CHAPTER 8 — THE WOMAN WHO BETRAYED THEM
CHAPTER 8 — THE WOMAN WHO BETRAYED THEM
The tunnel seemed to shrink around Ethan.
Three brothers.
Not two.
For forty years, he had lived believing he was Richard Blackwood's only surviving son.
Then he discovered Alexander.
Now Alexander was telling him there had been another.
A brother who had supposedly died before Ethan was born.
A brother whose face looked exactly like Alexander's.
A brother who had apparently never died at all.
Ethan stared at the photograph.
“Who is he?”
Alexander didn't answer.
“Alexander.”
“He doesn't have a name anymore.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means our mother erased him.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
“Our mother?”
“Yes.”
“You said Richard destroyed our family.”
“He did.”
“And now you're telling me Mother betrayed us?”
Alexander looked away.
“She betrayed one of us.”
“Which one?”
Alexander's answer was barely audible.
“Me.”
THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
They stopped inside an abandoned underground chamber.
The walls were covered in old documents.
Ethan placed the photograph beneath the light.
Three boys.
The first looked like Alexander.
The second was Ethan.
The third—
was almost identical to Alexander.
But there was something different in his eyes.
A coldness Ethan couldn't explain.
“What's his name?”
Alexander stared at the photograph.
“Gabriel.”
Ethan frowned.
“Gabriel Blackwood?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Alexander's expression hardened.
“Gabriel Vale.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“Vale?”
“Daniel's surname.”
Ethan slowly understood.
“Daniel had another son?”
“No.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Daniel had three.”
Silence.
“Three?”
“Three boys.”
“Who was the mother?”
Alexander hesitated.
“Margaret.”
Ethan stared.
“You're saying my mother had three children with Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Then Richard knew?”
“He knew everything.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Because Gabriel was different.”
“How?”
“He wasn't sick.”
Ethan frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Alexander looked at the photograph.
“He was healthy.”
“That isn't a crime.”
“No.”
Alexander's voice became colder.
“He was perfect.”
THE CHILD RICHARD WANTED
Richard had wanted Gabriel from the moment he learned about him.
Not because Gabriel was weak.
Because he wasn't.
Gabriel had inherited none of the visible symptoms of the Blackwood disease.
No instability.
No neurological degeneration.
No early signs.
He appeared genetically immune.
Richard believed Gabriel was the key.
But Margaret refused to give him up.
So she made a choice.
She hid Gabriel.
And she told Richard that the baby had died.
For years, Gabriel lived under another name.
Until one night—
Richard found him.
And Margaret betrayed him.
Not because she hated her son.
Because Richard gave her a choice.
Alexander or Gabriel.
She could save one.
The other would disappear.
Margaret chose Alexander.
Gabriel was taken.
And Ethan was born months later.
The family history had been rewritten.
Gabriel was declared dead.
Alexander was declared sick.
Ethan was declared the heir.
And Margaret became a prisoner of her own guilt.
THE WOMAN WHO KNEW
Ethan turned toward Eleanor.
“You knew about Gabriel.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“You knew he was alive?”
“No.”
“You knew he survived?”
“I knew Richard didn't kill him.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“No.”
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“I searched for him.”
“Why?”
“Because I promised Margaret.”
“What promise?”
“To bring all three sons home.”
Ethan looked at Alexander.
“You knew?”
Alexander nodded.
“I found out six years ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I thought you were working for Richard.”
Ethan stared at him.
“I didn't even know Richard was alive.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Alexander looked down.
“Because Gabriel convinced me.”
“Convinced you of what?”
“That you couldn't be trusted.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Where is he?”
Alexander looked toward the tunnel.
“Closer than you think.”
THE BETRAYAL
A door opened behind them.
Everyone turned.
Amelia stood there.
Ethan froze.
“How did you get here?”
She didn't answer.
Alexander raised his weapon.
“Don't.”
Ethan looked between them.
“What happened?”
Amelia's eyes filled with tears.
“I knew about Gabriel.”
Ethan's face hardened.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Since the night of the fire.”
“You knew my brother was alive?”
“I knew there was another child.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to protect Lily.”
“You lied to me.”
Amelia shook her head.
“I lied to everyone.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Why?”
She took a breath.
“Because Gabriel came to me.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“What did he want?”
“To make a deal.”
Ethan's stomach tightened.
“What deal?”
Amelia whispered:
“He wanted Lily.”
Alexander immediately raised his weapon.
“Ethan, step away from her.”
Amelia turned.
“I didn't give her to him.”
“But you considered it.”
“No.”
“You met him.”
“Yes.”
“You listened to him.”
“Yes.”
“You kept his existence secret.”
“Yes.”
Alexander's voice became bitter.
“You betrayed us.”
Amelia's tears fell.
“I betrayed nobody.”
“You protected yourself.”
“No.”
She looked at Ethan.
“I protected you.”
THE NIGHT AMELIA AGREED
Three years earlier, Amelia had been trapped in a private medical facility.
She was told Ethan had moved on.
That Lily was dead.
That no one was searching for them.
Then Gabriel appeared.
He walked into her room without guards.
He sat beside her.
And said:
“You're going to survive.”
Amelia had stared at him.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who knows what Richard did.”
“Why are you here?”
“To offer you a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Your freedom.”
Amelia didn't trust him.
“What do you want?”
“Lily.”
Amelia immediately refused.
“No.”
Gabriel smiled.
“I expected that.”
“Then leave.”
“I can get you out.”
“I said no.”
“I can erase your records.”
“No.”
“I can give Lily a new identity.”
“No.”
“I can make Ethan believe you're dead.”
Amelia froze.
“You know Ethan?”
“I know everything about him.”
“What do you want with him?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why Lily?”
“Because she's the only person who can destroy Richard.”
Amelia shook her head.
“She is a child.”
“Exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“Children are easier to control.”
Amelia's blood ran cold.
She understood.
Gabriel didn't want Lily dead.
He wanted to use her.
And Amelia would rather die than allow that.
So she made a different choice.
She pretended to cooperate.
She agreed to give Gabriel information.
But she secretly sent everything to Eleanor.
She had been playing both sides.
Until Gabriel discovered the betrayal.
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Ethan looked at Amelia.
“You were working against Gabriel.”
“Yes.”
“You were feeding him false information.”
“Yes.”
“And Richard?”
“I never worked for Richard.”
Alexander lowered his weapon.
Ethan still didn't trust the situation.
“Then why did Gabriel think you were helping him?”
“Because he needed to believe someone was loyal.”
Amelia looked toward Alexander.
“And I needed him to believe it was me.”
Alexander slowly lowered his weapon.
Ethan asked:
“Where is Gabriel now?”
Amelia looked at the ceiling.
“Watching us.”
Everyone froze.
A voice came through the speakers.
“She's right.”
Gabriel.
His voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
Ethan looked around.
“Show yourself.”
“You're not ready.”
“Stop hiding.”
“I've spent my entire life hiding.”
A pause.
“Why would I stop now?”
Ethan clenched his fists.
“You took my daughters.”
“No.”
Gabriel's voice changed.
“Someone else did.”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Ethan froze.
“Margaret?”
“Yes.”
“She's protecting them.”
“From you?”
“From everyone.”
Ethan stared at Amelia.
She whispered:
“Gabriel is lying.”
The speakers crackled.
“Amelia.”
She closed her eyes.
“You should have kept your promise.”
Ethan stepped toward the speaker.
“What promise?”
Silence.
Then Gabriel answered:
“She promised me Lily.”
THE REAL BETRAYAL
Amelia began crying.
“I didn't.”
Gabriel laughed softly.
“You did.”
“I never meant to keep it.”
“But you agreed.”
“I was trying to save her.”
“You were trying to save yourself.”
Ethan looked at Amelia.
“Did you promise him Lily?”
She couldn't answer.
That was enough.
Ethan's heart sank.
Amelia finally whispered:
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
“I made the promise.”
Ethan stared at her.
“But I never intended to give her to him.”
Gabriel's voice came through again.
“She is a liar.”
Amelia shook her head.
“No.”
“You lied to Ethan.”
“To save Lily.”
“You lied to me.”
“To save Lily.”
“You lied to Eleanor.”
“To save Lily.”
“You lied to everyone.”
Amelia looked toward Ethan.
“Because every person who knew the truth became a target.”
Gabriel went silent.
Then he said:
“Except you.”
Amelia's face changed.
“What?”
“I know what you did last night.”
She froze.
“What did you do?”
Ethan stepped closer.
Amelia's eyes filled with fear.
“I…”
Gabriel spoke again.
“She called someone.”
“Who?”
“She called Richard.”
Ethan stared at her.
“No.”
Amelia shook her head.
“I had no choice.”
Ethan's voice broke.
“You called Richard?”
“He had Lily.”
“You told him where we were?”
“No.”
“You gave him information.”
“I was trying to negotiate.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“You sold us.”
“No!”
Amelia screamed.
“I was trying to save the girls!”
The speakers went silent.
Then a different voice filled the chamber.
Old.
Cold.
Familiar.
Richard.
“Enough.”
Ethan froze.
Richard continued.
“Stop blaming the woman.”
Ethan looked toward the speakers.
“Where are my daughters?”
Richard laughed.
“You still think this is about your daughters.”
“What is it about?”
“Your blood.”
Ethan's stomach tightened.
Richard continued:
“Lily is the resistance.”
“Emma is the stabilizer.”
“Alexander is the mutation.”
“And you…”
A pause.
“…are the carrier.”
Ethan stared.
“What do you want from me?”
“Everything.”
THE DOOR OPENS
A heavy door at the end of the chamber unlocked.
Slowly.
Metal scraped against concrete.
A figure appeared.
An elderly man with gray hair.
A cane.
A dark suit.
Richard Blackwood.
Alive.
Ethan stared at him.
For years, he had imagined his father's face in nightmares.
Now the man was standing ten feet away.
Richard smiled.
“My son.”
Ethan's voice was cold.
“Don't call me that.”
Richard looked hurt.
“After everything I've done for you?”
“You destroyed my life.”
“I built your life.”
“You murdered my family.”
“I protected your family.”
“You imprisoned my mother.”
“She chose imprisonment.”
“You experimented on Alexander.”
“He survived.”
“You stole my daughters.”
“I preserved them.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“You don't preserve people by locking them in cages.”
Richard's expression hardened.
“You don't understand what is coming.”
“Then explain it.”
Richard looked toward Amelia.
“She knows.”
Amelia lowered her head.
Ethan turned.
“What does she know?”
Richard smiled.
“The truth about your birth.”
Ethan froze.
Richard walked closer.
“Your father wasn't Daniel Vale.”
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“You said he was.”
“I lied.”
Richard looked at Alexander.
“Daniel was your brother's father.”
Alexander froze.
“What?”
Richard smiled.
“But not Ethan's.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
“Then who?”
Richard looked directly at him.
“Me.”
Silence.
Ethan stared.
“You are my father.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you say you weren't?”
“Because I needed you to believe the lie.”
“Why?”
“Because Gabriel was the threat.”
Ethan's heart pounded.
“What does Gabriel have to do with me?”
Richard's expression became unreadable.
“He isn't your brother.”
Ethan froze.
Richard continued:
“He is your son.”
The room disappeared beneath Ethan's feet.
Alexander stepped back.
Amelia covered her mouth.
Eleanor whispered:
“No…”
Richard smiled.
“You finally understand.”
Ethan couldn't breathe.
Gabriel wasn't his brother.
He was his child.
And suddenly every lie of the past forty years seemed to rearrange itself into something even darker.
Richard's voice came quietly.
“You didn't have three brothers, Ethan.”
A pause.
“You had two.”
“And one of them became the man who would destroy you.”
Richard looked toward the darkness behind them.
“Because Gabriel is not merely your son.”
The lights went out.
A child's scream echoed through the underground facility.
“Daddy!”
Lily.
Ethan ran toward the sound.
Richard laughed.
May you like
And somewhere in the darkness, another voice whispered:
“Welcome home, Father.”
