Chapter 8 - THE GRAVE THAT WAS EMPTY
We arrived at the cemetery at sunrise.
Police surrounded the area.
Security checked every vehicle.
My father carried the trust documents.
My mother stayed close to him.
Lillian held my grandmother's photograph.
Vanessa was there too.
She had refused to stay behind.
“I know him,” she said.
“He won't stop.”
My father looked at her.
“You helped him.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“I want to undo it.”
A black car appeared.
My grandfather stepped out.
Beside him was Robert.
And between them…
Me.
I was holding a small teddy bear.
Dad started toward me.
“Lily!”
Robert raised a hand.
“Stay where you are.”
My father stopped.
I looked at him.
“Dad.”
My grandfather smiled.
“She's unharmed.”
Dad stared at him.
“Let her go.”
“Give me the documents.”
“No.”
My grandfather nodded toward Robert.
Robert opened a folder.
Inside was my forged signature.
“Then she signs.”
My father shook his head.
“She can't.”
“She can.”
My mother stepped forward.
“She is six.”
“She is the heir.”
“No.”
My grandfather smiled.
“That is precisely why.”
He told us the truth.
The trust had one hidden condition.
The youngest heir could be placed under guardianship if the older heirs were considered legally incapable.
That meant Lillian and Thomas had to disappear.
Then I could be controlled.
My father looked at him.
“You planned this before she was born.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother betrayed me.”
“You mean Grandma.”
“Yes.”
“She changed the trust.”
“She stole my company.”
“It was never yours.”
My grandfather's expression hardened.
“It was.”
Then he pointed toward the cemetery.
“Open the grave.”
Dad frowned.
“What?”
“Your mother's grave.”
My mother went pale.
“Daniel, don't.”
Dad walked toward it.
The cemetery workers opened the grave.
There was no coffin.
Nothing.
The grave was empty.
Dad stared.
My mother's eyes filled with tears.
“I told you.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then where was I buried?”
“You weren't.”
My grandfather smiled.
“Your funeral was staged.”
Dad turned.
“What?”
“To make everyone believe Sophia was dead.”
My mother stepped forward.
“I escaped.”
“You ran.”
“I protected my children.”
My grandfather laughed.
“You abandoned them.”
“No.”
My mother pointed at him.
“You took them.”
He shook his head.
“Lillian was taken because she was dangerous.”
“She was a child.”
“She was an heir.”
Dad stepped forward.
“You are finished.”
My grandfather smiled.
“Not yet.”
He pointed at me.
“Ask your daughter what she saw.”
Everyone looked at me.
I was shaking.
Dad came closer.
“Lily?”
I looked at him.
“There was another room.”
“What room?”
“When Vanessa took me.”
Dad froze.
“What did you see?”
“A man.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“What did he look like?”
“Like Grandpa.”
My grandfather's smile disappeared.
I continued.
“But it wasn't him.”
Dad stared.
“What do you mean?”
“He wore a mask.”
My grandfather looked at Robert.
Robert's face changed.
Dad noticed.
He immediately turned toward him.
“Robert.”
Robert stepped backward.
My grandfather shouted:
“Don't!”
Robert ran.
Police chased him.
Vanessa screamed.
“That's him!”
Dad looked at her.
“Who?”
“The man who took Lily.”
Robert was caught near the gate.
He was forced to the ground.
The mask was found in his car.
The police opened the trunk.
Inside were photographs.
My mother.
Lillian.
Thomas.
Me.
And one more person.
Victoria.
Alive.
Dad stared.
“She survived.”
Vanessa whispered:
“Yes.”
Then the police found a second phone.
A message had been sent minutes earlier.
THE CHILD IS SAFE. MOVE TO THE SECOND LOCATION.
Dad's face went pale.
“Second location?”
My grandfather smiled again.
“You caught Robert.”
He looked at me.
“But you haven't caught the person who truly controls the trust.”
Dad frowned.
“Who?”
My grandfather looked toward my mother.
“She knows.”
My mother closed her eyes.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Victoria.”
