Chapter 13: The Brother Who Wanted My Life
"What's he talking about, Mom?""
My mother looked at me, tears running down her cheeks.
For a moment, she seemed unable to speak.
Ethan stood beside the window, staring at the black SUV across the street.
"Margaret, whatever you know, tell us now.""
My mother took a shaky breath.
"Andrew wasn't just raised by Charles Caldwell. He was raised believing he was the rightful heir to everything Michael left behind.""
Ethan frowned.
"But what does that have to do with Isabella?""
My mother looked at me.
"Your father established the eighteen-million-dollar trust before Andrew was born. He intended it to protect his children from the people who were exploiting the family.""
She paused.
"When Andrew discovered that Michael had named Isabella as the primary beneficiary, he became obsessed with taking control of the trust.""
I stared at her.
"So he wanted my inheritance?""
"Much more than that.""
She walked toward the wooden box and removed another photograph.
It showed two men standing beside a black car.
One was Michael.
The other was younger, perhaps twenty-five, with Ethan's face.
"That's Andrew," Ethan whispered.
My mother nodded.
"Three days before Michael disappeared, Andrew arranged a meeting with him. He told Michael that Charles wanted to negotiate.""
Ethan's hands tightened.
"But Michael trusted him.""
"Yes.""
My mother looked down.
"Michael believed he was meeting his brother. He didn't know Andrew had already agreed to help Charles.""
I felt sick.
"Did Andrew kill him?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"He was there when Michael died.""
Ethan turned away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he grabbed his jacket.
"We're going to the foundation.""
Rachel immediately shook her head.
"That's exactly what Andrew wants.""
"He's threatening my mother.""
"And if you walk into that building without a plan, he'll have another victim.""
Ethan stopped.
Rachel wheeled closer.
"We do this carefully. We get the evidence, and we make sure he cannot destroy it.""
My mother reached for her handbag.
"I'm coming.""
I shook my head.
"No, Mom. You've been hiding for four years. You've done enough.""
She looked at me.
"That's why I have to come. I'm finished hiding.""
At eight thirty, we arrived at the Harrison Foundation's headquarters.
The building stood beside the hotel, a modern glass structure with the family crest engraved above the entrance.
Marcus and Olivia remained outside.
Detective Miller had arranged additional officers nearby, but we couldn't risk alerting anyone inside who might be working for Andrew.
Ethan used his executive access card.
The lobby doors opened.
The building was almost empty.
Our footsteps echoed against the polished floor.
"Archive room is downstairs," Ethan whispered.
We reached the basement corridor.
A security camera turned toward us.
Ethan looked up.
"That's strange.""
"What?"" I asked.
"That camera shouldn't be active after business hours.""
My mother suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Stop.""
A door opened at the end of the hallway.
A man stepped into the light.
He looked almost exactly like Ethan.
Same height.
Same dark hair.
Same jawline.
But his expression was colder.
He wore a charcoal suit and carried a small brass token between his fingers.
Ethan stared at him.
"Andrew.""
The man smiled.
"Hello, brother.""
Ethan took one step forward.
"You have some nerve showing your face.""
Andrew glanced at Rachel.
"Still bringing your wife everywhere? You always were predictable.""
Rachel didn't respond.
Andrew's eyes moved to me.
"And you must be Isabella.""
I stood beside my mother.
"Give us the token.""
He laughed.
"You don't even know what you're asking for.""
"I know enough.""
Andrew slowly examined my face.
"You're more like Michael than I expected.""
I clenched my fists.
"Did you kill him?""
Andrew's smile faded.
"I didn't kill him. I simply made sure he couldn't interfere.""
My mother stepped forward.
"You betrayed your own brother.""
Andrew looked at her.
"You should have stayed dead, Margaret.""
Ethan lunged, but Rachel caught his arm.
"Don't.""
Andrew placed the brass token on a nearby cabinet.
"Let's make a deal. Isabella gives me the trust agreement. I give her the original recording of Michael's final night.""
I stared at him.
"Why would I trust you?""
"Because you want to know what happened to your father.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Michael was standing in front of a hospital entrance.
Beside him was a woman holding a newborn baby.
I recognized my mother.
But there was something written beneath the photograph.
A date.
And a name.
*Andrew Harrison — Biological Father: Michael Harrison.*
I stared at the paper.
"What?""
Andrew smiled.
"Your mother never told you the whole story.""
My mother began shaking.
Andrew continued.
"Michael was my father, too. He had two sons. Ethan and me.""
Ethan looked stunned.
"You're lying.""
Andrew shook his head.
"Arthur wasn't my biological father. He raised me because Michael asked him to.""
The words hit me like a physical blow.
My mother looked at me.
"It's true.""
I couldn't move.
Andrew continued.
"Michael had two families. He loved your mother, but he also had a relationship with another woman. I was born before you.""
Ethan stared at him.
"Then why did Charles raise you?""
"Because Arthur wanted to hide the scandal. He convinced everyone I was his son.""
Andrew stepped closer.
"And when Michael tried to bring me home, Charles offered me something better.""
"What?"" I asked.
"Everything.""
He smiled.
"The family fortune. The foundation. The life I should have had.""
Then he picked up the brass token.
"Now, Isabella, you have something I want. And I have something you need.""
He looked at the archive room door.
"Let's see which one of us is willing to sacrifice more.""
Suddenly, the lights went out.
A loud metallic crash echoed through the basement.
Someone shouted.
Then I felt a hand grab my arm.
It wasn't Ethan.
It was my mother.
May you like
She whispered urgently.
"Run, Isabella. Andrew has already opened the archive.""
