Chapter 14 - THE FINAL BETRAYAL
My father was standing in the doorway.
He looked older than he had that morning.
Broken.
“I didn't destroy Lily's DNA.”
My mother looked at him.
“You did.”
“No.”
“You burned the original sample.”
“I protected her.”
I couldn't take it anymore.
“Stop saying that.”
Both of them looked at me.
“Every time someone does something terrible, they call it protection.”
My father lowered his head.
I placed the DNA report on the table.
“Why was Lily's biological father hidden?”
My father looked at Claire.
“Because Ethan Bennett was dangerous.”
“Why?”
“He was investigating the trust.”
“He was my friend.”
“He knew too much.”
“And he died.”
“Yes.”
“Did you kill him?”
My father shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
My mother answered.
“I did.”
Silence.
I stared at her.
“You killed him?”
She nodded.
“I ordered it.”
Claire covered her mouth.
My mother cried.
“I thought he was going to expose everything.”
“You killed Lily's father.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed her future.”
“I was trying to protect it.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You don't even hear yourself.”
My mother looked at Lily's photograph.
“I thought if Lily never knew, she could live a normal life.”
“She deserved the truth.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
My father stepped forward.
“She regretted it.”
I turned toward him.
“And you?”
He looked at me.
“I helped cover it.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“You let me raise Lily believing she was mine.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Ethan's enemies would have come for her.”
“They came anyway.”
“I know.”
I stared at both of them.
For years I had believed my family had protected me.
In reality, they had built a prison around me.
Every secret had been justified as protection.
Every lie had become another wall.
And Lily had inherited all of it.
I walked upstairs.
Lily was sitting beside the window.
She looked at me.
“Daddy?”
I sat beside her.
“Do you know something?”
She shook her head.
I smiled.
“You are my daughter.”
She smiled.
“Always?”
“Always.”
“Even if someone says I'm not?”
“Always.”
She hugged me.
I closed my eyes.
Whatever the DNA said, whatever the bloodline said, I was her father.
That would never change.
When I returned downstairs, Claire was waiting.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I knew Ethan.”
I stared.
“How?”
“He contacted me before he died.”
“What did he tell you?”
“He said someone in your family wanted him gone.”
“Who?”
“He never said.”
“Did you know he was Lily's father?”
She nodded.
“Before Lily was born?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I promised him.”
I felt betrayed.
“You all knew.”
“I was afraid.”
I looked away.
Claire touched my hand.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I am sorry.”
I nodded.
Then Officer Miller entered.
“We have a warrant.”
“For whom?”
“Your mother.”
My mother didn't resist.
She stood.
“I knew this day would come.”
Before she left, she looked at me.
“I never stopped loving you.”
I couldn't answer.
She was taken away.
My father remained.
I looked at him.
“You're next.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
But before the officers could take him, he stopped.
“Daniel.”
I turned.
“There is one thing you don't know.”
“What?”
“Your mother didn't order Ethan's death alone.”
My blood went cold.
“Who helped her?”
He looked toward the stairs.
“Someone who is still inside this house.”
Everyone froze.
Officer Miller reached for her radio.
“Who?”
My father didn't answer.
Then the lights went out.
A scream came from upstairs.
“Lily!”
I ran.
Claire followed.
The bedroom door was open.
The window was shattered.
Lily was gone.
My heart stopped.
On the bed was a note.
I picked it up.
YOU WANTED THE TRUTH. NOW PAY FOR IT.
At the bottom was one name.
MICHAEL.
I turned.
My brother was standing at the end of the hallway.
His hands were raised.
“I didn't take her.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Then a video appeared on my phone.
Lily was sitting in a dark room.
She looked frightened.
But unharmed.
A man stood behind her.
His face was hidden.
His voice was distorted.
“Daniel.”
I stared at the screen.
“Let her go.”
“You still don't understand.”
“What do you want?”
“The ledger.”
“You have it.”
“No.”
He laughed.
“The real ledger.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The book you found is a copy.”
I looked at my father.
His face turned white.
The man continued:
“The original is with the person who started all of this.”
“Who?”
The video paused.
Then the camera moved closer.
The man removed his hood.
I stared.
I knew him.
Everyone thought he had died twenty years ago.
My grandfather.
Alive.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Hello, Daniel.”
My blood ran cold.
May you like
He smiled.
“Come home.”
