Chapter 8 - Arthur stepped forward.“Put her down.”
Thomas held Emily tighter.
She was crying silently.
“Always giving orders,” Thomas said.
“You've been hiding my daughter.”
“Protecting her.”
“From me?”
“From everyone.”
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Thomas laughed.
“Because your father created a game none of us could escape.”
Arthur looked at Isabella.
She was staring at the floor.
“What game?”
Thomas answered.
“The trust.”
He lifted Emily slightly.
“Your father knew someone would eventually try to steal it.”
Arthur said nothing.
“So he created eighteen million dollars of bait.”
Thomas continued.
“Then he made the inheritance dependent on one condition.”
“What condition?”
Thomas smiled.
“Both children had to survive until they turned eighteen.”
Arthur understood.
“And if one died?”
“The money became available to the surviving heir.”
Arthur looked at Ethan.
“So they tried to kill one child to control the money.”
Thomas nodded.
“But that wasn't enough.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust had another clause.”
Arthur waited.
Thomas said,
“Your father named you as trustee.”
Arthur froze.
“I never signed anything.”
“You did.”
“When?”
“When you were twenty-two.”
Thomas laughed.
“You were drunk.”
Arthur remembered.
A business party.
Documents shoved in front of him.
His father saying, “Just sign here.”
He had.
He had forgotten.
Thomas continued.
“That made you responsible for the trust.”
“So you needed me gone.”
“Exactly.”
Arthur looked at Isabella.
“And you?”
Isabella began crying.
“I was threatened.”
“You could have told me.”
“They had Ethan.”
Arthur stared.
“What?”
Isabella nodded.
“When he was four, Richard took him.”
Arthur stepped back.
“You're saying Richard kidnapped our son?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you call the police?”
“Because Richard said Emily would disappear too.”
Arthur looked at Ethan.
Everything became more complicated.
The waitress stepped forward.
“Then who put Ethan in the wall?”
Isabella looked at her.
“Richard.”
Arthur's jaw tightened.
“Where is Cole?”
Thomas smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
A gunshot fired.
Thomas dropped Emily.
Arthur lunged.
Chloe grabbed the child.
The police rushed forward.
Thomas disappeared through a side corridor.
Arthur ran after him.
But he was too late.
A door slammed.
A car engine roared outside.
Thomas escaped.
Arthur returned to Emily.
She was shaking.
He knelt.
“I'm your father.”
The girl stared at him.
“You took too long.”
His heart broke.
“I know.”
She touched his face.
“I waited.”
Arthur hugged her.
“I won't leave again.”
She whispered into his ear.
“Daddy…”
“What?”
“There's someone else in the house.”
Arthur pulled back.
“Who?”
Emily looked toward Isabella.
“The woman who told them where Ethan was.”
Arthur's face hardened.
“Who?”
Emily whispered one name.
Arthur stared at Isabella.
“Your sister.”
Arthur looked confused.
“My sister died when I was twelve.”
Emily shook her head.
“No.”
“She didn't.”
And then Isabella's phone rang.
The caller ID showed:
LUCY.
Isabella answered.
A woman's voice said,
May you like
“Tell Arthur the truth before I do.”
Then the line went dead.
Related Stories
