Chapter 14: The Mother Who Came Back From the Dead
For a moment, nobody moved.
Four children.
The words seemed to echo through the warehouse.
I looked at my mother.
“Four?””
Elizabeth nodded slowly.
“Two boys and two girls.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Who are the others?””
Richard answered before she could.
“One of them is standing in front of you.””
He pointed toward Thomas.
The young man who looked exactly like me lowered his eyes.
“David Carter was your mother's brother,” Richard continued.
“He had a son. Thomas. But Elizabeth also gave birth to another child that night.””
I looked at my mother.
“Who?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Your sister.””
I shook my head.
“I had a sister?””
Elizabeth nodded.
“She was born a few minutes after you.””
“Where is she?””
My mother looked toward Richard.
He smiled.
“That's the question I've been waiting for.””
He walked around the table and picked up the folder I was holding.
“Give me the trust.””
“Let Lily go first.””
Richard opened the folder.
He scanned the first few pages.
Then he laughed.
“Do you really think this is the original?””
I didn't answer.
He threw it onto the table.
“Your father made a copy for you. The real trust is somewhere else.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Where's my mother?””
Richard turned toward him.
“Your mother is standing right there.””
Daniel looked at Elizabeth.
She began crying.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
Daniel's voice broke.
“You told me you were dead.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From whom? Your own family?””
Elizabeth reached toward him.
He stepped away.
Richard laughed softly.
“Beautiful, isn't it? All these years, everyone pretending to be someone else.””
I looked at him.
“Why did you do it?””
His smile faded.
“Because Robert had everything.””
“Money?””
“Everything,” he repeated.
“The company. The family name. The inheritance. Even Elizabeth.””
My mother closed her eyes.
Richard continued.
“He was born into a life I could never have. Your grandfather favored him. Your father trusted him. And when Elizabeth chose Robert, I lost the only person I ever wanted.””
I stared at him.
“So you destroyed our family because my father married the woman you loved?””
Richard's eyes hardened.
“I destroyed nothing. I corrected an injustice.””
He pointed toward Daniel.
“Your father was never Robert. He was always me.””
Daniel looked at him.
“You never raised me.””
“I paid for your life.””
“You paid Evelyn to keep me hidden.””
“I gave you a future.””
“You gave me a false name.””
Richard slammed his hand against the table.
“Because your mother insisted!””
Elizabeth stepped forward.
“Richard, stop.””
He turned on her.
“You have no right to speak.””
“I have every right.””
Her voice was stronger now.
“You stole one of my children. You changed their names. You threatened Robert.
You had my brother's son raised as your own weapon. And when I tried to stop you, you made me disappear.””
Richard's face twisted.
“Because you wouldn't listen.””
My mother looked at me.
“Marcus, I need you to understand something. Robert knew Richard was planning to take the company. But he didn't know about the fourth child until after the accident.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Who is she?””
Elizabeth looked toward Lily.
Lily had stopped crying.
She was watching us carefully.
My mother whispered:
“Lily.””
Daniel turned sharply.
“What?””
Elizabeth nodded.
“Sarah was not Lily's biological mother. She was the woman who protected her after the hospital transfer. Lily was born to me.””
The warehouse fell silent.
I looked at Lily.
She was Richard's daughter.
My mother's daughter.
Daniel's half-sister.
And my sister.
Lily looked confused.
“Does that mean you're my family?””
I couldn't answer.
I wanted to run to her, but Richard still held the pistol.
He smiled.
“Now you understand why I needed the trust. Lily is the final beneficiary. Her identity gives her the right to challenge every document I created.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“You used her.””
“I protected what belongs to me.””
“She belongs to herself.””
Richard lifted the pistol.
“Enough.””
He pointed it at Daniel.
“Give me the original trust.””
I looked at my mother.
She was crying silently.
Then she moved her hand toward her coat.
Richard noticed.
“Don't.””
She froze.
“Richard, please. Let them go.””
“Where is it?””
Elizabeth looked at me.
“The original trust is not in the warehouse.””
Richard stepped toward her.
“Where?””
She swallowed.
“Inside the clock at the old family house.””
I felt the silver key in my pocket.
The clock.
My father's clock.
The one with the hidden camera.
Richard smiled.
“Good.””
He gestured toward Thomas.
“Take them.””
Thomas hesitated.
“Richard…”
“Now!””
Thomas moved toward Lily.
Daniel lunged.
The warehouse exploded into movement.
A gunshot shattered the air.
I felt something strike my shoulder.
I fell against the table.
Lily screamed.
Daniel tackled Richard, sending the pistol skidding across the floor.
Thomas grabbed Lily and pulled her away.
“Stop!”” I shouted.
My mother rushed toward her.
Richard struck Daniel across the face and scrambled for the gun.
Then a second shot rang out.
Richard staggered.
A dark stain spread across his shirt.
Thomas stood behind him, holding the weapon.
For one second, everyone froze.
Then Thomas dropped the gun.
“I didn't mean to.””
Richard collapsed.
Daniel scrambled toward Lily.
My mother reached her first.
She pulled Lily into her arms.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
“I'm so sorry.””
The warehouse doors burst open.
Police officers flooded inside.
Margaret had followed us after all.
She shouted instructions as officers secured the room.
I pressed my hand against my shoulder.
Blood soaked my shirt.
Daniel rushed toward me.
“Marcus!””
“I'm fine.””
“You're bleeding.””
“Where's Lily?””
He looked behind him.
She was safe in our mother's arms.
I let out a breath.
Then Thomas stepped toward us.
His hands were raised.
“I can explain.””
I looked at him.
“You shot Richard.””
“He was going to kill Daniel.””
“Why should we believe you?””
Thomas swallowed.
“Because I have something you need to see.””
He reached into his coat.
An officer raised his weapon.
“Don't move!””
Thomas slowly pulled out a photograph.
It showed a woman standing beside my father.
A woman who looked almost exactly like Elizabeth.
On the back was a name.
*SARAH HAYES.*
I stared at it.
“Who is she?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your father's first wife.””
My mother closed her eyes.
May you like
Then Thomas added:
“And she's the person who has been signing the orders to keep your mother hidden.””
