CHAPTER 13 — THE RING THEY WERE ALL FIGHTING FOR
Emily couldn't move.
Her wedding ring.
The simple gold band she had worn for eleven years.
The ring she had placed beside Daniel's plate on Christmas night.
The ring Margaret had stared at before slapping her.
The ring everyone suddenly seemed to care about.
Emily looked at Daniel.
“Where is it?”
Daniel understood immediately.
“The mansion.”
Emily shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward Edward.
“You said the ring contains the key.”
Edward smiled.
“Not the key itself.”
“Then what?”
“The location.”
Thomas suddenly stepped forward.
“Emily, don't listen to him.”
Edward's expression remained calm.
“Your father is afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of what you'll discover.”
Thomas looked at Emily.
“I wanted you to have a normal life.”
“You gave me a lie.”
“I gave you time.”
Emily's voice cracked.
“Twenty years.”
Thomas nodded.
“Twenty years.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
“Because every time I considered it, someone close to you became endangered.”
Emily glanced toward Daniel.
“So you watched me marry a man who was being manipulated by Victor.”
“Yes.”
“You watched Margaret destroy me.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me believe you were dead.”
Thomas lowered his head.
“Yes.”
Emily stepped closer.
“Then don't tell me you protected me.”
Thomas looked into her eyes.
“I protected your life.”
He paused.
“But I failed to protect your heart.”
Emily's anger faltered.
For the first time, she saw how broken her father really was.
But there was no time for forgiveness.
Not yet.
Daniel closed his laptop.
“The files are encrypted.”
Emily looked at him.
“How long?”
“Not long.”
Victor suddenly laughed.
“You won't have long.”
He looked toward Edward.
“You promised me access.”
Edward ignored him.
“You failed.”
Victor's eyes darkened.
“I brought her here.”
“You brought her willingly.”
“I followed your instructions.”
“You were supposed to control Daniel.”
Victor pointed at Daniel.
“I did.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“No.”
Victor looked at him.
“You think you escaped me?”
Daniel's voice was cold.
“I think you underestimated me.”
Victor smiled.
“Did I?”
He pulled out a phone.
A single message appeared on the screen.
Daniel's face changed.
Emily noticed.
“What is it?”
Daniel didn't answer.
She grabbed the phone.
Her blood ran cold.
A photograph of the mansion.
Taken minutes ago.
The wedding ring was visible on the dining table.
Someone had photographed it.
Underneath the picture was one sentence.
COME ALONE, EMILY.
Emily looked up.
“They have it.”
Thomas nodded.
“Then we're leaving.”
Edward shook his head.
“No.”
Thomas turned.
“You don't give me orders.”
Edward smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
He looked at Emily.
“The ring is already gone.”
Emily froze.
“What?”
Edward touched a control panel.
The screen changed.
Security footage appeared.
Christmas night.
The dining room.
Emily watched herself place the ring beside Daniel's plate.
Margaret stood across the table.
Then, after everyone left—
Margaret returned.
She looked around.
Picked up the ring.
And slipped it into her pocket.
Emily's eyes widened.
“She took it.”
Daniel stared at the screen.
“I never saw her.”
Richard whispered—
“Neither did I.”
The footage continued.
Margaret walked into the kitchen.
She opened a hidden drawer.
Inside was a black velvet box.
She placed the ring inside.
Then she made a phone call.
Emily leaned closer.
The audio was faint.
Margaret whispered—
“She found the trust.”
A man's voice answered.
“Does she have the ring?”
Margaret looked at it.
“No.”
A pause.
“She doesn't know what it is.”
The voice said—
“Good.”
Margaret closed the box.
“Where do I take it?”
The answer came.
“Bring it to the original Carter house.”
Emily's eyes widened.
The original Carter house.
She had never heard of it.
The video ended.
Emily turned toward Thomas.
“What is the original Carter house?”
Thomas didn't answer.
Edward did.
“The house where Anna died.”
Emily's breath caught.
Victor suddenly smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Emily looked at him.
“What?”
“The ring wasn't meant to open a vault.”
Victor stepped closer.
“It was meant to open a room.”
Thomas's face changed.
“Stop.”
Victor ignored him.
“A room containing the original trust.”
Emily stared at Thomas.
“You knew.”
Thomas whispered—
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
Thomas hesitated.
Edward answered.
“Under the house.”
Emily looked at Daniel.
“We're going.”
Edward smiled.
“You aren't going anywhere.”
The armed men raised their weapons.
Then—
The lights went out.
A loud explosion shook the hangar.
Everyone ducked.
Smoke filled the room.
Daniel grabbed Emily's hand.
“Move!”
They ran.
Thomas followed.
Victoria covered them.
Richard grabbed a fallen weapon.
Victor shouted orders.
But nobody could hear him.
Emily and Daniel reached the service door.
Daniel kicked it open.
They disappeared into the tunnel.
Behind them, gunfire erupted.
Emily ran until her lungs burned.
“Where are we going?”
Daniel answered—
“The original Carter house.”
Thomas caught up.
“No.”
Emily turned.
“You just said the ring is there.”
“It is.”
“Then why are you stopping me?”
“Because Anna isn't the only thing buried there.”
Emily froze.
“What else?”
Thomas looked at her.
“Evidence.”
“Of what?”
“The truth about your birth.”
Victoria reached them.
“What do you mean?”
Thomas looked at both daughters.
“I never told either of you because I was afraid.”
Emily stared.
“Afraid of what?”
Thomas's eyes filled with pain.
“That Anna didn't die alone.”
Silence.
“What?”
Thomas whispered—
“She left you something.”
Emily's heart pounded.
“A message?”
“No.”
“A letter?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Thomas looked toward the darkness behind them.
“A recording.”
Emily felt a chill.
“Of what?”
Thomas answered—
“Anna naming the man who ordered her death.”
A distant voice echoed through the tunnel.
Edward.
“You're too late, Thomas.”
Thomas turned.
Emily heard footsteps approaching.
Edward's voice came again.
“Because I already know where the recording is.”
Thomas grabbed Emily's arm.
“Run.”
And they did.
May you like
But this time Emily wasn't running from Victor.
She was running toward the truth.
