Chapter 13 - The Cousin Who Wanted the Empire
Andrew stared at Daniel through the hospital camera.
“You?”
Daniel’s smile was cold.
“You always received everything.”
“The company.”
“The family name.”
“Patricia’s protection.”
Andrew swallowed.
“You helped her forge the documents.”
“I created the shell companies.”
Patricia looked at the screen with pride.
“Daniel was always more capable than you.”
Andrew’s face twisted.
“You used me as the public owner while he stole from the company.”
Patricia shrugged.
“You were attractive.”
“People trusted you.”
Clara looked at Patricia.
“You planned to replace Andrew.”
“Eventually.”
Patricia’s tone was casual.
“After the estate became company collateral, Andrew would have suffered a tragic breakdown.”
Andrew closed his eyes.
The truth was finally complete.
His mother had not protected him.
She had preserved him until he was no longer useful.
Clara looked toward the small camera beside the altar.
The light was still on.
The public stream had stopped, but the internal recording continued.
She needed Patricia to keep talking.
“You killed Robert Whitlock.”
Patricia smiled.
“He became sentimental.”
“You arranged my father’s accident.”
“He became inconvenient.”
“You imprisoned him for twenty years.”
“He refused to sign.”
Every confession entered the estate’s secure recording system.
Mr. Bell subtly moved one finger across his tablet.
The files were uploading to a hidden server.
Patricia noticed.
She raised the remote.
“Put that down.”
Mr. Bell lowered the tablet.
Daniel spoke through the screen.
“Mother, stop wasting time.”
Clara looked at Patricia.
“He calls you Mother?”
Andrew’s eyes opened.
Patricia said nothing.
Clara understood before anyone answered.
“Daniel is your son.”
Patricia’s calm expression finally cracked.
Andrew stared at the screen.
“My cousin is my brother?”
Daniel laughed.
“Half brother.”
“My father was Gregory Hale.”
Clara thought of the lawyer lying in a coma.
Another secret child.
Another hidden alliance.
Andrew looked toward Patricia.
“You raised him as Uncle Charles’s son.”
“Your uncle could not have children.”
“He agreed to the arrangement.”
“You gave Daniel everything except your name.”
Patricia looked toward the screen.
“I gave him a purpose.”
Daniel’s smile faded.
“No.”
“You gave me scraps.”
Patricia turned sharply.
“Do not start.”
“I did everything you asked.”
“I moved the money.”
“I threatened the notary.”
“I drugged Andrew in the hospital.”
“And you still planned to leave the company to him.”
Patricia’s hand tightened around the remote.
“This is not the time.”
Daniel pressed the knife harder against Andrew’s throat.
“It is exactly the time.”
Clara saw the conflict.
Patricia was no longer controlling Daniel.
“Daniel.”
Clara spoke carefully.
“You do not need her.”
Patricia shouted.
“Do not listen to Clara.”
Clara kept her eyes on the screen.
“Patricia used you.”
“She hid you.”
“She made you commit crimes while Andrew received the public praise.”
Daniel’s breathing changed.
“She promised me the company.”
“She promised Andrew the estate.”
Clara looked at Patricia.
“She promised Victor half the property.”
“She promised everyone the same thing.”
Daniel stared at Patricia through the camera.
“Is that true?”
Patricia lifted her chin.
“You were supposed to trust me.”
Daniel laughed.
The sound was broken.
“You never trusted me.”
He pulled the knife away from Andrew.
Patricia’s face filled with rage.
“Daniel.”
He stepped toward the hospital camera.
“I am done being your secret.”
Then the image shook.
A struggle broke out inside the room.
Andrew rolled from the bed.
A gunshot sounded.
The screen went black.
Patricia screamed Daniel’s name.
Her thumb pressed the remote.
A warning alarm filled the ballroom.
Gas began pouring from the ceiling.
Clara ran toward Patricia.
They collided beside the altar.
The remote flew into the air.
It landed near the wedding cake.
Detective Chen dove for it.
Patricia grabbed Clara by the throat.
“You ruined everything.”
Clara struck her wrist.
“You did that yourself.”
The ballroom blurred as the gas thickened.
Mr. Bell reached the ventilation controls.
Nothing happened.
“The system is locked.”
Patricia laughed as officers began collapsing.
“There is only one override.”
Clara struggled to breathe.
“Where?”
Patricia smiled.
“Inside the room where your wedding dress was made.”
Clara understood.
May you like
The design studio beneath the east wing.
The room Patricia had tried to burn before the ceremony.
