Chapter 12 - THE BROTHER NOBODY KNEW EXISTED
His name was Michael.
I had never heard it.
Alexander had.
Or at least, he remembered something.
“My mother had another child.”
Jonathan nodded.
“He was born before you.”
Alexander stared.
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because Victor hid him.”
“Why?”
Jonathan looked at me.
“Because Michael was the heir.”
The room went silent.
“Not me?”
“No.”
“Not Alexander?”
“No.”
“Then why hide him?”
Jonathan whispered:
“Because Michael was the only one who knew where the original trust documents were.”
I stared.
“Where?”
Jonathan smiled.
“Your father never stole the money.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Not all of it.”
“What does that mean?”
“Some of the money was moved before the theft.”
“By whom?”
“Michael.”
Alexander stood.
“Where is he?”
Jonathan shook his head.
“He's working for Daniel.”
Everything went silent.
Daniel hadn't acted alone.
Michael had been inside Blackwell Holdings all along.
And suddenly, the wedding video made sense.
Michael had been the man holding the phone.
He had watched me walk down the aisle.
He had watched Alexander marry me.
And now he knew the trust had activated.
We found him at Blackwell headquarters.
He was waiting in Victor's old office.
He looked like Alexander.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
But colder.
He smiled.
“Hello, brother.”
Alexander stared.
“Michael.”
Michael laughed.
“You remember me.”
“Barely.”
“That was the point.”
I stepped forward.
“You helped Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor abandoned me.”
Jonathan interrupted.
“He didn't.”
Michael's smile disappeared.
“He chose you.”
He pointed at Alexander.
“He chose Jonathan.”
Then he looked at me.
“And he would have chosen Claire.”
I frowned.
“What do you want?”
“The trust.”
“You can't have it.”
Michael laughed.
“It's already mine.”
“No.”
I pulled out the wedding certificate.
“Our marriage activated the trust.”
Michael nodded.
“Exactly.”
“And the trustee?”
“Dead.”
“Daniel?”
“Arrested.”
Michael smiled.
“So now you need a replacement trustee.”
Alexander looked at him.
“You.”
“Yes.”
I realized his plan.
He had wanted Daniel to take control.
But Daniel was now arrested.
Michael wanted the trust for himself.
He stepped closer.
“Claire, sign the appointment.”
“No.”
His expression changed.
“You should.”
“No.”
He pulled out a photograph.
My mother.
Jason.
Both tied to chairs.
I froze.
“Where are they?”
Michael smiled.
“Alive.”
“Let them go.”
“Sign.”
Alexander whispered:
“Don't.”
I looked at him.
Then at Michael.
I tore the document in half.
Michael's face went blank.
“You just killed them.”
“No.”
I smiled.
“I bought us time.”
Michael frowned.
I pointed toward the ceiling.
“Because you're being recorded too.”
His face changed.
Police stormed the room.
Michael tried to run.
Alexander caught him.
The brothers fought.
Then Alexander stopped.
He looked at Michael.
“You were my family.”
Michael laughed through tears.
“So were you.”
The police arrested him.
My mother and Jason were rescued.
But there was one final problem.
The trust still needed a trustee.
And according to the original document—
the trustee had to be a member of the Bennett family.
May you like
My family.
:::
