Chapter 11 - THE MEMORY
Arthur refused to accept it.
But Sarah had proof.
She showed him medical records.
Private recordings.
Bank transfers.
Everything pointed toward one conclusion.
Arthur's mother had created the entire scheme.
She had manipulated Arthur.
She had used Victor.
She had controlled the company.
She had arranged Sarah's disappearance.
And she had hidden Lily's identity.
Arthur sat alone in the warehouse.
His entire life felt like a lie.
Emily sat beside him.
“You don't have to carry this alone.”
Arthur looked at her.
“I trusted everyone.”
“You trusted the wrong people.”
“What about my mother?”
Emily shook her head.
“You were a child.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Then Lily approached.
She held the old envelope.
“Mr. Sterling?”
Arthur looked up.
“What is it?”
“I found something.”
She handed him the envelope.
Inside was a tiny folded piece of paper.
Arthur opened it.
Sarah stared at him.
“I never put that there.”
Arthur looked confused.
The message contained only six words.
THE MONEY IS NOT THE REAL SECRET.
Underneath was an address.
Arthur recognized it.
His childhood home.
The mansion had been abandoned for twenty years.
Arthur, Emily, Sarah, Lily, and Daniel went there.
Inside the mansion, everything remained untouched.
Arthur walked through the halls.
He remembered fragments.
A birthday.
His mother's voice.
His father shouting.
Sarah crying.
Then he saw a painting.
A portrait of his family.
He pulled it from the wall.
Behind it was a safe.
The brass key opened it.
Inside was a videotape.
Arthur inserted it into an old player.
His mother's voice filled the room.
“If you are watching this, Arthur, then everything has gone wrong.”
Arthur stared at the screen.
His mother appeared.
She looked directly into the camera.
“I know you will hate me.”
Arthur's hands tightened.
“But one day you will understand why.”
She continued.
“Your father was going to destroy this family.”
“He discovered that Lily was the rightful heir.”
Arthur froze.
His mother continued.
“I protected you.”
“I protected the company.”
“And I protected the child.”
Then the screen changed.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Lily as a newborn.
Beside her was Sarah.
And beside Sarah was a man Arthur had never seen.
Arthur looked at Sarah.
“Who is that?”
Sarah's face became pale.
“That is Lily's father.”
Arthur stared at the screen.
The man's identity was written underneath.
Michael Sterling.
May you like
Arthur whispered:
“My brother.”
