Chapter 7 - Elena refused to go alone.Julian refused to let her go at all.

They argued inside a deserted hotel room while rain hammered the windows.

“You're not going,” Julian said.

“He has my father.”

“He wants you.”

“I know.”

“That's why you can't go.”

Elena paced the room.

“He knows where everything is.”

“And you think walking into his trap will solve that?”

“No.”

She stopped.

“I think doing nothing will get my father killed.”

Julian looked at her.

“You still love him after everything?”

“He was trying to protect us.”

“So was my mother.”

Elena turned sharply.

“Don't compare them.”

“Why not?”

“Because your mother destroyed people.”

“And your father disappeared.”

Elena flinched.

Julian immediately regretted it.

“I didn't mean that.”

“Yes, you did.”

He sighed.

“I don't know what to think anymore.”

Neither did she.

The entire night had transformed their lives into a maze.

Victoria had lied.

Daniel had lied.

Victor had lied.

Even Elena had lied.

And somewhere inside that maze was a woman who looked exactly like her.

Her twin.

Her missing sister.

Elena sat on the edge of the bed.

“There's something I haven't told you.”

Julian looked at her.

“What?”

“The pregnancy.”

His expression softened.

“What about it?”

“I wasn't going to keep it secret.”

“What do you mean?”

Elena placed a hand over her stomach.

“I knew Victoria would try to take the baby.”

Julian frowned.

“She wouldn't.”

“She already did.”

“What?”

“She tried to arrange a private medical transfer.”

Julian's face darkened.

“When?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“You should have told me.”

“I was afraid.”

“Of me?”

“No.”

She looked at him.

“Of becoming part of this family.”

Julian sat beside her.

“You are already part of my family.”

Elena looked away.

“I don't know who my family is.”

Julian gently took her hand.

“I know who mine is.”

She looked up.

“You?”

“And the baby.”

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

For the first time since everything began, she allowed herself to believe she might not have to fight alone.

Then the hotel door opened.

A man stepped inside.

Julian jumped to his feet.

The man raised both hands.

“Don't shoot.”

It was Victor.

Elena reached for the gun hidden beneath her jacket.

“You.”

Victor smiled.

“I came to make a deal.”

“With you?”

“Yes.”

“What do you want?”

“The ledger.”

“You already know where it is.”

“I want the original.”

“And my father?”

“Alive.”

Victor placed a photograph on the table.

Daniel.

Bleeding.

Still alive.

Elena's jaw tightened.

“What happens if I refuse?”

Victor smiled.

“Your father dies.”

Julian stepped forward.

“And if she agrees?”

Victor looked at him.

“Then Elena dies.”

Silence.

Julian's eyes hardened.

“What?”

Victor explained.

“You see, the ledger contains a name.”

“Elena's?”

“No.”

“Then whose?”

Victor looked at Elena.

“Yours.”

Julian stared.

“My name?”

“Not exactly.”

Victor smiled.

“Your father's.”

Elena's heart sank.

Victor turned toward the door.

“You have until midnight.”

He paused.

“Oh, and Elena?”

She looked at him.

“Your sister wants to meet you.”

Victor left.

The door closed.

Julian stared at Elena.

“We need to find her.”

Elena nodded.

“But where?”

Her phone vibrated.

A location appeared.

An address.

The old Sterling family chapel.

And beneath it:

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COME BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

YOUR SISTER WILL BE WAITING.