Chapter 11: The Man Behind the Funeral
Daniel locked the office door.
“Everybody stay away from the windows.””
Tyler grabbed Linda's arm.
“Why didn't you tell me Robert had a twin?””
She looked terrified.
“Because his twin was supposed to be dead, too.””
Michael stared at the security footage.
“Who is he?””
Linda whispered:
“Richard Carter.””
I had never heard that name.
“Richard?””
Linda nodded.
“Robert's identical twin brother. They were separated when they were young, but they reunited as adults. Richard helped Robert build his financial empire.””
Daniel checked the hallway.
“Which one staged the death?””
Linda shook her head.
“Both.””
Tyler looked confused.
“Explain.””
Linda took a shaky breath.
“Three years ago, Robert and Richard were being investigated for financial fraud. They decided one of them needed to disappear. The other would continue operating the business.””
Michael frowned.
“So which one died?””
Linda looked at the security footage.
“Richard.””
The room fell silent.
I looked at the screen again.
The man entering the clinic looked exactly like the man we had buried.
“Then who have we been seeing?””
Linda's voice trembled.
“Robert.””
Tyler ran a hand over his face.
“And the man in the funeral home?””
“Richard.””
Michael slowly sat down.
“They switched identities.””
Linda nodded.
“The funeral was real. But the body in the coffin belonged to Richard. Robert used his brother's death to disappear from public scrutiny.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That means the man approaching this building is the same person who supposedly died three years ago.””
“Correct,” Linda whispered.
A loud knock came from the hallway.
Everyone froze.
Then a familiar voice called out.
“Linda? Open the door.””
Tyler stepped backward.
He recognized the voice.
“Dad?””
The voice laughed.
“Hello, son.””
I felt Piper stir in my arms.
Michael gestured toward the emergency exit.
Daniel shook his head.
“Not yet. We need to know what he wants.””
Another knock.
“Linda, I know you're in there.””
Linda closed her eyes.
Then she walked toward the door.
Tyler grabbed her.
“Don't!””
She looked at him.
“I'm tired of running.””
She unlocked the door.
A tall older man stepped inside.
Silver hair.
Expensive suit.
A familiar scar above his left eyebrow.
Robert Carter.
Or Richard.
I couldn't tell anymore.
He smiled when he saw Tyler.
“My boy.””
Tyler didn't move.
“Which one are you?””
The man's smile disappeared.
“What?””
“Are you Robert or Richard?””
The man looked toward Linda.
She lowered her eyes.
Then he sighed.
“I'm your father.””
Tyler stepped closer.
“That's not an answer.””
The man removed his jacket.
“I'm Robert.””
Daniel moved between him and the family.
“Mr. Carter, you're going to need to answer some questions.””
Robert glanced at him.
“I'm sure we can arrange something.””
Then he looked at Michael.
“Michael Bennett. I see you've become involved in family matters.””
Michael's expression was cold.
“You've been using my brother.””
Robert laughed.
“David has always been easily manipulated.””
“Where is he?””
Robert shrugged.
“Somewhere safe.””
I stepped forward.
“Where is Olivia?””
Robert looked at me.
For the first time, his expression changed.
“Which Olivia?””
“The woman who helped us.””
He gave a small smile.
“Ah. My daughter.””
Linda immediately shouted.
“Don't you dare!””
Robert ignored her.
“Olivia has always been ambitious. Unfortunately, she inherited her mother's habit of making poor decisions.””
Tyler stepped closer.
“Did you switch the DNA reports?””
Robert didn't deny it.
“I corrected a mistake.””
“You falsified my daughters' records!””
“I protected the family.””
I felt anger rising.
“Those are my children!””
Robert looked at me.
“And they are valuable children.””
I took a step backward.
He continued.
“Your daughters are connected to several branches of the family. Their biological relationships could determine the future of an eighteen-million-dollar estate.””
I stared at him.
“You think my babies are worth money?””
He shrugged.
“Everything has a value, Emily.””
Michael moved forward.
“Not anymore.””
Robert laughed.
“You think you can stop me?””
Daniel suddenly received a message.
He read it.
Then looked at Michael.
“We have a problem.””
“What?””
“The bank records show that the $240,000 loan was only one transaction. There are three additional accounts.””
Robert smiled.
“Very good.””
Tyler stared at him.
“What did you do?””
Robert looked directly at his son.
“I moved the inheritance.””
“Where?””
Robert's smile widened.
“Into a trust controlled by your daughters.””
I felt sick.
“How?””
He reached into his jacket and removed two documents.
“One document makes Piper and Poppy the primary beneficiaries. The other names their legal guardian.””
I looked down.
The guardian's name was printed clearly.
*OLIVIA CARTER.*
Tyler snatched the papers.
“Why would you do this?””
Robert calmly replied:
“Because Olivia is the only person who can legally claim the original estate.””
Linda shook her head.
“You promised you would leave her alone.””
Robert looked at her.
“And you promised you would never tell Tyler the truth.””
Then he turned toward me.
“Emily, I have an offer.””
I refused to answer.
He continued.
“Give me temporary custody of the girls for thirty days, and I'll release your house from the loan.””
I stared at him.
“You think I'm going to hand you my children?””
Robert leaned closer.
“Then perhaps you'd prefer to lose everything.””
Tyler stepped between us.
“Get away from my wife.””
Robert's expression hardened.
For a moment, I saw the cruelty beneath his polished appearance.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And slowly lowered it.
“What happened?”” Michael asked.
Daniel looked at me.
“Olivia has been found.””
I nearly collapsed with relief.
“Where?””
Daniel hesitated.
“She was taken to a private residence.””
“By whom?””
He looked at Robert.
“By someone claiming to be her biological father.””
Robert smiled.
“Interesting.””
Then Daniel delivered the words that made the room go silent.
“Olivia has just identified the man who kidnapped her.””
He turned his phone toward us.
A photograph appeared.
The man was wearing a black suit.
He looked exactly like Robert.
But beneath the photograph was a name.
*RICHARD CARTER.*
The man we had been told was dead.
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And suddenly, the real question wasn't which twin was alive.
It was which one had been controlling our family all along.
