Chapter 12 - The old chapel stood on the far side of the family cemetery.Arthur entered alone.
At least, he thought he did.
Chloe had hidden behind a stone wall.
The police waited farther away.
Arthur opened the chapel door.
Ethan and Emily sat in the front pew.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Isabella stood behind them.
Her hands were empty.
“Arthur.”
He stopped.
“Let my children go.”
“They're not going anywhere.”
“Then you tell me the truth.”
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“I have been telling you the truth.”
“No.”
Arthur's voice broke.
“You murdered my father.”
She closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Arthur staggered.
“Why?”
“He found out.”
“About what?”
“Lucy.”
Arthur stared.
“You knew she was alive.”
“Yes.”
“You worked with her.”
“Yes.”
“Richard said you were trying to steal the trust.”
Isabella shook her head.
“He's lying.”
“Then why kill my father?”
“Because he was going to kill Lucy.”
Arthur froze.
“What?”
“Your father discovered Lucy was alive and decided she was a threat.”
“That's impossible.”
“He ordered Thomas to make her disappear.”
Arthur looked at the children.
“Then why did you hide them?”
Isabella whispered,
“Because I didn't know who to trust.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“You hid my son behind a wall.”
“I never put Ethan there.”
“Then who did?”
Richard's voice came from behind.
“I did.”
Arthur turned.
Richard had entered the chapel.
His hand held a gun.
The police outside hadn't seen him.
Richard smiled.
“Everyone keeps blaming Isabella.”
He pointed at her.
“She was useful.”
Isabella stared at him.
“You promised you'd leave the children alone.”
“I changed my mind.”
Richard walked toward the children.
Arthur moved between them.
“Touch them and you're dead.”
Richard laughed.
“Your father said the same thing.”
Arthur froze.
Richard whispered:
“I was the one who killed him.”
Silence.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the real beneficiary of the trust.”
Arthur stared.
“Who?”
Richard smiled.
“Not Emily.”
“Not Ethan.”
Richard looked directly at Arthur.
“You.”
Arthur's face changed.
“You're lying.”
“The trust wasn't created for the children.”
Richard stepped closer.
“It was created to transfer the company to you.”
Arthur shook his head.
“My father loved me.”
“No.”
Richard's voice hardened.
“He wanted you controlled.”
Arthur looked at the document in his hand.
Suddenly the final clause made sense.
The trust was never about inheritance.
It was about ownership.
The company.
The billions.
The children had only been leverage.
Richard raised the gun.
“Sign the transfer.”
Arthur stared.
“No.”
Richard pointed toward Ethan.
“Then he dies.”
Chloe quietly moved through the shadows.
The police were coming.
But Richard saw her.
He fired.
The gunshot exploded.
Chloe dropped.
Arthur screamed.
“CHLOE!”
Richard grabbed Ethan.
Emily lunged toward Arthur.
“You have to sign!”
Arthur looked at the blood on the floor.
Then at his children.
He reached for the document.
“Fine.”
Richard smiled.
Arthur picked up the pen.
But before he could sign, Ethan shouted:
“Daddy!”
Arthur looked up.
Ethan was smiling.
“It's a trap.”
Arthur froze.
Emily whispered:
“Uncle Thomas told us everything.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
From outside came a police siren.
Richard turned.
Arthur struck his wrist.
The gun fell.
And Chloe stood up.
She hadn't been shot.
She had been wearing a protective vest.
Richard stared in disbelief.
“You—”
Chloe grabbed the gun.
Police stormed in.
Richard was tackled.
Arthur pulled both children into his arms.
But before anyone could celebrate, Isabella whispered:
“Arthur…”
He turned.
She looked terrified.
“Thomas has the original trust.”
May you like
Arthur's blood ran cold.
“And he's already headed for the company.”
