CHAPTER 12 — The Secret My Father Buried
CHAPTER 12 — The Secret My Father Buried
That night, I returned to my childhood home.
The old Carlisle estate.
A place I hadn’t visited since my father died.
The house was empty.
Quiet.
But memories lived everywhere.
My father teaching me how to ride a bicycle.
My mother laughing in the garden.
The day he told me:
“Evelyn, never trust someone who loves your power more than they love you.”
I used to think those words were about business.
Now I knew.
They were about people.
Daniel and I searched through my father’s old office.
Behind an old painting, we found a hidden compartment.
Inside was a small box.
My hands shook as I opened it.
There was a letter.
My father’s handwriting.
Evelyn,
If you are reading this, then someone has finally revealed their true intentions.
I stopped breathing.
The letter continued.
Adrian Cross never wanted to build an empire with me. He wanted to own mine.
My eyes moved faster.
When I discovered his betrayal, I removed him from the company. But before he disappeared, he threatened the one thing I loved most.
Me.
The final line made my heart stop.
Protect Lily. She is the reason he will come back.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why Lily?”
Then I saw the second item inside the box.
May you like
A DNA report.
And my entire world changed.
