Chapter 5 - THE HEIR MY FATHER ERASED
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Elena took me into the hidden study.
It looked exactly as I remembered my father's office.
Mahogany desk.
Green leather chair.
Old books.
A photograph of the family.
Except one person was missing from the picture.
Elena.
“Why did Dad erase you?”
“Because I was born first.”
“The first heir.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he choose me?”
“He didn't.”
I frowned.
“Julian did.”
“What?”
Elena sat down.
“Julian convinced Dad you were easier to control.”
I stared.
“So the poisoning was my father's idea?”
“No.”
“Julian's?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you say Dad was poisoning me?”
“He supplied the compound.”
I felt cold.
“My father helped.”
“Yes.”
“But Julian administered it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they were working together.”
I closed my eyes.
Two men.
One plan.
Destroy my mind.
Control the empire.
Eliminate the heirs.
“And Mia?”
Elena looked toward the door.
“She is the final beneficiary.”
“Of the trust?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Dad changed the succession rules after your birth.”
I stared.
“He decided the next generation would inherit.”
“Why?”
“To prevent another civil war.”
I laughed bitterly.
“And it caused one.”
Elena smiled sadly.
“Exactly.”
Then the basement door opened.
A man walked upstairs.
My father.
Alive.
Older.
But unmistakable.
I couldn't move.
He looked at me.
“Son.”
I stared.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had to.”
“You poisoned me.”
“No.”
“You gave Julian the compounds.”
“Yes.”
My fists tightened.
“Why?”
“Because I believed you would destroy the empire.”
“You mean the criminal empire.”
“Yes.”
“You were afraid I would give it away.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Elena.
“And her?”
“She was supposed to inherit.”
“But you erased her.”
“I protected her.”
“From whom?”
“Everyone.”
I laughed.
“Same excuse.”
My father sighed.
“Gabriel, you don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“You were never meant to be the king.”
“I don't want to be.”
He stared.
“What?”
“I don't want your throne.”
Silence.
Then a child's cry came from downstairs.
Mia.
I ran.
We found her in a small room with Julian.
He held a gun.
But he looked terrified.
Because my father stood behind me.
Julian lowered his weapon.
“Dad.”
My father looked at him.
“You failed.”
Julian stared.
“You told me the compound would work.”
“It did.”
“Then why is he awake?”
“Because Mia interfered.”
Julian looked at my daughter.
She hugged her fox.
My father turned toward me.
“She isn't yours to save.”
I stepped in front of Mia.
“She is my daughter.”
“She is the trust.”
“No.”
I looked at the little girl.
“She is a child.”
My father laughed.
“That's why you were never worthy.”
I raised my weapon.
“You were wrong.”
Then the lights came on.
Federal agents filled the room.
Marcus had been recording everything.
My father stared at me.
“How?”
I smiled.
“Mia.”
The little girl looked at me.
She had unknowingly walked into the one place where the truth could no longer hide.
Julian raised his hands.
My father didn't.
He tried to run.
Marcus stopped him.
The final battle was over.
Or so I thought.
May you like
Because as agents led my father away, he whispered:
“You still don't know who your real mother is.”
