Chapter 6 - THE TRAP
We didn't return to the mansion immediately.
My father wanted Brandon to believe everything was falling apart.
So we let him think he had won.
I filed for divorce.
I froze my accounts.
I announced publicly that my design company was restructuring.
Brandon celebrated.
He thought I was broke.
He thought I was scared.
He thought my father was going to disappear.
Instead, we built a trap.
Detective Brooks arranged surveillance.
Ashley agreed to cooperate.
My father contacted an old associate who had access to Whitmore's financial network.
The goal was simple.
Make Brandon move the ledger.
Then catch everyone involved.
Three days later, Brandon called me.
“Emma.”
I hadn't heard his voice since the basement.
“What do you want?”
“Come home.”
“No.”
“You're my wife.”
“Not anymore.”
“You don't understand what you're doing.”
“I understand perfectly.”
He laughed.
“You think your father can save you?”
“He already did.”
Silence.
Then Brandon whispered:
“You're making a mistake.”
I ended the call.
That night, Ashley sent a message.
He took the ledger.
The trap was working.
Brandon met Whitmore at a private club.
Detective Brooks watched from across the street.
My father watched from another car.
Then something unexpected happened.
A third vehicle arrived.
A black sedan.
My mother stepped out.
I saw her photograph through the surveillance feed.
I hadn't seen her in twenty years.
But I recognized her immediately.
My knees almost gave out.
“Mom.”
My father stared at the screen.
He looked devastated.
“She came back.”
The meeting lasted twelve minutes.
Then my mother left.
Whitmore followed.
Brandon stayed behind.
Police moved in.
But Brandon had already escaped through a private exit.
The ledger was gone.
We had failed.
Or so we thought.
My mother appeared outside the club.
She walked directly toward me.
For a moment neither of us moved.
Then she whispered:
“Emma.”
I couldn't breathe.
I wanted to hug her.
I wanted to hit her.
I wanted to ask why.
Instead I said:
“Why did you leave me?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Because I thought it was the only way to keep you alive.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I know.”
“You watched me grow up from a distance.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about Brandon?”
“I knew he was dangerous.”
“Then why didn't you stop me from marrying him?”
“I tried.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked at my father.
“Vincent knows.”
My father shook his head.
“You never told me.”
“I couldn't.”
She turned back to me.
“Brandon was never the mastermind.”
“I know.”
“No.”
She touched my hand.
“You don't.”
She looked around.
“Kane is alive.”
My blood ran cold.
“Edward Kane?”
“Yes.”
“He's been controlling everything.”
“Whitmore works for him.”
“Brandon?”
“A pawn.”
“Then why marry me?”
“To get to Vincent.”
My father closed his eyes.
My mother continued.
“Kane believes Vincent still has the original ledger.”
“But he doesn't.”
“No.”
She looked at me.
“Because your grandmother took it.”
“My grandmother?”
She nodded.
“She hid it somewhere no one would ever search.”
“Where?”
My mother hesitated.
Then she said:
“In your childhood home.”
I stared.
“The house we lived in?”
“Yes.”
My father suddenly looked worried.
“We need to go.”
“Why?”
My mother looked toward the street.
“Because Kane knows I found you.”
A black SUV turned the corner.
Then another.
My father grabbed my arm.
“Run.”
May you like
We ran.
And behind us, the first gunshot shattered the night.
