Chapter 11 - THE FAMILY NAME
The revelation destroyed everything I thought I knew.
My grandfather had died when I was young.
Or so I believed.
His funeral had been attended by hundreds.
My father had spoken about him for years.
But according to Lauren, he had created another identity.
Arthur Shaw.
A wealthy investor.
A philanthropist.
A businessman who operated behind Northbridge.
I called Thomas.
He answered immediately.
“Ryan?”
“Is my grandfather alive?”
Silence.
“Thomas.”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
He sighed.
“Your father suspected it.”
“Suspected?”
“Yes.”
“Did he ever confirm it?”
“No.”
Rachel interrupted.
“He did.”
I looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“My mother kept records.”
She opened a folder.
Inside was a photograph.
My grandfather.
Older.
But unmistakable.
Standing beside Victor.
I stared.
The date was only six months old.
“He's alive.”
Rachel nodded.
“And he knows about Olivia.”
I felt sick.
“What does he want?”
“The archive.”
“Why?”
“Because the archive contains evidence of everything.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then we have to move Olivia.”
I agreed.
We packed immediately.
But before we could leave, every light in the farmhouse went out.
Sofia grabbed Olivia.
“Stay back.”
A loud crash came from the front door.
Daniel moved toward it.
Then a voice came through the darkness.
“Ryan.”
My grandfather.
I recognized his voice from old recordings.
The lights came back on.
A man stood in the doorway.
Older.
Silver-haired.
Calm.
He looked directly at me.
“Hello, grandson.”
I couldn't speak.
He smiled.
“You've grown.”
“You're supposed to be dead.”
“So was your father.”
I stared at him.
“What do you want?”
“Olivia.”
I stepped in front of my daughter.
“You will never have her.”
He smiled.
“I don't need to.”
He pointed toward the table.
“The certificate.”
I touched my jacket.
“You came for this.”
“Yes.”
“You killed my father for it.”
His expression barely changed.
“Your father made his choice.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You murdered him.”
My grandfather looked at him.
“You were always the emotional one.”
Daniel clenched his fists.
My grandfather continued.
“Give me the certificate, and this ends.”
“No.”
“Then people around you will continue to suffer.”
Rachel shouted:
“You killed my sister.”
He looked at her.
“Your sister chose badly.”
Rachel's face hardened.
I realized something.
He wasn't trying to scare us.
He was certain he would win.
Then he smiled.
“Your father hid the archive beneath the old family estate.”
I froze.
“The estate in Galveston.”
“Yes.”
“You know where it is?”
“Of course.”
“Then why haven't you taken it?”
“Because I need the certificate.”
I finally understood.
The certificate wasn't simply a key.
It activated the archive.
Without it, the evidence remained inaccessible.
My grandfather turned toward the door.
“You have twenty-four hours.”
“For what?”
“To bring me the certificate.”
“And if I don't?”
He smiled.
“Then your wife dies.”
Lauren's face went white.
I turned.
She was standing behind me.
My grandfather had been watching her.
Then he said:
“Your daughter will be next.”
He walked away.
May you like
No one stopped him.
Because outside the farmhouse, dozens of armed men surrounded the property.
