Chapter 9 - THE FINAL BETRAYALThe lawyer's name was Samuel Reed.
Officially, he had died eight years earlier.
But Marcus's photograph proved otherwise.
Nathan couldn't understand.
“How many people are still alive?”
Daniel shook his head.
“More than we thought.”
Police searched the factory.
They found Marcus's documents.
But he had escaped.
Richard refused to speak.
Evelyn demanded a lawyer.
Victoria cooperated.
Nathan took Grace and Lily home.
That night, Grace couldn't sleep.
She stood beside Lily's bed.
Nathan joined her.
“She looks peaceful.”
Grace nodded.
“I keep thinking someone will take her.”
“They won't.”
“You can't promise that.”
Nathan took her hand.
“I can promise I'll never disappear again.”
Grace looked at him.
“Neither will I.”
Nathan smiled.
Then he pulled out a small box.
Grace stared.
“What is that?”
He opened it.
Inside was a simple ring.
“I bought this five years ago.”
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“You still had it?”
“Every day.”
Grace touched it.
“I thought you hated me.”
“I hated losing you.”
He took her hand.
“I don't want another five years.”
Grace smiled.
“Yes.”
Nathan froze.
“You're saying yes?”
She laughed through tears.
“Yes.”
They kissed.
Then the lights went out.
Nathan immediately reached for Grace.
A phone rang downstairs.
He went alone.
The caller ID displayed an unknown number.
He answered.
Samuel Reed's voice came through.
“You finally found me.”
Nathan froze.
“Where are you?”
“Where your father trusted me.”
“Why did you fake your death?”
“Because your father ordered me to.”
Nathan stared.
“Why?”
“Because Marcus wasn't the real threat.”
Nathan's heart sank.
“Then who?”
Silence.
“Your mother.”
Nathan stopped breathing.
“My mother is dead.”
Samuel laughed softly.
“No, Nathan.”
He paused.
“She has been alive all these years.”
Nathan couldn't speak.
Samuel continued.
“Your father discovered she had been working with Marcus.”
Nathan's mind exploded.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
“You're standing in her house.”
Nathan looked around.
“What?”
Samuel said,
“Look behind the portrait in the hallway.”
Nathan ran.
He moved the portrait.
A hidden compartment opened.
Inside was an old photograph.
His mother.
Standing beside Marcus.
And Samuel.
Nathan felt sick.
Behind the photograph was a note.
My son,
I am sorry.
Nathan read the next line.
I did not die when you were told I did.
I disappeared because I discovered the truth.
Your father was trying to protect you.
I was trying to protect Lily.
Nathan stared.
Then another line.
But I failed.
A sound came from upstairs.
Nathan ran.
Grace was gone.
Lily was gone.
The window was open.
Nathan screamed.
“GRACE!”
No answer.
His phone rang.
Marcus.
“You wanted the truth.”
Nathan's voice broke.
“Where are they?”
“Come to the lake.”
“If you touch my daughter—”
“I won't.”
Marcus paused.
“But someone else might.”
Nathan grabbed his coat.
He drove.
Daniel followed.
At the lake, Marcus stood alone.
Grace and Lily were nowhere visible.
Nathan raised his weapon.
“Where are they?”
Marcus pointed toward the old boathouse.
“Inside.”
Nathan ran.
He opened the door.
Grace was there.
Lily was in her arms.
But beside them stood a woman.
Older.
Elegant.
Tearful.
Nathan stopped.
He knew her face.
His mother.
She looked at him.
“Nathan.”
He couldn't move.
“Mom?”
She nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
Nathan began crying.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She looked at Lily.
“Because your father made me promise.”
“What promise?”
“To protect his granddaughter.”
Nathan stared.
Then his mother whispered,
“Your father knew that one day the people who wanted the trust would come.”
Grace asked,
“Who is behind all of this?”
Nathan's mother looked toward Marcus.
Marcus lowered his eyes.
Then she said the name that none of them expected.
“Samuel Reed.”
Nathan froze.
“The lawyer?”
“Yes.”
Marcus looked ashamed.
“He controlled us all.”
Victoria, Richard, Evelyn.
Everyone.
Samuel had manipulated the entire family.
He had used Victoria's obsession.
Richard's greed.
Evelyn's resentment.
Marcus's loyalty.
And now he wanted Lily.
Nathan's mother looked at him.
“Samuel has the original trust documents.”
Nathan realized the truth.
The fake documents didn't matter.
The real ones were still missing.
And Samuel had them.
Then a gunshot echoed across the lake.
Marcus fell.
Nathan turned.
A figure stood on the hill.
Samuel.
He raised his weapon.
“Give me Lily.”
Nathan stepped in front of his daughter.
“No.”
Samuel smiled.
“Then this family loses everything.”
He fired.
The bullet missed Nathan by inches.
Police sirens screamed in the distance.
Samuel ran.
May you like
Nathan chased him.
The final confrontation had begun.
