Chapter 9: What Really Happened
Daniel couldn't look away from the screen.
His mother stood in the old family living room.
Alive.
Older.
Her hair was streaked with silver, but there was no mistaking her.
Margaret Vale.
The woman Daniel had buried twelve years ago.
Evelyn began sobbing.
“No.””
Michael stared at the phone.
“She wasn't supposed to be there.””
Clara smiled.
“She wanted you to see her.””
Daniel grabbed the phone.
“Where is she?””
Clara didn't answer.
Daniel shook her.
“Where is my mother?””
“She'll tell you herself.””
The video moved.
Margaret stepped closer to the camera.
“Daniel.””
His knees weakened.
He hadn't heard that voice since he was twenty-six.
“Mom?””
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm sorry.””
Daniel's voice broke.
“Where are you?””
“I've been trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
She looked away.
“Your father.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My father died.””
Margaret gave a sad smile.
“No.””
Michael stepped closer.
“He wasn't your father.””
Daniel turned toward him.
“Stop saying that.””
Michael's voice was gentle.
“Daniel, listen.””
“No.””
“You deserve to know.””
“No!””
Daniel pointed at the screen.
“That woman is my mother.””
“Yes.””
“And the man who raised me was my father.””
Michael shook his head.
“He wasn't.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Then who was he?””
Michael took a breath.
“Victor Shaw.””
Silence.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Daniel shook his head.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“It does.””
“No.””
Michael pointed toward the phone.
“Ask Mom.””
Daniel looked at the screen.
“Mom?””
Margaret closed her eyes.
Then said:
“Victor was your biological father.””
Daniel stopped breathing.
Everything seemed to disappear.
The greenhouse.
The police.
Evelyn.
Marcus.
Michael.
All of it.
Only those words remained.
Victor was your biological father.
Daniel whispered, “No.””
Margaret continued.
“I met Victor before I married the man you called Dad.””
Daniel's hands trembled.
“He knew?””
“Yes.””
“Did Dad know?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he raise me?””
“Because he loved you.””
Daniel laughed through tears.
“You're telling me the man who lied to me my whole life loved me?””
Margaret looked devastated.
“He was not a good man.””
“Then why?””
“Because Victor wanted you.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
“He wanted to use you.””
“For what?””
Margaret looked directly into the camera.
“Control.””
Daniel stared.
Victor had built a network around the family.
He had used Daniel's identity.
His father's company.
His mother's trust.
And eventually, his inheritance.
Daniel had never been the center of the family.
He had been the prize.
Michael spoke quietly.
“Victor wanted you to inherit everything.””
Daniel turned.
“Why?””
“Because your bloodline gave him access.””
“To what?””
“The Vale family trust.””
Marcus finally spoke.
“The trust was created with a condition.””
Daniel looked at him.
“What condition?””
“If a direct heir inherited the company, control would transfer.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“To whom?””
Marcus answered.
“To the beneficiary listed by the heir.””
Daniel looked toward Evelyn.
She understood first.
“That was me.””
Marcus nodded.
“If Daniel died, Evelyn would control the estate.””
Daniel looked at her.
“So Victor needed me dead.””
Michael shook his head.
“Not exactly.””
Daniel frowned.
“He wanted you alive long enough to sign everything over.””
Michael pointed toward the documents.
“That's why he used Evelyn.””
Evelyn's face collapsed.
“I didn't know.””
Michael looked at her.
“You knew enough.””
“I was scared.””
“You helped him.””
“I was trying to protect Daniel!””
“By poisoning him?””
“I didn't know it was poison!””
Daniel stared at her.
“What did you think it was?””
Evelyn began crying.
“Something to make you unconscious.””
Michael's expression hardened.
“Victor gave it to you.””
“Yes.””
“And told you to put it in the drink.””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at the pitcher in the distance through the greenhouse glass.
“So you did exactly what he asked.””
Evelyn nodded.
“I thought if you were hospitalized, I could get access to the emergency account and pay him.””
Daniel's voice became quiet.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I knew you wouldn't believe me.””
He looked at Noah.
The irony was painful.
She had assumed Daniel would believe her over everyone else.
Just as everyone had assumed Noah was lying because he was the gardener.
Daniel walked toward Evelyn.
“You were willing to let me believe I was sick.””
“I was desperate.””
“You were willing to let me die.””
“I didn't know.””
“But you never checked.””
Evelyn lowered her head.
That silence was answer enough.
A police officer approached Clara.
“You're under arrest.””
Clara laughed.
“You think this ends with me?””
She pointed toward the phone.
“Victor already knows you're here.””
Daniel looked at the screen.
His mother's image had disappeared.
A message appeared.
*COME TO THE OLD HOUSE. ALONE.*
Michael grabbed the phone.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“My mother is there.””
“It could be a trap.””
“She could be in danger.””
Michael stepped closer.
“So could you.””
Daniel looked around.
The police.
Evelyn.
Marcus.
Noah.
Then at the phone.
He knew the difference between courage and recklessness.
But he also knew he couldn't walk away from his mother again.
“I have to go.””
Michael shook his head.
“Then I'm coming.””
Daniel nodded.
“So am I,” Noah said.
Daniel turned.
“Noah, you've done enough.””
Noah looked at him.
“You once asked why I ran toward the table.””
Daniel waited.
“Because nobody else was watching.””
Noah picked up his gardening jacket.
“I've been watching ever since.””
Daniel almost smiled.
Then the police radio crackled.
An officer answered.
His face changed.
“What?””
He listened.
Then looked at Daniel.
“Mr. Vale, there's been a fire.””
“Where?””
“The old Vale residence.””
Daniel's heart stopped.
“My mother?””
The officer nodded grimly.
“We don't know.””
Michael grabbed the radio.
“When did it start?””
“Approximately ten minutes ago.””
Daniel looked at the burning darkness beyond the greenhouse.
Then his phone vibrated.
A new message.
A photograph appeared.
His mother was standing inside the old house.
Behind her was Victor.
And beside Victor was a man Daniel had never seen before.
Underneath the photograph were seven words:
*Your mother isn't the one we rescued.*
Daniel stared.
Michael read it over his shoulder.
His face went white.
“No.””
Daniel looked at him.
“What?””
Michael whispered:
“That's not Mom.””
“Then who is she?””
Michael stared at the photograph.
“The woman in that picture is Clara's sister.””
Daniel frowned.
“Clara doesn't have a sister.””
Michael looked toward Clara.
Clara was smiling.
“She did,” Michael said.
Then Clara spoke for the first time since the message arrived.
“She still does.””
The mansion lights suddenly returned.
Every television in the reception room turned on at once.
A live broadcast appeared.
Victor Shaw sat behind a desk.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Good evening, Daniel.””
Daniel stepped toward the screen.
Victor smiled.
“You've spent tonight searching for the truth.””
He leaned closer.
“But you've only discovered the first lie.””
Then the screen changed.
A DNA report appeared.
At the top was Daniel's name.
Below it was another.
*MICHAEL VALE.*
The result was highlighted in red.
*NO BIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP.*
Daniel looked at Michael.
His brother's face had gone completely blank.
Victor's voice returned.
“Now ask yourself one final question.””
May you like
The screen went black.
“Who is Michael Vale?””
