Chapter 6 - THE MOTHER WHO SOLD US
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The farmhouse seemed to hold its breath around us.
I stared at Isabelle.
Then at Damon.
Then back at Isabelle.
“My mother gave them my father's location?”
Isabelle nodded slowly.
“She did.”
“No.”
The word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.
“No, you don't understand. My mother was terrified of the Sterlings. She said they threatened her.”
“She was threatened,” Isabelle replied.
“Then why would she betray him?”
“Because she believed she could survive by making a deal.”
My stomach twisted.
“What deal?”
Isabelle looked toward the windows.
“The Sterlings promised that if she helped them find your father, they would leave you alone.”
I laughed bitterly.
“And she believed them?”
“She was desperate.”
“She betrayed my father.”
“Yes.”
“She allowed him to die.”
Isabelle lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
Damon stepped closer.
“Clara, there is more.”
I turned toward him.
“What?”
“Your mother didn't just give them his location.”
He paused.
“She gave them the location of the trust documents.”
My blood went cold.
“What?”
Damon pulled a folder from his coat.
“Your mother signed a transfer agreement three days before your father's death.”
I opened it.
There was her signature.
My mother's signature.
My hands began shaking.
The document transferred temporary control of the Voss trust to a Sterling-controlled company.
“Why didn't they take the money?”
“Because your father had already changed the terms.”
I looked at Damon.
“How?”
“He made the trust irrevocable.”
I stared at the document.
Then everything suddenly made sense.
My father had known.
He knew my mother had betrayed him.
He knew the Sterlings were coming.
So he hid the real inheritance in a place they couldn't touch.
In me.
My mother had spent years trying to convince me I was financially helpless.
Because she couldn't access the money unless I voluntarily signed it away.
And marrying Julian had been her final attempt.
I closed my eyes.
“She wanted me to marry him.”
“Yes.”
“She knew exactly what would happen.”
“Yes.”
I felt sick.
A soft sound came from the hallway.
Lily.
She had begun crying.
I immediately rushed toward her.
I lifted her into my arms.
She pressed her tiny face against my chest.
I whispered:
“I'm here.”
Damon watched us.
His expression softened.
Then Isabelle suddenly shouted:
“Get down!”
A bullet shattered the kitchen window.
Damon tackled me behind the sofa.
Another shot struck the wall.
Lily screamed.
I covered her with my body.
Damon drew his weapon.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Clara.”
“I won't let you face them alone.”
His eyes met mine.
For a second, something passed between us.
Then he nodded.
“Then stay behind me.”
He moved toward the back door.
Two security officers rushed outside.
Gunfire echoed through the snow.
Then silence.
One of the guards returned.
“They're gone.”
Damon looked at Isabelle.
“Did they see her?”
“No.”
He exhaled.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Where?”
A pause.
“Understood.”
He hung up.
I stared at him.
“What?”
“Julian has filed an emergency custody petition.”
My heart sank.
“Already?”
“He claims you're mentally unstable.”
I almost laughed.
“Of course.”
Damon's jaw tightened.
“He also claims Lily is in danger because you're associating with me.”
I looked at my daughter.
“No.”
Damon stepped closer.
“I can fight this.”
“How?”
“With lawyers.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“This isn't just a custody battle.”
“What do you mean?”
I looked at the photograph of my father.
“They're trying to force me into court because they need me to sign something.”
Isabelle's face went pale.
“The trust.”
I nodded.
“They're running out of time.”
Damon looked at me.
“And that means they'll become desperate.”
I tightened my arms around Lily.
“Then let them come.”
For the first time, I wasn't afraid.
May you like
I was angry.
And anger was a dangerous thing when a mother had something to protect.
