Chapter 7: The Shot That Changed Everything
The gunshot shattered the silence.
For one terrifying second, nobody moved.
Then Lily screamed.
I dropped to the ground and pulled her against me.
"Get down!""
Detective Vance grabbed my father and dragged him behind the remains of the staircase.
Nathan rushed toward the broken window.
"Where did it come from?""
"Don't move!"" Detective Vance shouted.
Another sound followed.
Not a gunshot.
A car engine.
Fast.
Fading.
Someone had fired and escaped.
My heart pounded against my ribs.
I looked around wildly.
"Lily?""
"I'm here.""
Her tiny arms were wrapped around my neck.
I held her tighter.
The fact that she was real still felt impossible.
The fact that someone had tried to silence us minutes after we found my mother's recording felt like a warning.
Not a coincidence.
Detective Vance carefully moved toward the front entrance.
He looked outside.
"The shooter is gone.""
Nathan followed him.
"Was that meant for us?""
Detective Vance looked back at the recorder still lying on the floor.
"No.""
His eyes moved to me.
"It was meant for that.""
My father sat against the wall, pale and shaking.
I looked at him.
"Dad.""
He didn't respond.
"Dad, who was my mother talking about?""
His hands trembled.
"I don't know.""
I almost laughed.
The same answer.
Always the same answer.
"You've been saying that for five years.""
He looked at me.
"I was wrong.""
The sadness in his voice almost made me believe him.
Almost.
"What did Mom discover?""
My father looked at the burned house.
"Something about our family.""
"That's not an answer.""
He swallowed.
"Your mother found financial records.""
"What kind of records?""
"Money missing from the company.""
Nathan stepped closer.
"Mercer Holdings?""
My father nodded.
"Millions.""
I stared at him.
"Who was stealing?""
He didn't answer.
But his eyes moved toward the road where the shooter had escaped.
And that told me enough.
Someone connected to my family.
Someone powerful.
Detective Vance picked up the recorder.
"We need to get this analyzed.""
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Everyone froze.
Unknown number.
Again.
I stared at the screen.
Nathan whispered:
"Don't answer.""
But I did.
"Hello?""
Silence.
Then a man's voice.
Not the woman from before.
A man's voice.
"You should have stayed dead.""
My blood turned cold.
"Who are you?""
A low laugh.
"You really don't remember anything, do you?""
I looked at Detective Vance.
He immediately started recording.
"Tell me who you are.""
The man ignored me.
"You think Juliette was your enemy?""
A pause.
"She was just a scared little girl playing with fire.""
My father's face changed.
He knew that voice.
"Dad?""
He looked away.
The man continued.
"The real person who destroyed your life is someone you invited into your home.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Why?""
"Because you were about to expose the truth.""
"What truth?""
The line went silent.
Then:
"The truth about who Lily's father really is.""
Nathan stepped forward.
"What?""
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
Lily looked up at me.
"Mommy?""
I forced myself to breathe.
"It's okay.""
But it wasn't.
Not anymore.
Detective Vance looked at Nathan.
"Did you ever have a reason to believe the child wasn't yours?""
Nathan looked offended.
"No.""
"Think carefully.""
Nathan looked at me.
"I loved Caroline.""
His voice broke.
"I never questioned it.""
My father suddenly stood.
"Because he wasn't supposed to know.""
Everyone turned.
"Dad?""
His face was filled with regret.
"I found out after the fire.""
My heart stopped.
"Found out what?""
He looked at Nathan.
Then at me.
"That Lily wasn't the only secret Juliette was hiding.""
I stepped closer.
"What are you saying?""
My father closed his eyes.
"Juliette didn't burn the house because she wanted Nathan.""
The wind moved through the empty rooms.
"She burned it because she discovered Caroline knew the truth.""
"What truth?""
My father whispered:
"That Nathan was never the target.""
I felt a chill.
"Then who was?""
My father looked directly at me.
May you like
And said the one name I never expected.
"Me.""
