Chapter 8 - THE ORIGINAL SIN
Jonathan didn't run.
He simply stood there.
"Where's Sophie?"
"Safe."
"Give her to me."
"No."
His expression hardened.
"Michael, you don't understand what you're doing."
"I understand enough."
"You think your father was innocent?"
"No."
Jonathan looked surprised.
"Good."
He walked closer.
"Because he wasn't."
"What did he do?"
"He built Harrison Development by taking land from people who couldn't fight back."
I stared at him.
"You're lying."
"Your father bought properties through shell companies."
He pulled out a folder.
"Families were forced out."
"Why?"
"Because your father wanted control."
I looked at Sophie.
She was listening.
Jonathan lowered his voice.
"Your father eventually regretted it."
"So he created the trust."
"Yes."
"And you tried to steal it."
"I tried to protect it."
I almost laughed.
"By kidnapping a child?"
"I never kidnapped Sophie."
"Then who did?"
Jonathan hesitated.
"Daniel."
I froze.
"Daniel works for you."
"No."
Jonathan looked exhausted.
"Daniel works for someone much more powerful."
"Who?"
He looked toward the church doors.
Before he could answer, a car screeched outside.
Jonathan grabbed my arm.
"Get down!"
A bullet shattered the stained-glass window.
We dropped.
Another shot.
Then another.
Jonathan pulled Sophie behind a stone pillar.
I covered her with my body.
When the shooting stopped, Jonathan whispered:
"They're here."
"Who?"
"The people who have been running your family for forty years."
"Tell me."
He looked at me.
"Your mother."
I stared at him.
"My mother is dead."
"I know."
"Then how can she be behind this?"
Jonathan's eyes were full of fear.
"Because she isn't dead."
I couldn't speak.
Then a woman appeared at the church entrance.
Gray coat.
Dark sunglasses.
Hair pulled back.
She removed the glasses.
My knees almost gave out.
I knew that face.
Every line.
Every expression.
Every memory.
My mother.
Alive.
She looked directly at me.
"Michael."
Sophie whispered,
"Is that Grandma?"
My mother smiled.
May you like
Then she said something that shattered everything.
"Yes."
