Chapter 7: The Secret My Father Buried
Nobody moved.
Not even Brandon.
My mother began crying.
I looked at her.
“Mom?””
She lowered her head.
“Tell me she's lying.””
She couldn't.
That was my answer.
I felt the floor tilt beneath me.
“No.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“You deserve the truth.””
Damien stared at her.
“You've been alive this whole time.””
“Yes.””
“Where were you?””
“Trying to keep you alive.””
His laugh was bitter.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“I had no choice.””
“You always had a choice.””
Evelyn looked at me.
“So did your father.””
I turned toward my mother.
“Is it true?””
She covered her face.
“I'm sorry.””
My voice broke.
“Is it true?””
She nodded.
“You're not Daniel's daughter.””
The words landed like a physical blow.
I staggered backward.
Brandon lowered his weapon slightly.
“Now you understand.””
I looked at him.
“Understand what?””
“Why I married you.””
My stomach twisted.
“You knew?””
“Of course.””
“How?””
“Your father told my father everything.””
Damien's eyes hardened.
“You married her to find something.””
Brandon smiled.
“Not something.””
He looked at me.
“Someone.””
I shook my head.
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Your biological father is alive.””
I couldn't breathe.
“My father?””
“Not Daniel.””
“Who?””
She looked at Damien.
His face had gone rigid.
Evelyn whispered:
“Michael Blackwood.””
Silence.
I looked at Damien.
He stared back at me.
“No.””
His mother nodded.
“Yes.””
Damien took a step backward.
“You're saying Hannah is my—”
“Half-sister.””
My knees almost gave out.
Damien caught me before I fell.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he looked at Evelyn.
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
“Why?””
“Because Michael was Daniel's closest friend.””
“And?””
“And he loved me.””
Damien's face tightened.
“Father knew?””
“Yes.””
“Daniel knew?””
“Yes.””
Brandon laughed softly.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
Damien turned on him.
“What do you want?””
“The account.””
“What account?””
Brandon looked at me.
“Your father left money.””
“My father?””
“Daniel kept it hidden.””
“I don't know anything about money.””
Brandon stepped closer.
“Of course you don't.””
“Then why did you marry me?””
“Because you were the key.””
I stared at him.
“What key?””
“The trust.””
My mother whispered, “Hannah, don't listen to him.””
Brandon's smile disappeared.
“Your father created a trust under your name.””
Damien's eyes narrowed.
“When?””
“On her eighteenth birthday.””
I looked at my mother.
“You knew?””
She nodded through tears.
“Daniel told me.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because he said if you knew, they'd come for you.””
“They came anyway.””
My mother looked at Brandon.
“Yes.””
Brandon raised the gun.
“Where is the trust?””
“I don't know.””
He looked at me.
“You do.””
“No.””
“Think.””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
He stepped closer.
“Your father gave you something.””
Memories flashed through my mind.
My eighteenth birthday.
A wooden box.
A letter.
My father had placed it in my hands.
I'd forgotten the exact words.
But I remembered his face.
If anyone ever asks about this, tell them you lost it.
I stared into the distance.
The box.
My mother noticed.
“Hannah?””
“I remember.””
Brandon smiled.
“Where?””
I didn't answer.
Damien looked at me.
“What box?””
“My father gave me one when I turned eighteen.””
Brandon's eyes lit up.
“Where is it?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I threw it away.””
Brandon raised the gun.
Damien moved instantly.
“Don't.””
Brandon aimed at him.
“Then tell me where it is.””
I stepped between them.
“Stop.””
Damien grabbed my shoulder.
“Hannah.””
“I'll tell you.””
Brandon lowered the gun slightly.
“Good.””
I looked at him.
“It's at my house.””
He smiled.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don't believe me?””
“Because I searched your house.””
“You searched everything?””
“Yes.””
“Then you missed it.””
Brandon's smile faded.
“Where?””
“In my wedding dress.””
He stared.
“What?””
“The box is sewn inside the lining.””
My mother gasped.
I didn't know if it was true.
But Brandon believed me.
“Take her.””
Damien moved.
“No.””
Brandon pointed the gun at my mother.
“Then she dies.””
Damien froze.
I looked at my mother.
Then at Damien.
“It's okay.””
“No,” he said.
I whispered, “Trust me.””
Brandon motioned toward the exit.
“Move.””
We began walking.
Then Evelyn spoke.
“Brandon.””
He stopped.
“What?””
“You don't know what is inside that box.””
His expression darkened.
“I know exactly what's inside.””
“No.””
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“You don't.””
Brandon's face changed.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Damien.
Then at me.
“Daniel never put money in the box.””
She paused.
“He put a name.””
Brandon's gun hand tightened.
“Whose?””
Evelyn looked directly at me.
“Your biological father's.””
Then every light in the warehouse switched on.
And dozens of armed men surrounded us.
May you like
But they weren't Brandon's.
They were Damien's.
