Chapter 5 - THE MAN WHO NEVER DIED
We moved to a secure hospital floor.
Police surrounded the building.
My father hired additional security.
Daniel never left my side.
For the first time since the night he had abandoned me, I saw the husband I thought I knew.
He brought me water.
He stayed awake beside me.
He spoke to the baby.
But trust doesn't return because someone becomes afraid of losing you.
It returns slowly.
If it returns at all.
One night, Daniel sat beside the window.
“I know you don't trust me.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
“I deserve that.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I spent my whole life believing my mother protected me.”
“She didn't.”
“No.”
“She protected herself.”
Daniel looked at me.
“I want to protect you.”
I shook my head.
“Protect our child.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
Then the door opened.
My father entered.
“We found Arthur.”
Daniel stood.
“Where?”
“An old private clinic.”
“Is he arrested?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He escaped.”
My heart tightened.
“How?”
“He had help.”
“Who?”
My father placed a photograph on the table.
Victoria.
Beside Arthur.
Daniel stared.
“My mother.”
“Yes.”
“She betrayed me.”
My father looked at him.
“She betrayed everyone.”
Then the lights went out.
The hospital alarm sounded.
Security rushed into the hallway.
Someone screamed.
Daniel grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.”
A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
An old man.
Gray hair.
Thin face.
Cold eyes.
Arthur Carter.
He smiled.
“Emily.”
I froze.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I have unfinished business.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You destroyed my life.”
Arthur laughed.
“I gave you one.”
“You lied to me.”
“I protected you.”
“By stealing my identity?”
“You were never a Carter.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I am your son.”
“No.”
Arthur pointed toward Lucas.
“He is.”
Lucas stared.
Arthur continued:
“Daniel was created as a decoy.”
I couldn't breathe.
“What?”
Arthur smiled.
“Your grandfather needed someone to inherit publicly while the real heirs remained hidden.”
Daniel's face collapsed.
“All these years…”
“You were a name.”
Daniel stepped toward him.
Arthur raised a gun.
Police shouted.
“Drop it!”
Arthur smiled.
He lowered the weapon.
“Not tonight.”
He turned.
Then threw a small device onto the floor.
Smoke filled the hallway.
Security rushed toward us.
Daniel covered my body.
My father pulled me toward the emergency stairwell.
When the smoke cleared, Arthur was gone.
May you like
Victoria was gone.
And so was the original Carter trust.
