Chapter 7 - THE BILLIONAIRE'S LAST GAMBLE
Marcus fired first.
The sound exploded through the house.
Evelyn pulled Lyla behind the fireplace while I dropped to the floor.
Richard's men scattered.
One of them struck Marcus in the shoulder.
He fell behind the dining table.
I reached for the pistol at my waist, but Richard had already moved toward the hallway.
“Don't shoot!” he shouted.
His gun was pointed directly at Lyla.
I stood.
My legs trembled.
But I remained upright.
“Let her go.”
Richard laughed.
“You think standing makes you powerful again?”
“No. Knowing who you are does.”
His smile disappeared.
For twenty years, Richard had been one of the most trusted men in my life. He had helped my father build the company. He had stood beside me at business meetings, charity events, and family funerals.
He had even visited me in the hospital after my accident.
I remembered him telling me that he would never let anyone hurt me.
Now I understood.
He had been the reason I was hurt.
“You destroyed my life,” I said.
Richard shrugged.
“You were never supposed to survive that accident.”
Evelyn gasped.
Richard continued.
“Your father was planning to transfer the entire Whitmore trust to you and your sister. Victoria and I had invested twenty years into building that empire. We weren't going to watch two spoiled children inherit everything.”
“Evelyn was seventeen.”
“She was a liability.”
“And Lyla?”
Richard looked at the girl.
“She was an unexpected complication.”
My stomach turned.
“You murdered Sophia.”
Richard's expression didn't change.
“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Evelyn began crying.
I felt something inside me break.
“You killed her because she was carrying my child.”
Richard shrugged.
“Your father wanted the Whitmore name protected. He agreed that the pregnancy couldn't become public.”
I stared at him.
“My father agreed?”
Richard smiled.
“Ask Evelyn.”
I turned.
My sister's face had gone pale.
“Evelyn?”
She lowered her eyes.
“I didn't know about Sophia's death until after Lyla was born.”
Richard laughed.
“Of course you didn't. Your father told you the same story he told Charles.”
The room fell silent.
I couldn't tell whether he was lying.
And that uncertainty hurt more than anything else.
Richard stepped closer.
“Give me the watch and the recording. I'll let the girl live.”
“No.”
“Then I'll take them.”
He raised his weapon.
A gunshot rang out.
Richard's hand jerked.
His gun fell.
Marcus had managed to stand.
One arm was pressed against his bleeding shoulder, but his weapon remained steady.
“Drop it,” Marcus ordered.
Richard slowly raised his hands.
For the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.
But it didn't last.
A second vehicle crashed through the front gate.
The headlights flooded the room.
Then Victoria entered.
She wasn't carrying a gun.
She was holding a document folder.
“Enough,” she said.
Richard looked at her.
“You're late.”
Victoria ignored him.
She approached me and placed the folder on the table.
“Charles, you need to read this.”
I didn't move.
“What is it?”
“The original trust agreement.”
I stared at her.
“Why would I trust anything you give me?”
“Because Richard doesn't want you dead anymore. He wants you alive long enough to sign over the company.”
Richard cursed.
Victoria opened the folder.
“There is something else.”
Inside was a second recording.
She pressed play.
My father's voice sounded weaker than before.
“Victoria, you must stop Richard. If anything happens to me, tell Charles that I made the decision to hide Evelyn. I thought it was the only way to protect her.”
I felt my chest tighten.
My father had participated in the deception.
He had helped hide my sister.
But why?
The recording continued.
“Richard has discovered the second account. He knows about the money Sophia left behind.”
I looked at Evelyn.
“What money?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
My father continued.
“Charles must never let them find the original beneficiary.”
The recording ended.
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Your father was trying to protect you.”
I laughed.
“By keeping my daughter from me?”
She didn't answer.
Then Richard made his move.
He grabbed the folder and ran toward the back door.
Marcus fired.
Richard stumbled, but he made it outside.
Two guards chased him.
Seconds later, a car engine roared.
Then a crash echoed through the darkness.
Marcus checked his phone.
“Sir, the vehicle went over the embankment.”
“Is he dead?”
“We haven't confirmed.”
I looked at Victoria.
“You're coming with me.”
She nodded.
Then she said something that made Evelyn step backward.
“Charles, there's one more thing you need to know.”
May you like
She looked at Lyla.
“Your daughter wasn't the only child Sophia gave birth to.”
