Chapter 7 - The Brother Who Never Died
Victor Hale had vanished.
Arthur hunted him for three days.
Then Victor contacted Nora directly.
Not Arthur.
Nora.
He sent her an address.
An abandoned church.
She went alone.
Arthur followed without her knowledge.
Inside, Victor was waiting.
He looked exhausted.
“I didn't kill your wife.”
Nora said nothing.
“I helped her disappear.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel was going to kill Arthur.”
Nora frowned.
“Daniel?”
Victor nodded.
“Your mother partnered with him.”
“What did they want?”
“The Costa empire.”
“And Arthur's children?”
Victor looked away.
“Collateral.”
Nora's stomach tightened.
Victor explained everything.
Daniel had survived his supposed death and spent years building a second identity.
He believed Arthur had stolen their father's legacy.
Diane funded him.
Richard eventually discovered the operation.
He tried to expose it.
Diane turned against him.
Suddenly Nora understood why her father had become so paranoid.
He wasn't innocent.
But he wasn't the architect.
Victor continued.
“Your father ordered your infertility diagnosis.”
Nora's face hardened.
“Why?”
“To keep Diane from using you.”
“That makes no sense.”
“He thought if you were considered useless, she'd leave you alone.”
Nora almost laughed.
“He protected me by destroying my life?”
Victor lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Before Nora could answer, Arthur entered.
Victor reached for his gun.
Arthur was faster.
But Nora stepped between them.
“Wait.”
Arthur lowered his weapon.
Victor looked at him.
“Your wife is alive.”
“I know.”
“She doesn't want to return.”
“I need to hear why.”
Victor nodded.
“She believed you hated her.”
Arthur's face tightened.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel forged letters.”
“What letters?”
“Letters proving you blamed her for the bombing.”
Arthur stared.
“I never wrote those.”
“I know.”
Victor handed Nora a flash drive.
“Everything is here.”
They watched the files that night.
Forged letters.
Fake medical records.
Financial transfers.
Voice recordings.
The entire conspiracy.
Then came the final file.
A video.
Daniel Costa sat in a dark room.
Beside him was Arthur's wife.
Alive.
She looked older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
Daniel smiled at the camera.
“Arthur.”
The video paused.
Then resumed.
“If you're watching this, you've found the truth.”
He leaned forward.
“You've spent years believing I wanted your empire.”
“I didn't.”
“I wanted your family.”
The screen showed photographs of Arthur's children.
Then Nora.
Then Richard.
Then Diane.
Daniel smiled.
“Family is the only thing you ever valued.”
The screen went black.
A second later, Nora's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Daniel's voice whispered:
“Hello, Nora.”
Her blood froze.
“How do you know my number?”
“I've known you since you were sixteen.”
Arthur moved closer.
Daniel continued.
“You think your mother sold you.”
“She did.”
“But she wasn't the one who chose you.”
“Who did?”
A pause.
“Your father.”
Nora stared at Arthur.
Daniel laughed softly.
“Ask him why.”
The call ended.
Arthur looked at Nora.
“I don't know.”
May you like
But Nora saw something in his eyes.
He was lying.
