PART16
For a moment…
I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
* * *
Jonathan was looking at Andrew.
Not with anger.
Not with hatred.
* * *
With disappointment.
* * *
And somehow…
That was worse.
* * *
I slowly turned toward my brother.
* * *
“Andrew…”
* * *
He didn’t answer.
* * *
“Tell me he’s lying.”
* * *
The silence that followed was unbearable.
* * *
Because Andrew had always been the one person I trusted.
* * *
The person who stood beside me after my father died.
* * *
The person who helped me survive the collapse of my marriage.
* * *
But now…
He couldn’t even look me in the eyes.
* * *
“Andrew.”
My voice became quieter.
* * *
“Please.”
* * *
He closed his eyes.
* * *
And whispered:
* * *
“I’m sorry.”
* * *
Those two words broke something inside me.
* * *
Not because they were unexpected.
* * *
But because they confirmed my fear.
* * *
“You knew.”
* * *
Andrew swallowed.
* * *
“Yes.”
* * *
“How long?”
* * *
He looked down.
* * *
“Since before your wedding.”
* * *
My heart stopped.
* * *
Before my wedding.
* * *
The words echoed in my head.
* * *
“You knew Jonathan was part of this?”
* * *
Andrew nodded slowly.
* * *
“I knew he was chosen.”
* * *
I stared at him.
* * *
“And you let me marry him?”
* * *
His face filled with regret.
* * *
“I thought I was protecting you.”
* * *
I laughed softly.
* * *
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
* * *
I pointed at the documents.
* * *
“Everyone keeps using that word.”
* * *
A pause.
* * *
“But nobody ever asked me what I wanted.”
* * *
Nobody spoke.
* * *
Because I was right.
* * *
My father.
Jonathan.
Andrew.
Richard.
* * *
Everyone had made decisions about my life.
* * *
Everyone except me.
* * *
* * *
“Why?”
I asked Andrew.
* * *
“Why would you hide this from me?”
* * *
He walked toward the table.
* * *
His hands were shaking.
* * *
“Because Dad made me promise.”
* * *
I frowned.
* * *
“My father?”
* * *
“Yes.”
* * *
“He knew?”
* * *
Andrew nodded.
* * *
“Before he died, Dad told me that if you discovered the truth too early, you would become a target.”
* * *
I looked at Jonathan.
* * *
“A target from Alexander?”
* * *
Jonathan answered:
* * *
“Not only him.”
* * *
I turned back.
* * *
“What does that mean?”
* * *
Jonathan took a deep breath.
* * *
“Your father built a world based on secrets.”
* * *
He looked at me.
* * *
“And secrets always create enemies.”
* * *
I stared at the envelope on the table.
* * *
The one with my name.
* * *
“What is inside?”
* * *
Nobody answered.
* * *
That terrified me.
* * *
I picked it up.
* * *
The paper was old.
Carefully sealed.
* * *
For seventeen years…
My father had kept this hidden.
* * *
I opened it.
* * *
Inside was a letter.
* * *
Only one page.
* * *
And the handwriting was unmistakable.
* * *
My father’s handwriting.
* * *
* * *
My dear Claire,
* * *
If you are reading this, it means the people I trusted failed to protect you.
* * *
My hands began to tremble.
* * *
Andrew looked away.
* * *
I continued reading.
* * *
I wanted you to live a life where you were judged by your heart, not by your name.
* * *
A tear fell onto the paper.
* * *
Because that sounded exactly like my father.
* * *
But the next sentence changed everything.
* * *
However, there is one truth you must know.
* * *
I held my breath.
* * *
You were never just my daughter.
* * *
My eyes froze.
* * *
I read the sentence again.
* * *
Never just my daughter.
* * *
“What does that mean?”
I whispered.
* * *
Jonathan looked at me.
* * *
And for the first time…
He looked afraid.
* * *
I continued reading.
* * *
You are the last living person who carries the Vale legacy.
* * *
My fingers tightened around the letter.
* * *
Vale legacy.
* * *
Not money.
Not companies.
Something else.
* * *
Something bigger.
* * *
The final lines were written differently.
As if my father had rushed.
* * *
Do not trust the person who says they love you most.
* * *
My heartbeat became louder.
* * *
Because that person knows exactly where to hurt you.
* * *
I slowly lowered the letter.
* * *
Everyone was silent.
* * *
Then I looked at Jonathan.
* * *
The man who once promised to love me forever.
* * *
Then at Andrew.
* * *
The brother who promised to protect me.
* * *
My voice shook.
* * *
“Who was my father warning me about?”
* * *
Nobody answered.
* * *
Then my phone rang.
* * *
Unknown number.
* * *
Again.
* * *
I looked at the screen.
* * *
Everyone in the room became tense.
* * *
Jonathan whispered:
* * *
“Don’t answer.”
* * *
But it was too late.
* * *
I pressed accept.
* * *
“Hello?”
* * *
A woman’s voice came through.
* * *
A voice I had never heard before.
* * *
But her first sentence made my blood freeze.
* * *
“Claire…”
* * *
A pause.
* * *
“Your father wasn’t killed by an accident.”
* * *
My entire body went cold.
* * *
“What?”
* * *
The woman continued:
* * *
“He was murdered.”
* * *
I stopped breathing.
* * *
“And the person responsible…”
* * *
A long pause.
* * *
“Has been standing beside you this whole time.”
* * *
The call ended.
* * *
I slowly looked up.
* * *
At Jonathan.
* * *
At Andrew.
* * *
At the two people who knew my entire life.
* * *
And for the first time…
* * *
I wondered if the greatest betrayal…
* * *
Was not from the person who hurt me.
* * *
But from the person who protected me.
* * *
END OF PART 16
