Chapter 12: The Secret My Brother Kept
I didn’t sleep.
How could I?
My father’s voice was alive again.
My husband had confessed.
And the one person I trusted most might have been hiding the truth.
By sunrise, the entire Sinclair estate was awake.
People moved through the halls carrying documents and equipment.
A war was beginning.
But I wasn’t standing on the battlefield anymore.
I was standing in the middle of the mystery.
I found Alexander alone in the library.
He was staring at an old photograph.
Our family.
Before everything fell apart.
“You knew.””
He didn’t turn around.
I hated that.
Because his silence answered me.
“How long?””
Alexander closed his eyes.
“Emily.””
“How long did you know Adrian was involved?””
He finally faced me.
“I suspected.””
I laughed quietly.
“Of course.””
“That’s not the same as knowing.””
“You still hid it.””
His expression changed.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I stepped closer.
“Everyone protects me by lying to me.””
Alexander looked hurt.
But he didn’t argue.
Because he knew I was right.
“What else?””
He hesitated.
That hesitation broke something inside me.
“What else don’t I know?””
Alexander sat down.
“When Dad died, he left instructions.””
I stared.
“Instructions for what?””
“For me.””
My heart sank.
“He told you to protect me.””
“Yes.””
“And?””
Alexander looked at the floor.
“He told me never to let you discover the truth about Adrian.””
I froze.
“Why?””
“Because he believed Adrian would eventually choose you over Daniel.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“What?””
Alexander nodded.
“Dad thought there was still good in him.””
I looked away.
“Dad believed in him.””
“Yes.””
A painful silence followed.
“Then why didn’t you?””
Alexander’s voice became quiet.
“Because I watched you fall in love with him.””
That hurt.
“I watched him become your entire world.””
He looked at me.
“And I was afraid when the truth came out, it would destroy you.””
I swallowed.
“It already did.””
Before he could answer, alarms suddenly echoed through the house.
We both stood.
A security officer rushed into the library.
“Mr. Sinclair.””
Alexander turned.
“What happened?””
“The ring signal disappeared.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
The officer looked at me.
“The device inside the ring has been activated.””
Alexander’s expression changed.
“By who?””
The officer swallowed.
“Someone inside the estate.””
Nobody moved.
Because there was only one way Daniel could have accessed the signal.
Someone had helped him.
Someone inside our home.
Then the library doors slowly opened.
A familiar voice spoke.
“I’m sorry, Emily.””
I turned.
And my heart stopped.
May you like
Because standing in the doorway was the last person I expected.
My own mother.
