Chapter 8 - WHAT THEIR FATHER KNEW
Claire survived.
The bullet passed through her shoulder without striking anything vital.
Three days later, she was sitting in Ethan’s library with Lily asleep beside her.
For the first time in eight years, brother and sister were under the same roof.
But peace hadn’t arrived yet.
Victor Dane had started talking.
And the story was bigger than either of them expected.
Their father, Jonathan Vale, had discovered financial irregularities shortly before his death.
Money was disappearing from several family accounts.
He suspected Victor.
He was right.
But Victor wasn’t working alone.
Sabrina had met Victor months before she ever met Ethan.
Their relationship had never been romantic.
It had been financial.
Sabrina learned that Ethan would inherit control of Vale Industries.
Claire would receive a separate trust.
The siblings together controlled everything.
So Sabrina created a fracture between them.
Fake emails.
Fake legal notices.
Fake accusations.
She convinced Claire that Ethan wanted her arrested.
Then she convinced Ethan that Claire wanted nothing to do with him.
When Claire disappeared, Sabrina fabricated evidence of her death.
Victor helped move the trust money.
But Jonathan Vale had anticipated betrayal.
Three days before his death, he signed the codicil Claire had protected for years.
Hale placed a copy on the table.
“The original is secure.”
Ethan looked at Claire.
“The envelope at the airfield?”
“Blank paper.”
She smiled.
“I wasn’t carrying the real one anywhere near Sabrina.”
Ethan almost laughed.
“That sounds like Dad.”
Claire’s smile faded.
“There’s more.”
She handed Ethan another letter.
Jonathan had written it personally.
To my children,
If you are reading this, then I failed to protect you from people who saw our family as an opportunity.
Money is useful.
It is not family.
Never confuse the two.
If someone succeeds in turning you against each other, they will have stolen something far more valuable than anything in these accounts.
Ethan stopped.
Claire looked away.
Eight years.
Eight years stolen because neither sibling had spoken directly to the other.
“I should have looked harder,” Ethan said.
Claire shook her head.
“I should have called you.”
“You tried.”
“Not enough.”
Neither needed to say more.
Lily stirred.
She opened her eyes.
“Mom?”
Claire immediately reached for her.
“I’m here.”
Lily climbed into her arms.
Then looked at Ethan.
“You found her.”
Ethan smiled.
“I promised.”
Lily considered this seriously.
Then she moved over and hugged him too.
For a moment, the money didn’t matter.
The company didn’t matter.
Sabrina didn’t matter.
Then Hale’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression hardened.
Ethan noticed.
“What now?”
Hale lowered the phone.
“Sabrina’s attorney just filed something.”
“What?”
“A petition claiming Lily isn’t Claire’s daughter.”
Claire stood.
“What?”
Hale looked at her.
“She’s challenging Lily’s identity.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why?”
Claire understood first.
“Because if Lily isn’t legally my daughter…”
May you like
Hale nodded.
“She can’t inherit.”
