Chapter 2 - THE BLUE DOOR
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The blue door was at the end of the west corridor.
Hidden behind a tall walnut cabinet.
I had passed it hundreds of times as a child.
Never noticed it.
Marcus pushed the cabinet aside.
A narrow steel-framed door appeared.
Painted blue.
Exactly as Chloe had described.
I stared.
“I don't remember this.”
Marcus looked at me.
“You were nine when the west wing was sealed.”
“Why?”
“Your father ordered it.”
I touched the door.
Cold.
No handle.
Only a small fingerprint scanner.
Marcus looked at me.
“You want to open it?”
“Yes.”
I pressed my thumb.
Nothing happened.
Then Chloe stepped forward.
She placed her tiny hand against the scanner.
The light turned green.
The door unlocked.
Nobody spoke.
Marcus drew his weapon.
I pushed the door open.
The room smelled like dust.
And old roses.
A child's room.
There was a white bed.
A wooden rocking horse.
A bookshelf.
A faded stuffed rabbit.
I knew the rabbit.
Lily's.
I hadn't seen it since the explosion.
My knees almost gave out.
I walked toward the bed.
On the wall were photographs.
My daughter.
As a baby.
As a toddler.
Playing in the garden.
Sleeping.
Laughing.
But the newest photograph was dated after the explosion.
I picked it up.
Lily was standing beside a woman.
I recognized the woman.
Hannah.
But Hannah looked younger.
And behind them stood Daniel.
Alive.
My heart stopped.
“When was this taken?”
Hannah began crying.
“Six months after the explosion.”
I turned.
“You knew she was alive.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“I was protecting her.”
“From whom?”
“Everyone.”
I stepped closer.
“You let me bury an empty coffin.”
Hannah shook her head.
“There was no coffin.”
“There was a funeral.”
“Your father ordered a body to be buried.”
“What?”
“He wanted everyone to believe Lily died.”
I stared.
“My father?”
Hannah nodded.
“Daniel discovered your father had enemies inside the family.”
I felt cold.
“My father died before Lily.”
“Yes.”
“Then who was he protecting her from?”
Hannah looked toward the photographs.
“Your brother.”
I froze.
“My brother?”
“Adrian.”
Adrian Sterling.
My younger brother.
My father's favorite.
The man who now controlled half the family's legitimate businesses.
The man who had attended Lily's funeral.
The man who cried at the graveside.
The man who told me:
We lost her because we weren't careful enough.
I stared at Hannah.
“Adrian knew?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
Marcus interrupted.
“Boss.”
He pointed toward the desk.
A tape recorder.
Ancient.
He pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
My father's.
“If Kaelen hears this, I failed.”
I stopped breathing.
“You cannot trust Adrian.”
My blood turned to ice.
“He believes the empire belongs to him.”
The recording crackled.
“He believes you don't deserve it because you chose your daughter over the business.”
I closed my eyes.
My father continued.
“That is why I created the second trust.”
Marcus looked at me.
“What trust?”
The recording answered.
“Lily's trust.”
A document appeared on the screen.
My daughter's name.
The beneficiary of assets worth billions.
But there was a condition.
The trust could only be activated if Lily survived long enough to identify herself.
I stared at the photograph.
My father continued:
“If you are hearing this, Lily is alive.”
My knees buckled.
Marcus caught me.
“Boss.”
My vision blurred.
Then my father's final words came through.
“The person who wants her dead is not outside this family.”
The tape stopped.
Silence.
Then the blue door slammed shut behind us.
Marcus spun.
Someone had locked it from outside.
The room went dark.
A tiny red light appeared on the ceiling.
A camera.
Someone was watching.
Then a voice came through the speaker.
My brother.
Adrian.
“Hello, Kaelen.”
My blood ran cold.
He laughed softly.
“You finally found your daughter's room.”
I looked toward Chloe.
She was crying.
May you like
Adrian continued:
“Now you know why I can't let you leave.”
