Chapter 6 - THE SECOND HEIR
The unknown beneficiary wasn't a stranger.
It was someone I had met.
Someone who had been standing beside Flynn during board meetings.
Someone who had comforted me after my mother's supposed death.
Someone I had trusted.
His sister.
Natalie Vance.
I stared at her name on the screen.
“No.”
Phoebe nodded.
“She was listed as secondary beneficiary.”
“Why?”
“Because your grandmother didn't trust the men.”
That almost made me laugh.
My mother explained.
“Natalie was the only Vance who refused to participate in the original scheme.”
“What scheme?”
“The plan to eliminate your branch of the family.”
I looked at Thomas.
He nodded.
“Your grandmother believed the family would eventually try to force you out.”
“And Flynn?”
“Flynn was chosen to marry you.”
My entire body went cold.
“He married me because of the trust.”
“Yes.”
I couldn't breathe.
Seven years.
Seven years of my life had been built on a lie.
Or so I thought.
Then my mother said something that stopped me.
“Not entirely.”
“What?”
“Flynn fell in love with you.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“He was supposed to leave after securing access to the trust.”
“But he stayed.”
“Because somewhere along the way, he became trapped between his family and you.”
I thought about the delivery room.
His coldness.
His words.
His cruelty.
“Then why Selina?”
My mother looked away.
“Because his family threatened him.”
“With what?”
She didn't answer.
Thomas did.
“They had proof that Flynn's younger brother died because of a decision Flynn made when he was seventeen.”
I stared at him.
“What decision?”
“Flynn was driving.”
The room became silent.
“He caused an accident.”
“One person died.”
“His brother.”
I covered my mouth.
“The family covered it up.”
“Yes.”
“And they used it against him?”
“For years.”
That explained the fear.
The secrecy.
The control.
But it didn't excuse what he had done.
Phoebe received another message.
She read it.
Then she looked at me.
“There's a hearing tomorrow.”
“For what?”
“The court wants to determine whether Flynn is fit to retain any authority over the trust.”
“And the opposing attorney?”
Phoebe hesitated.
“His mother.”
Eleanor Vance had filed an emergency petition.
She was claiming I had manipulated Flynn.
She was claiming Lily wasn't safe with me.
And she had one witness.
Selina.
The woman who had been carrying Flynn's supposed son.
I looked at my mother.
“What do we do?”
She smiled faintly.
“We tell the truth.”
But before we could leave, my phone rang.
The caller ID displayed one word.
FLYNN.
I answered.
His voice was barely audible.
“Mabel…”
“What?”
“I need you to listen carefully.”
“Why?”
“Because my mother knows where your mother has been hiding.”
I froze.
May you like
“And she's coming for her tonight.”
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