Chapter 10 - THE FOURTH HEIR
The storm began before we reached Blackwood Estate.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Rain hit the windshield.
Daniel drove.
Thomas sat beside him.
Claire and I were in the back.
Margaret sat between us.
She had barely spoken since we left.
Finally, I asked:
“Why didn't you tell me about Anna?”
Margaret looked at me.
“Because Victor threatened her.”
“How?”
“He told me that if I revealed the truth, he would make her disappear.”
“And you believed him?”
“I had already watched him destroy Thomas.”
She looked at him.
“I was terrified.”
I understood.
But understanding didn't erase the pain.
“Why did you take Claire?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Because Victor told me Lily would be killed.”
Claire stared.
“I'm not Lily.”
“No.”
Margaret looked at her.
“Your name was Claire from the beginning.”
“Then why did Victor call me Lily?”
“Because Lily was the identity he used for the first child.”
Daniel frowned.
“Then who is Lily?”
Margaret hesitated.
I felt confused.
“Wait.”
She looked at me.
“The woman we believed was our granddaughter…”
“Yes.”
“She isn't?”
Margaret shook her head.
“No.”
My heart stopped.
“Then who is she?”
Margaret answered:
“Lily is Anna's daughter.”
I stared.
Everything twisted again.
The girl I had believed was my granddaughter was not my granddaughter.
She was my great-granddaughter.
The real fourth generation.
But then who were my actual children?
Margaret explained.
The original four babies were:
Daniel.
Claire.
Anna.
And a fourth infant who died shortly after birth.
Lily was Anna's daughter.
I closed my eyes.
For fifty years, every identity had been rearranged.
Every relationship distorted.
Every record manipulated.
No wonder nothing made sense.
We reached the estate.
The gates were open.
That frightened me.
Daniel stopped the car.
Thomas looked toward the mansion.
“She's already inside.”
We entered.
The house was dark.
Then the lights came on.
Victoria stood at the top of the staircase.
She wore a black dress.
Her face was calm.
Victor stood beside her.
But Victor was supposed to be in custody.
Daniel froze.
“How?”
Victoria smiled.
“The police officer was mine.”
Thomas reached for his phone.
“No signal.”
Victoria laughed.
“I thought of that.”
I looked at her.
“Anna.”
She flinched.
I had never called her that before.
Her expression changed.
“You know.”
“Yes.”
She slowly descended the stairs.
“You were never supposed to know.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor wanted me to hate you.”
“Why did you listen?”
“Because I believed him.”
She stopped in front of me.
“For thirty years, I watched you love Daniel.”
My heart broke.
“You were watching?”
“Yes.”
“You were there.”
“Every birthday.”
“Every Christmas?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come to me?”
“Because I thought you had chosen them.”
I shook my head.
“I didn't know you existed.”
She looked away.
“I know that now.”
Victor interrupted.
“Enough.”
He pointed toward the vault door.
“Open it.”
Victoria looked at him.
“No.”
His face hardened.
“You know what happens if you refuse.”
She smiled.
“You've been threatening me for thirty years.”
Then she turned toward me.
“I didn't bring you here for him.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“To give you something.”
She pulled a document from her coat.
The original family registry.
It listed all four births.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
One child survives under a false identity.
I looked at her.
“You.”
She nodded.
“I am your daughter.”
I reached for her.
She stepped back.
“I don't know how to call you Mother.”
“You don't have to.”
“Why not?”
“Because you can take your time.”
She stared at me.
For the first time, her expression softened.
Then Victor raised his weapon.
“Enough.”
He pointed toward Victoria.
“Open the vault.”
Victoria looked at me.
“I'm sorry.”
Then she whispered:
“Run.”
The lights went out.
May you like
A gunshot echoed.
Someone screamed.
