Chapter 13 - THE BETRAYAL
Michael returned to the estate.
Everyone was waiting.
Emily.
Lily.
The baby.
Eleanor.
He looked at each person.
Then stopped.
“Eleanor.”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“Where were you the night Emily's car crashed?”
Her face changed.
“I was home.”
“That's not true.”
Silence.
Emily looked at Michael.
“Michael…”
He raised his hand.
“Let her answer.”
Eleanor began crying.
“I didn't know what to do.”
“Were you working for Daniel?”
“No.”
“Victoria?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Eleanor looked toward Lily.
“I was working for your father.”
Michael froze.
“My father died ten years ago.”
“He left instructions.”
“What instructions?”
“To protect Emily.”
Michael stared.
“Why?”
“Because he knew Daniel would eventually discover the truth.”
“What truth?”
Eleanor swallowed.
“Daniel wasn't your father's only illegitimate child.”
Michael frowned.
“Who else?”
Eleanor looked toward Emily.
Emily whispered:
“Me.”
Michael stared.
“What?”
Emily began crying.
“My mother was your father's secretary.”
Michael stepped backward.
“You're telling me my wife is my father's daughter?”
Emily shook her head.
“Half-sister.”
Michael's face went white.
“That means…”
“We aren't related by blood,” Emily said quickly.
Michael exhaled.
But another question remained.
“Why would your father protect you?”
“Because he knew Daniel would use me to get to you.”
Michael looked at Eleanor.
“Then why did you lie about Emily's death?”
Eleanor cried.
“Because I was ordered to.”
“By whom?”
She didn't answer.
Michael's voice hardened.
“By whom?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Emily.”
Everyone froze.
Emily closed her eyes.
“I thought if Michael believed I was dead, Daniel would stop looking for him.”
Michael stared at his wife.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I was trying to save you.”
“You let me bury you.”
Emily began sobbing.
“I know.”
“You let me think our child died.”
“I know.”
“You let me spend six months alone.”
“I know.”
Michael's anger finally broke.
He turned away.
Emily whispered:
“Michael.”
He stopped.
“I love you.”
He closed his eyes.
“I loved you every day I thought you were gone.”
Then Lily stepped between them.
She looked at Michael.
“Daddy?”
He turned.
“Are you angry?”
Michael knelt.
“Yes.”
“At Mommy?”
He looked at Emily.
“Yes.”
Lily thought about it.
“Can you still love someone when you're angry?”
Michael's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“Then don't leave.”
Michael pulled her into his arms.
“I won't.”
But outside the house, someone was watching.
Jonathan Reed stood beside his car.
His phone rang.
He answered.
A voice spoke.
“You told Michael everything.”
Jonathan closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“You shouldn't have.”
Then a gunshot sounded.
Jonathan fell beside his car.
Inside the mansion, Michael heard it.
He ran outside.
Jonathan lay bleeding.
Michael knelt beside him.
“Who did this?”
Jonathan struggled to breathe.
“Not… Daniel.”
“Who?”
Jonathan grabbed Michael's coat.
“The person behind Daniel.”
“Who?”
Jonathan whispered:
“Your father.”
Michael stared.
“That's impossible.”
May you like
Jonathan's eyes closed.
“He's alive.”
