Chapter 11: The Mother Who Disappeared
Nobody moved.
Not Adrian.
Not Lucas.
Not me.
The woman standing beside Vincent looked exactly like the photograph.
Older.
Different.
But impossible to mistake.
My mother.
Evelyn Whitmore.
My knees nearly gave out.
“No.””
The woman looked at me.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Isabella.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“You’re alive.””
She nodded slowly.
“I am.””
“Then why?””
The question came out broken.
“Why did you leave me?””
Her face collapsed.
“I didn’t.””
Vincent smiled.
“Careful, Evelyn.””
She looked at him with hatred.
“You don’t control me anymore.””
That surprised everyone.
Especially me.
Adrian lowered his weapon slightly.
“Vincent.””
Vincent looked amused.
“You finally understand.””
“Understand what?””
“That you were never the smartest person in the room.””
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Where is my father?””
Vincent smiled.
“Closer than you think.””
Before anyone could react, Evelyn stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Vincent looked at her.
“You still think you can stop me?””
“I know exactly what you are.””
“And yet you worked with me.””
The words hit hard.
I looked at my mother.
“What does he mean?””
Evelyn looked at me.
“I had no choice.””
“Everyone says that.””
My voice cracked.
“Everyone always has a reason.””
She took a step closer.
“I spent ten years trying to protect you.””
“By pretending you were dead?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“Why?””
She looked at Adrian.
Then Lucas.
Then me.
“Because someone inside our family wanted you erased.””
“Who?””
Nobody answered.
And somehow, that was the answer.
Vincent laughed.
“You see?””
He spread his arms.
“Everyone blames me.””
His expression darkened.
“But none of them tell you what they did.””
Adrian looked furious.
“Stop playing games.””
Vincent looked at him.
“You want the truth?””
A pause.
“Ask your father.””
The words chilled the air.
A car stopped behind Vincent.
A man stepped out.
Older.
Weak.
But alive.
Adrian froze.
“Dad.””
Alexander stood there.
Alive.
Again.
But this time, Adrian looked different.
Like he was seeing a ghost.
Alexander looked at his son.
“I’m sorry.””
Adrian didn’t move.
“You let me believe you were dead.””
“Yes.””
“You let me hate Lucas.””
“Yes.””
“You let me think Isabella was gone.””
Alexander looked at me.
“Yes.””
The pain in Adrian’s face was unbearable.
“Why?””
Alexander looked toward Vincent.
“Because I was afraid.””
Vincent smiled.
“Finally.””
Alexander continued.
“I discovered the person behind everything.””
Everyone waited.
“Who?””
Alexander looked at Vincent.
“No.””
Vincent’s smile faded.
Alexander looked at me.
“The person behind everything was not Vincent.””
A cold silence followed.
“Then who?””
Alexander swallowed.
“The person who taught Vincent.””
The air changed.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Who?””
Alexander looked at him.
“Your grandfather.””
Nobody spoke.
The Kane family.
The source.
The beginning.
Vincent laughed quietly.
“And now you know.””
Adrian stared at him.
“Then why are you still protecting him?””
Vincent’s smile disappeared.
“Because he’s not finished.””
A phone rang.
Vincent looked down.
Then answered.
“Yes.””
A pause.
His expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
He looked toward the city.
“He escaped?””
Everyone noticed.
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
“Who?””
Vincent ended the call.
Then he looked at me.
“Your grandfather.””
May you like
My blood ran cold.
“He’s coming for you.””
