.”

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

Julian stepped toward her.

“You were really part of the family.”

She laughed through tears.

“Apparently.”

The alarm suddenly sounded.

Daniel looked at the screen.

“Someone has entered the vault.”

The doors slammed shut.

Victor appeared on every monitor.

He was smiling.

“Family reunion complete.”

Julian raised his gun.

“Where are you?”

Victor laughed.

“Behind you.”

Everyone turned.

A hidden wall opened.

Victor stepped into the room.

Alive.

Armed.

And surrounded by soldiers.

He looked at Julian.

“My son.”

Julian's face hardened.

“I am not your son.”

Victor smiled.

“DNA says otherwise.”

He pointed at Elena.

“Take her.”

The soldiers moved.

Julian fired.

Chaos exploded.

Ava screamed.

Victoria tackled one guard.

Isabella grabbed the shutdown console.

Elena ran.

Victor chased her.

She reached the corridor.

He caught her wrist.

“Elena.”

She fought.

“Let me go!”

“You were always my favorite.”

She stared at him.

“Why?”

Victor smiled.

“Because you were the only one who escaped me.”

Then he pressed a blade against her stomach.

“You're coming with me.”

And Julian saw it happen.

He had one shot.

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One bullet.

One chance.