CHAPTER 7: THE BLOOD TEST THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
“My father is not the man you think.”
My mother’s words destroyed the silence.
I felt like the entire room had shifted beneath my feet.
Nathaniel Graves stood frozen.
The man who had faced criminals, enemies, and impossible situations without blinking…
Was suddenly unable to move.
Because the person standing in front of him wasn’t an enemy.
It was the woman he had spent twelve years blaming.
The woman who knew the truth.
The woman who had been protecting a secret.
“Emily…”
Nathaniel’s voice was barely audible.
“What did you say?”
My mother looked down.
“I said Ruby’s father is not who you believe.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
The word came out automatically.
“No.”
My mother looked at me.
“Ruby—”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You told me my dad was gone.”
“I know.”
“You told me he died before I was born.”
“I know.”
“You told me it was just us.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I know.”
My voice cracked.
“So what else did you lie about?”
Nobody answered.
Not even Nathaniel.
Because everyone knew the truth was about to hurt.
Sebastian Graves leaned against the wall, enjoying every second.
That was the part I hated most.
He wasn’t shocked.
He wasn’t angry.
He was enjoying watching us break.
“You see, brother?”
Sebastian smiled.
“This is why secrets are dangerous.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“Shut up.”
Sebastian laughed.
“You spent twelve years searching for the wrong answer.”
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“You used my daughter.”
“No.”
Sebastian looked at me.
“I protected an investment.”
My stomach turned.
Nathaniel’s face darkened.
“You call a child an investment?”
Sebastian shrugged.
“Everything has value.”
That was the moment I understood.
Nathaniel Graves might be dangerous.
But Sebastian Graves was something worse.
He didn’t see people.
He saw pieces on a board.
Nathaniel turned back to my mother.
“Tell me the truth.”
Emily closed her eyes.
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“When it was safe.”
Nathaniel laughed bitterly.
“Safe?”
He looked around the apartment.
“Does this look safe?”
Emily had no answer.
“Who is Ruby’s father?”
My mother looked at me.
Then at Nathaniel.
And whispered:
“Daniel.”
Nathaniel froze.
“Daniel?”
Sebastian smiled.
“Yes.”
The room became colder.
Nathaniel’s face changed.
“No.”
Emily nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
“Daniel Carter?”
“Yes.”
Nathaniel stepped back.
“The man who worked in my company?”
Emily nodded.
“The man who was killed twelve years ago?”
Silence.
Then Emily said:
“He wasn’t killed.”
My heart stopped.
Another lie.
Another secret.
Another piece of my life falling apart.
“Mom…”
My voice shook.
“Who was my father?”
Emily looked at me.
“His name was Daniel Carter.”
She paused.
“He was the only person who tried to expose the truth.”
Nathaniel looked confused.
“Daniel wasn’t involved in this.”
“He was.”
Emily looked at him.
“But not the way you think.”
Daniel Carter had been Nathaniel’s closest friend.
A brilliant financial analyst.
The one person who could challenge Nathaniel without fear.
When Daniel discovered that someone inside Graves Holdings was moving illegal money…
He investigated.
And what he found was bigger than anyone imagined.
The person controlling everything wasn’t a random criminal.
It was someone with access.
Someone with power.
Someone who could erase evidence.
Someone who could make people disappear.
And Daniel was about to expose them.
Until he vanished.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Nathaniel’s voice was full of pain.
Emily looked at him.
“Because Daniel gave me one instruction.”
“What?”
“Protect Ruby.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
“And you thought I was the danger?”
Emily didn’t answer.
Because the answer was yes.
At that time…
She did.
Sebastian pushed away from the wall.
“This is touching.”
Everyone looked at him.
“But unfortunately, we’re running out of time.”
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?”
Sebastian smiled.
“The same thing I wanted twelve years ago.”
He looked around the apartment.
“The truth.”
“You already know the truth.”
“No.”
Sebastian looked at me.
“I need the final piece.”
I stepped back.
“What piece?”
Sebastian didn’t answer.
Instead, he looked at my mother.
“You never told her, did you?”
Emily went pale.
“Told her what?”
Sebastian smiled.
“The night Daniel died.”
My mother’s face changed.
I noticed.
And that scared me more than anything.
Because whatever happened…
She had never told me.
“What happened that night?”
Emily stayed silent.
“Mom?”
She looked at me.
Her lips trembled.
“Ruby…”
Nathaniel watched her carefully.
“Tell her.”
Emily shook her head.
“I can’t.”
Sebastian laughed.
“You can.”
He stepped closer.
“Because she deserves to know.”
The guards moved forward.
Nathaniel raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
He wanted answers too.
“What happened?”
Emily looked at the floor.
Then she whispered:
“The night your father disappeared…”
She looked at me.
“Daniel wasn’t alone.”
I felt my heart pounding.
“Who was with him?”
Emily looked at Nathaniel.
And then said:
“You.”
Nathaniel froze.
“What?”
“You were there.”
“That’s impossible.”
“You don’t remember.”
Nathaniel’s face changed.
Because somewhere deep inside…
He knew.
A memory.
A forgotten moment.
A night he had buried.
Sebastian stepped forward.
“Your mind protected you.”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“What did you do?”
Sebastian smiled.
“I didn’t do anything.”
He looked at Emily.
“She did.”
My mother shook her head.
“No.”
Sebastian continued:
“She erased the truth.”
I looked at my mother.
“Why?”
Emily was crying now.
“Because if you remembered…”
She looked at Nathaniel.
“Your father would have killed you.”
Everyone froze.
Nathaniel whispered:
“My father?”
Sebastian smiled.
“Yes.”
A terrible silence followed.
Then Sebastian said:
“The man who started everything…”
He paused.
“The man who created the Black Viper…”
Nathaniel stared at him.
“No.”
Sebastian looked at me.
“Was your grandfather.”
The room went silent.
Nathaniel Graves.
The most feared man in the city.
Had just discovered the monster behind everything…
Was the man who raised him.
Then Sebastian walked toward the door.
“Now that you know the truth…”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“Where are you going?”
Sebastian smiled.
“To bring back Clara.”
My blood froze.
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“What did you do to her?”
Sebastian stopped.
Then slowly turned around.
“She’s been waiting for you.”
A pause.
“And she’s not the little girl you remember anymore.”
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TO BE CONTINUED…
CHAPTER 8: THE DAUGHTER WHO CAME BACK DIFFERENT
