CHAPTER 10 — THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE FAMILY
CHAPTER 10 — THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE FAMILY
The first gunshot shattered the monastery window.
Leah screamed.
Daniel pulled her behind a stone pillar as another bullet struck the wall above them.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
“Stay down!”
Margaret was on the floor beside Samuel.
Jonathan crouched near the doorway, watching the men outside.
Richard Vale stood in the courtyard.
Calm.
Almost bored.
He wasn't holding the gun anymore.
He didn't need to.
His men had surrounded the monastery.
Leah looked at her mother.
“Mom?”
Margaret's face was pale.
“Don't let them take the trust.”
“What trust?”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“The original.”
Daniel frowned.
“We have it.”
Margaret shook her head.
“No.”
Jonathan looked at her.
“You mean the copy.”
Margaret nodded.
“The original was never in the Blackwood vault.”
Daniel's eyes widened.
“Then where is it?”
Margaret looked at Leah.
“I gave it to someone I trusted.”
Leah's stomach tightened.
“Who?”
Margaret didn't answer.
A voice echoed through the monastery.
“Margaret.”
Richard.
“You've hidden long enough.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Then shouted:
“You won't get it.”
Richard laughed.
“You always say that.”
A pause.
Then his voice became colder.
“Perhaps I should remind you what happened to Thomas.”
Leah's blood ran cold.
Margaret looked at her.
“Don't listen.”
But Richard continued.
“He begged for his life.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Richard smiled.
“Your father knew he had lost.”
Daniel stood.
“Show yourself.”
Richard stepped closer to the entrance.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Then come outside.”
Margaret grabbed Daniel's arm.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“He knows something.”
“He wants you angry.”
“Maybe.”
“He wants you reckless.”
Daniel looked toward Richard.
“Then I'll be careful.”
He stood.
Jonathan stopped him.
“Daniel.”
Daniel turned.
“If I don't face him, he'll keep coming.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“That's exactly what he wants.”
Daniel looked at Leah.
Then at Margaret.
“I've spent my entire life being afraid of people who knew more than I did.”
His expression hardened.
“I'm done.”
THE TRUTH ABOUT THOMAS
Daniel walked toward the courtyard.
Richard raised his hand.
His men lowered their weapons.
“That's better.”
Daniel stopped several feet away.
“What happened to my father?”
Richard smiled.
“Which father?”
Daniel's face hardened.
“Thomas.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Thomas was stubborn.”
“He was murdered.”
“Yes.”
“By you?”
“No.”
“By Edward?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Richard looked toward Margaret.
“She knows.”
Daniel turned.
Margaret couldn't meet his eyes.
“Mom?”
She whispered:
“Thomas trusted the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Margaret's voice shook.
“Edward.”
Daniel's face changed.
“But you said Richard controlled Edward.”
“I did.”
“Then why blame Edward?”
“Because Richard gave him the order.”
Richard laughed.
“Not quite.”
Daniel looked at him.
Richard slowly shook his head.
“Your mother still doesn't know everything.”
Margaret stared.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard smiled.
“Ask her who gave Thomas the final warning.”
Margaret went still.
Daniel looked at her.
“What warning?”
She said nothing.
“Mom.”
Still nothing.
Richard answered for her.
“She did.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Richard's voice was quiet.
“Your mother warned Thomas that someone was coming.”
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“Did you?”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn't know they planned to kill him.”
Richard smiled.
“You knew enough.”
Margaret shook her head.
“I was trying to save him.”
“But you told him to go to Dock 17.”
Margaret's face collapsed.
Leah stared.
“Mom?”
Margaret whispered:
“I thought it was safe.”
Richard laughed.
“It was a trap.”
THE GUILT MARGARET CARRIED
Margaret had lived with that guilt for twenty-three years.
She had received a message that night.
A warning.
Thomas was in danger.
She believed she could move him somewhere safe.
So she told him to meet her at Dock 17.
But someone intercepted the message.
Thomas arrived first.
A black sedan followed.
The brakes failed.
The car crashed.
And Margaret arrived minutes later.
She found Thomas barely alive.
He grabbed her hand.
“Protect the children.”
Those were his final words.
Margaret had never forgotten them.
She had blamed herself ever since.
Daniel stared at her.
“You sent him there.”
“Yes.”
“You killed him.”
“No.”
“But if you hadn't—”
“I know.”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“You let me believe everyone else was responsible.”
“I was responsible for part of it.”
Leah stepped between them.
“Daniel.”
He turned away.
Margaret whispered:
“I was trying to protect you.”
Daniel's voice broke.
“You protected me by disappearing.”
“Yes.”
“You protected me by letting me believe Edward was my father.”
“Yes.”
“You protected me by letting me hate you.”
Margaret cried.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at her.
“And you called that protection?”
She couldn't answer.
THE SECRET INSIDE THE FAMILY
Richard stepped forward.
“Now you understand.”
Daniel looked at him.
“No.”
Richard frowned.
“I understand my mother made mistakes.”
He pointed toward Richard.
“But you made choices.”
Richard smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
He looked toward the monastery.
“Your family has been betraying itself for decades.”
Then he said the words that changed everything.
“Your mother wasn't the only one who knew about Thomas.”
Daniel looked at Jonathan.
“What does he mean?”
Jonathan didn't answer.
Daniel stared.
“Jonathan?”
Jonathan's expression hardened.
Richard laughed.
“There it is.”
Leah looked between them.
“What is happening?”
Richard pointed at Jonathan.
“Ask him.”
Daniel stepped toward Jonathan.
“What did you do?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“Nothing.”
Richard smiled.
“He delivered Thomas to us.”
Silence.
Leah's heart stopped.
“No.”
Jonathan's face turned pale.
“That's a lie.”
Richard continued.
“Jonathan told us where Thomas would be.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“I didn't.”
Richard looked at him.
“You were sixteen.”
Jonathan froze.
“You remember.”
Leah whispered:
“Jonathan?”
He closed his eyes.
“I was a child.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did you do?”
Jonathan's voice trembled.
“I gave them the location.”
The room went silent.
THE BOY WHO WAS USED
Jonathan was sixteen.
His mother was dying.
Richard had threatened her.
He told Jonathan that if he didn't cooperate, she would lose her medical treatment.
So Jonathan gave him one piece of information.
Where Thomas would be.
He never knew it was an execution.
He thought they wanted to confront him.
He thought his father would be forced to sign documents.
He thought he was saving his mother.
Instead—
Thomas died.
Jonathan had spent twenty-five years carrying the guilt.
“I didn't know,” he whispered.
Daniel stared.
“You gave them my father.”
“I was sixteen.”
“You knew what they were doing.”
“I didn't.”
“You should have told someone.”
“I was afraid.”
Daniel's eyes filled with anger.
“You were afraid.”
Jonathan nodded.
“And my father died.”
“I know.”
Daniel punched him.
Jonathan fell.
Leah screamed.
“Daniel!”
Jonathan didn't fight back.
“I deserved that.”
Daniel stood over him.
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You deserved to tell me.”
THE BETRAYAL
Then Margaret spoke.
“There is something worse.”
Everyone turned.
She looked at Evelyn.
“Evelyn knew.”
Leah froze.
“About Jonathan?”
Margaret shook her head.
“About the plan.”
Daniel stared.
“My aunt?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn appeared in the doorway.
Her face was pale.
She had followed them.
Daniel looked at her.
“Is it true?”
Evelyn didn't answer.
“Did you know?”
“Yes.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“Why?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Edward threatened you.”
“That doesn't answer me.”
“He said he would kill you.”
“So you helped him?”
“I tried to stop him.”
“By doing what?”
Evelyn whispered:
“I signed the transfer documents.”
Daniel stared.
“What documents?”
“The ones that moved the trust.”
“To Richard?”
“Yes.”
Leah couldn't believe it.
“You gave him control?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Only temporarily.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Temporarily?”
“I believed I could reverse it.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“Because I made sure she couldn't.”
THE MISSING SHARE
Richard pulled a document from his coat.
He held it up.
“The Blackwood controlling shares were transferred twenty-three years ago.”
Daniel stared.
“That's impossible.”
“It's legal.”
“Forgery?”
“No.”
“Coercion?”
“Partly.”
“Then why is it valid?”
Richard smiled.
“Because someone signed voluntarily.”
Everyone looked at Evelyn.
She closed her eyes.
“I signed.”
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
“You betrayed us.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I thought I was saving you.”
“You keep saying that.”
She began crying.
“I was trying.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Everyone says they were trying.”
He looked around the monastery.
“My mother was trying.”
“Jonathan was trying.”
“You were trying.”
He pointed toward Richard.
“And somehow every attempt to save me ended with someone else bleeding.”
No one spoke.
RICHARD'S REAL PLAN
Richard stepped closer.
“Enough.”
He looked at Leah.
“You have something I need.”
Leah shook her head.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“The trust.”
“We don't have it.”
“You do.”
“I don't.”
Richard smiled.
“Your mother gave it to you.”
Leah looked at Margaret.
Margaret's face changed.
Richard saw it.
“There.”
He pointed.
“She knows.”
Leah stepped backward.
“Mom?”
Margaret whispered:
“It's not with you.”
Richard frowned.
“Then where?”
Margaret smiled.
“For once, Richard…”
She looked directly at him.
“…you're too late.”
Richard's expression darkened.
“What did you do?”
“I destroyed it.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
Margaret looked at Leah.
“I destroyed the original.”
Richard raised his gun.
“You wouldn't.”
“I did.”
Richard's hand tightened.
Margaret continued.
“I memorized the succession code.”
Daniel stared.
“What code?”
Margaret looked at him.
“The trust doesn't need paper.”
Richard's face changed.
“It needs blood.”
Silence.
Jonathan understood.
“The DNA sequence.”
Margaret nodded.
“The trust is encoded through the beneficiaries.”
Daniel stared.
“So no document can transfer it.”
“Correct.”
Richard looked furious.
“You knew.”
Margaret smiled.
“That's why Thomas created it.”
THE FAMILY'S LAST CHANCE
Richard's men moved forward.
Daniel stood beside Leah.
Jonathan got up.
Samuel raised a weapon.
Evelyn stepped between them.
Richard pointed at her.
“Move.”
Evelyn didn't.
“No.”
“You've already betrayed them once.”
“I know.”
“Then don't make another mistake.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“I've spent twenty-three years making mistakes.”
She looked at Daniel.
“I'm not making another.”
Richard raised his gun.
A shot rang out.
Evelyn collapsed.
Daniel screamed.
“EVELYN!”
Margaret ran to her.
Blood spread across her dress.
Leah froze.
Richard stared at the fallen woman.
Then smiled.
“One less problem.”
Daniel looked at him.
Something changed in his eyes.
He stopped being afraid.
He stood.
“You just made your last mistake.”
Richard laughed.
“What are you going to do?”
Daniel looked at Jonathan.
Then Samuel.
Then Leah.
Finally Margaret.
“Finish this.”
THE ESCAPE
Jonathan fired first.
The monastery erupted.
Samuel pulled Leah toward the rear exit.
Margaret followed.
Daniel stayed behind.
“Go!”
Leah screamed:
“Daniel!”
“GO!”
Jonathan dragged him away.
They ran through the underground passage.
The tunnel was narrow.
Cold.
Ancient.
At the end was a steel door.
Jonathan opened it.
They emerged behind the monastery.
A car waited.
Leah turned.
“Where's Evelyn?”
Margaret shook her head.
“She'll survive.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she's stubborn.”
Leah almost laughed through her tears.
Then—
A phone rang.
Daniel answered.
A voice spoke.
“Daniel.”
He froze.
“Who is this?”
“Emma.”
Daniel's face changed.
“Where are you?”
“I escaped.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
Emma whispered:
“Edward let me go.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Because he wants you to find him.”
“Where?”
Emma took a breath.
“Blackwood Manor.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“He's there?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“I saw him.”
“Where?”
“In the library.”
Daniel looked toward the road.
“Stay hidden.”
Emma's voice trembled.
“Daniel…”
“What?”
“He wasn't alone.”
Daniel stopped.
“Who was with him?”
Emma whispered:
“Cassandra.”
THE HOUSE OF LIES
They returned to Blackwood Manor.
The gates were open.
No guards.
No security.
No lights.
The estate looked abandoned.
Daniel stepped inside.
“Something's wrong.”
Margaret nodded.
“This is exactly how it looked the night Thomas died.”
Leah looked around.
“Where is Cassandra?”
No answer.
They entered the library.
A single lamp was burning.
Cassandra sat in a chair.
Her shoulder was bandaged.
She looked exhausted.
Edward stood behind her.
Alive.
Calm.
Holding a gun.
Daniel froze.
“Dad.”
Edward smiled.
“My son.”
Leah stepped forward.
“You're not his father.”
Edward looked at her.
“No.”
He smiled.
“But I raised him.”
Daniel's voice hardened.
“Where's Emma?”
Edward gestured toward the hallway.
“She left.”
“Why?”
“Because she finally understood.”
“Understood what?”
Edward looked at Margaret.
“That her mother never told her the truth.”
Margaret stared.
“Don't.”
Edward smiled.
Then turned toward Daniel.
“You want to know the greatest betrayal in your family's history?”
Daniel said nothing.
Edward pointed at Margaret.
“She didn't just hide the trust.”
He pointed at Evelyn's photograph on the wall.
“She didn't just hide Jonathan.”
Then he looked at Leah.
“She hid the identity of your real father.”
Leah froze.
“What?”
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“Mom?”
Margaret couldn't speak.
Edward laughed.
“You've spent all these years believing Thomas was your father.”
Leah's heart stopped.
Edward's smile widened.
“He wasn't.”
The room went silent.
Margaret whispered:
“Don't listen to him.”
Edward stepped closer.
“Ask her.”
Leah stared at her mother.
“Mom…”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
Edward spoke one final sentence.
May you like
“Ask Margaret who your real father is.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
