Chapter 10: The Man Holding the Gun Wasn't the Real Enemy
“Put the gun down, Samuel.””
My voice sounded steadier than I felt.
Samuel Whitmore stood between us and the staircase, his weapon pointed toward Alexander.
“You always were stubborn, Evelyn,” he said.
“Your mother made the same mistake. She believed knowing the truth gave her power.””
Alexander moved slightly in front of me.
“She's not your enemy. You don't have to do this.””
Samuel laughed.
“Your father said exactly the same thing.””
My stomach tightened.
“You were there when my father died?””
Samuel's expression changed.
“I was there when he made a terrible decision.””
“You helped kill him.””
“I helped protect an arrangement that had existed for decades.””
“What arrangement?””
Samuel glanced at the documents.
“Your father discovered that the original Hayes fortune wasn't built entirely by your grandfather. A significant portion came from an inheritance that was deliberately concealed. Your family maintained that secret because revealing it would have destroyed several powerful people.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't explain why he died.””
“No. It explains why someone wanted him silenced.””
Alexander suddenly reached into his jacket.
“Don't!””
Samuel raised the pistol.
Alexander froze.
“Slowly,” Samuel ordered.
“Take your hand out.””
Alexander obeyed.
But I noticed something.
His other hand was resting near the old emergency alarm beside the steel door.
I needed to keep Samuel talking.
“Why did my mother trust you?””
Samuel's face softened briefly.
“Because I loved her.””
The answer disgusted me.
“You betrayed her husband, manipulated her children, and stole from her trust. Don't pretend that was love.””
His jaw tightened.
“Your mother understood that sacrifices had to be made.””
“Did she know you helped arrange my father's death?””
“She suspected.””
“And you let her spend the rest of her life afraid?””
Samuel didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
I saw the name.
*RICHARD HAYES.*
Samuel answered without lowering the gun.
“Yes?””
A voice came through the speaker.
“Have you secured the documents?””
Samuel looked at me.
“I'm handling it.””
Richard's voice sharpened.
“What about Evelyn?””
“She knows too much.””
There was a pause.
Then Richard said something that made my blood freeze.
“Then you know what needs to happen before the baby arrives.””
Samuel ended the call.
I stared at him.
“Richard knows you're here?””
Samuel sighed.
“Your brother has always been impatient.””
“He isn't my biological brother.””
Samuel smiled.
“No. But he was the one who made your father believe he could trust him.””
I looked at Alexander.
His expression had become murderous.
“You used Richard to destroy our family.””
“Richard wanted what he believed he deserved. I simply gave him an opportunity.””
“And Ethan?””
Samuel laughed.
“Your husband was the easiest part. He wanted wealth, status, and a beautiful young woman to show off. Richard promised him all three.””
I remembered Ethan standing on that gala stage.
Calling me ugly.
Calling our daughter a burden.
I had thought his cruelty was the beginning of the betrayal.
It had actually been the final stage of a plan that started before our marriage.
Samuel stepped toward the documents.
“Now, Evelyn, I need you to sign a temporary transfer authorization.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Don't make this difficult.””
“You already forged my signature twice. Why do you need a real one?””
His eyes narrowed.
“Because the board has begun questioning the legitimacy of the original ownership documents. Your signature would end that problem.””
“And give you control?””
“Temporarily.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?””
Samuel raised the weapon.
“Sign it.””
Alexander suddenly slammed his palm against the emergency alarm.
A deafening siren erupted.
Samuel spun around.
That fraction of a second was enough.
Alexander lunged.
The gun discharged.
The sound exploded through the small room.
I screamed.
Alexander crashed into Samuel, knocking the weapon across the floor.
They struggled against the steel cabinet.
I dropped beside the documents.
Another shot rang out.
Then the lights flickered.
Samuel staggered backward, clutching his shoulder.
Alexander grabbed the gun and kicked it beneath a cabinet.
Footsteps thundered above us.
“Police! Drop everything!””
Two security officers rushed down the stairs, followed by Marcus and several uniformed officers.
Samuel was forced against the wall.
His weapon was recovered.
I rushed toward Alexander.
“Are you hurt?””
He shook his head.
“I'm fine. Are you?””
I nodded, though my legs were trembling.
Marcus approached me.
“Madam Chairwoman, we need to get you out of here.””
I looked at Samuel.
“Who ordered my father's death?””
He laughed despite the blood running down his sleeve.
“You still don't understand.””
“Tell me!””
Samuel looked toward Marcus.
Then he smiled.
“Ask your CEO why he was the last person your father spoke to before the accident.””
I turned.
Marcus had gone completely still.
“Marcus?””
May you like
He looked down.
And I realized that the man who had protected me for years might have been hiding something far worse than I imagined.
