CHAPTER 16 — The Heir Under Attack
The sound of the gunshot refused to disappear.
Even after the bullet stopped.
Even after the attacker vanished.
Even after the house fell into chaos.
Claire could still hear it.
Because for the second time in her life...
Someone had tried to take away her family.
She dropped beside Alexander.
The man she had spent twenty-eight years believing abandoned her.
The man she had hated.
The man she had secretly wished would come back.
Now he was lying in front of her.
Bleeding.
Trying to stay awake.
"Stay with me."
Her voice shook.
Alexander looked at her.
And despite the pain...
He smiled.
"You sound like your mother."
Claire's eyes filled.
"Don't talk."
"You need to save your strength."
Alexander reached for her hand.
But before he could touch it...
Emergency sirens echoed outside.
Elizabeth ran toward the door.
"The security system called the police."
Daniel appeared moments later with security officers behind him.
He had followed Claire.
He had known something was wrong.
When he saw Alexander on the floor...
His entire expression changed.
"My God."
Claire looked at him.
"Call an ambulance."
"I'm already calling."
Daniel dropped beside them.
And for the first time...
He looked at Alexander.
Not as a rival.
Not as the man connected to Claire's past.
But as someone who had almost died protecting her.
Twenty minutes later...
The private hospital room was surrounded by security.
The shooting had become national news.
The headline appeared everywhere:
MYSTERY ATTACK ON RETURNED ASHFORD HEIR
But the world did not know the truth.
They did not know someone had just tried to kill the man who could expose decades of corruption.
They did not know Claire Bennett was now the center of a war between two powerful bloodlines.
They did not know the person behind the attack was still watching.
Outside the hospital room...
Daniel stood beside Claire.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Finally...
Daniel said:
"I'm sorry."
Claire looked at him.
"For what?"
"For all of it."
She looked away.
"That is a big list."
He nodded.
"I know."
A painful silence.
"I believed my family."
"I believed the lies."
"I thought you left because you wanted a different life."
Claire's expression softened slightly.
"And I thought you chose your family over me."
Daniel swallowed.
"Maybe we were both wrong."
Claire looked through the glass.
Alexander was unconscious.
Elizabeth sat beside him.
A mother and father she thought she had lost forever.
Now both were back.
But so were all the secrets.
"I don't know how to forgive everyone."
Daniel answered quietly:
"You don't have to."
She looked at him.
"Forgiveness isn't something people earn by saying sorry."
A pause.
"It's something you choose when you're ready."
For the first time in years...
Claire saw wisdom in Daniel.
Not the politician.
Not the Ashford heir.
The man.
Meanwhile...
In another part of Chicago...
Marcus Vale watched the news.
The image on the screen showed Alexander being carried into the ambulance.
His face became pale.
The person beside him noticed.
"You look worried."
Marcus turned.
"I didn't authorize that."
The other person smiled.
"Of course not."
Marcus stared.
"I was told to expose Claire."
"Not kill Alexander."
The person stepped closer.
"Sometimes accidents happen."
Marcus clenched his fist.
"No."
His voice became angry.
"That's not what we agreed."
The person laughed softly.
"You still think you have a choice."
Marcus said nothing.
Because deep down...
He knew.
He had spent years believing he was controlling the situation.
But he was only another piece.
Just like Claire.
Just like Daniel.
Just like everyone.
At the hospital...
Alexander finally woke.
Claire was there.
Alone.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Alexander whispered:
"You came."
Claire looked at him.
"Of course I came."
A faint smile appeared.
"I wasn't sure."
She looked down.
"I wasn't sure I wanted to."
Alexander accepted that.
"I deserve that."
A long silence.
Then Claire asked:
"Who shot you?"
Alexander looked away.
That answer told her everything.
"You know."
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Who?"
Alexander closed his eyes.
"Someone from the family."
Claire felt cold.
"Which family?"
Alexander looked at her.
"Both."
She frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"Because the person responsible is connected to both Ashford and Bennett."
Claire froze.
"That's impossible."
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
"It's the reason this war started."
He reached toward the bedside table.
A small envelope was there.
"I kept this hidden for years."
Claire took it.
"What is it?"
"The final family record."
She opened it.
Inside was a genealogy document.
A family tree.
But one line had been covered.
A hidden branch.
A child born from both families.
Claire followed the line.
Her eyes widened.
Because the name appeared.
Marcus Vale.
Alexander whispered:
"He was not sent to destroy you."
Claire looked confused.
"Then why?"
"Because he was supposed to become you."
She stared.
"What?"
Alexander continued:
"The original plan was not for Claire Bennett to inherit the empire."
"The plan was for Marcus to inherit everything."
The room became silent.
"Someone convinced the world that you didn't exist."
"Then they created Marcus as the replacement heir."
Claire's mind raced.
"But why help me build Bennett Holdings?"
Alexander answered:
"Because they needed your trust."
A pause.
"They needed you to build the empire."
"And then they planned to take it."
Claire looked down.
The betrayal was deeper than she imagined.
Marcus had not just entered her company.
He had entered her life.
Suddenly...
Claire's phone rang.
It was her assistant.
She answered.
"Claire..."
The voice sounded terrified.
"What happened?"
"There is a problem at headquarters."
"What kind of problem?"
A pause.
"The board has called an emergency meeting."
Claire frowned.
"Who requested it?"
The assistant hesitated.
Then answered:
"Marcus Vale."
Claire's expression changed.
"What is the reason?"
The answer came quietly.
"He filed a claim."
"What claim?"
The assistant whispered:
"That he is the rightful owner of Bennett Holdings."
Claire went completely still.
Because the enemy was no longer hiding.
May you like
Marcus had finally stepped into the light.
And he was coming for everything.
