Chapter 11 - THE DAUGHTER NOBODY KNEW ABOUT
Isa looked at Rhett.
Neither spoke.
Victor Valin.
Rhett’s father.
Her biological father.
“No.”
She stepped away from the laptop.
“That would make…”
Rhett finished quietly.
“Us half siblings.”
The room turned cold.
Then Cole leaned closer to the document.
“Wait.”
He zoomed in.
“This is altered.”
Isa stared.
“What?”
“The font changes here.”
Digital analysis confirmed it.
The birth certificate was fake.
Someone wanted them to believe Victor was Isa’s father.
But why?
Rhett searched further.
Another file appeared beneath it.
Evelyn’s video.
“If Gideon is forcing Isa to open this folder, he will show her a false birth certificate first.”
Isa almost laughed from sheer disbelief.
Her mother had anticipated him.
Evelyn continued.
“Victor Valin was not Isa’s father. Gideon created that lie years ago because he believed blood could be used to divide people.”
Rhett exhaled slowly.
Isa sat down.
Her actual father had always been Samuel.
The relief surprised her.
Not because of Rhett.
Because Samuel was hers again.
Evelyn continued.
“Gideon’s greatest fear is not the ledger. It is the recording hidden beneath this file.”
A final video opened.
Victor Valin appeared.
Older.
Sick.
Beside him stood Samuel Ward.
The date was two days before Samuel died.
Victor looked into the camera.
“Samuel has convinced me Gideon must be exposed. If anything happens to him, I authorize this evidence released.”
Isa stared.
“But Mom said Victor ordered his death.”
Rhett understood first.
“She lied.”
“To protect who?”
The answer came from the video.
Victor continued.
“My son Rhett knows nothing about this investigation. Keep him that way until Gideon is gone.”
Then Samuel spoke.
“If I die, do not trust Mason. Do not trust Gideon.”
A pause.
“And do not trust Evelyn.”
Isa’s face drained.
Her mother.
Samuel looked directly into the camera.
“Evelyn has been meeting with Gideon secretly.”
The video ended.
Isa whispered, “Why?”
Rhett reopened Evelyn’s files.
A hidden audio recording answered.
Evelyn and Gideon arguing.
“You leave Isa out of this,” Evelyn said.
Gideon laughed.
“Then give me Samuel’s evidence.”
“I already gave Victor false information.”
“You’re playing both sides.”
“I’m keeping my daughter alive.”
Isa finally understood.
Her mother had lied to everyone.
Victor.
Gideon.
Mason.
Even Samuel.
Not for money.
To keep Isa invisible.
Then Cole’s phone rang.
He listened for three seconds.
His face changed.
“What?”
Rhett demanded.
Cole looked toward Isa.
“Mason escaped.”
Isa stood.
“How?”
Cole swallowed.
“He had help from inside.”
Rhett’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Cole answered quietly.
May you like
“Gideon’s hostage.”
“My brother Andrew.”
