Chapter 7 - THE LAST LIE
I couldn't speak.
“My father?”
Julian's voice trembled.
“That's what I was told.”
“Who told you?”
“Margaret.”
“She's been lying for years.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“Because I found the original file.”
“Where?”
“Sterling Meridian's private archive.”
I went there immediately.
Julian was waiting.
He looked broken.
No expensive suit.
No confidence.
No arrogant smile.
Just a man who had finally run out of lies.
He handed me a file.
Inside was a recording.
My father appeared on screen.
Older.
Tired.
And terrified.
“Julian,” he said.
“If you're watching this, Margaret has probably convinced you that I betrayed everyone.”
Julian looked at me.
I pressed play.
My father continued.
“I never killed anyone.”
“I disappeared because Margaret discovered I intended to expose her.”
Then came the part that changed everything.
“Your mother was never my wife.”
I stared at the screen.
“What?”
My father continued.
“Your mother was Margaret's sister.”
I felt the room spin.
My mother had been part of the Sterling family.
That meant I had been connected to them by blood all along.
My father had married her secretly.
Margaret had hated him for taking her sister away.
And when my mother discovered the financial crimes, Margaret had ordered her death.
My father had faked his own death because he knew he was next.
Then the recording revealed the final secret.
Julian wasn't part of the original plan.
He had been manipulated.
Margaret had told him Elena was dangerous.
She had convinced him that bringing Victoria and the twins home would force Elena to surrender the trust.
Julian had believed her.
Until he discovered the medical records.
Until he discovered the original family files.
Until he realized his grandmother had used him.
I looked at him.
“You knew?”
“I found out two days ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Margaret threatened Victoria and the twins.”
I stared at him.
“You betrayed me.”
“I know.”
“You humiliated me.”
“I know.”
“You brought another woman into our home.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
I stepped back.
“I can't forgive you.”
“I don't expect you to.”
Then the lights in the archive went out.
A gunshot exploded.
Julian fell.
“Julian!”
Blood appeared across his shirt.
I screamed.
Someone ran through the darkness.
My father appeared in the doorway with federal agents.
“Don't move!”
The attacker escaped.
Julian was alive.
Barely.
And beside the bloodstained chair was a note.
I picked it up.
May you like
Five words were written across it.
MARGARET WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
