Chapter 7 - The Photograph That Changed EverythingClara stared at the photograph.
Her mother had been alive.
Not merely alive.
Working with Evelyn.
She turned toward Alexander.
“Why would they be together?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“Not this time.”
He took a breath.
“Evelyn and your mother were partners.”
Clara shook her head.
“They hated each other.”
“That's what they wanted everyone to believe.”
The abandoned building suddenly felt too small.
Clara looked at the photograph again.
“Who took this?”
Alexander pointed to the lower corner.
A photographer's mark.
“Black Thorn archives.”
“So this was evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Evidence of what?”
“That Evelyn and Eleanor had planned something.”
Clara searched the black box.
Under the photograph was a small memory card.
Alexander inserted it into a laptop.
A video opened.
Eleanor appeared on screen.
Older.
Tired.
Alive.
She spoke directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Clara, then I failed to protect you.”
Clara's chest tightened.
Her mother continued.
“Black Thorn isn't the enemy you think it is.”
Alexander frowned.
“What?”
Eleanor looked directly at the camera.
“The enemy is the person who controls both sides.”
The screen flickered.
“Project Orchid was created to expose him.”
Clara whispered.
“Who?”
Her mother hesitated.
Then she said:
“Jonathan Whitmore.”
Clara stopped breathing.
“No.”
Eleanor continued.
“Your father has infiltrated every major branch of Black Thorn. He built Project Orchid not to destroy the network, but to control it.”
Alexander stared at the screen.
“That can't be true.”
Clara looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because my father was working with Jonathan.”
Silence.
They both realized it simultaneously.
If Jonathan controlled Black Thorn...
and Evelyn's family funded it...
then Alexander's entire life had been a lie.
Suddenly the laptop screen went black.
A message appeared.
YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES.
Then:
COME TO THE CHURCH. ALONE.
Alexander stood.
“It's a trap.”
Clara picked up her coat.
“Obviously.”
“We're not going.”
“I am.”
“Clara.”
She looked at him.
“Someone has been controlling my life for eleven years.”
She held up the photograph.
“I’m done letting other people decide where I go.”
They reached the church.
The doors were open.
Inside, hundreds of candles burned.
At the altar stood Jonathan.
Clara walked toward him.
“You lied.”
Jonathan's face crumpled.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Everyone says that.”
She threw the photograph onto the altar.
“Tell me the truth.”
Jonathan looked at it.
Then closed his eyes.
“She was supposed to be dead.”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Clara stared.
Jonathan whispered:
“Eleanor discovered what I was doing.”
“What were you doing?”
“Building Orchid.”
“Why?”
“To take control of Black Thorn.”
Clara's voice shook.
“And you used me?”
“Yes.”
Jonathan broke.
“I knew they couldn't touch you if they believed you belonged to both families.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“You arranged the marriage.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Yes.”
Clara's face went pale.
“So Alexander didn't choose me.”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Jonathan looked at his daughter.
“The man who actually owns Black Thorn.”
A voice came from behind them.
“Finally.”
Everyone turned.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Clara recognized him immediately.
She had seen him at the wedding.
He had stood among the guests.
Quiet.
Forgettable.
Almost invisible.
The minister.
He smiled.
“You finally understand.”
Alexander raised his gun.
The minister laughed.
“You still think you're the hero, Alexander.”
Then he looked at Clara.
“My dear...”
“You were never Project Orchid.”
May you like
He paused.
“You were the key to it.”
