Chapter 10 - CLARA’S CHOICE
Richard aimed his weapon at Clara.
“You should have stayed upstairs.”
Clara did not move.
For years, Richard had told her that Lucas and Emily abandoned her.
He said her parents were ashamed of her.
He claimed the Bennett family would destroy her if she ever revealed her identity.
But Clara found Emily’s letter in Richard’s safe.
It contained photographs.
Hospital records.
And a message written directly to her.
My first daughter, you were never unwanted.
Clara held the letter against her chest.
“You killed my mother.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“Emily created her own problems.”
“She refused to understand that families like ours survive by controlling the truth.”
Lucas stepped between Richard and Clara.
“You will not threaten another child.”
Richard laughed.
“You still think they belong to you.”
“You did not even know they existed.”
The words hurt because they were true.
Lucas had trusted his uncle.
He had trusted Eleanor’s medical reports.
He had accepted explanations because the alternative seemed too painful.
Lily looked at him.
“Daddy.”
Lucas met her eyes.
“I’m here.”
Daniel moved silently behind a row of cabinets.
Vanessa approached Eleanor.
“Give me the gun.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“You always were weak.”
“You let emotion control you.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
“No.”
“I let fear control me.”
“Not anymore.”
She grabbed Eleanor’s wrist.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Daniel rushed Richard.
Lucas pulled Lily’s chair to the floor as another shot struck a cabinet.
Folders exploded into the air.
Clara threw herself behind the staircase.
Richard struck Daniel and ran toward the tunnel.
Eleanor and Vanessa struggled for the weapon.
Sophia entered the basement despite her injury.
“Mother.”
Eleanor froze at the sound of her older daughter’s voice.
Sophia stood beneath the doorway.
“You left me in a locked house for eight years.”
Eleanor’s expression weakened.
“I tried to protect you.”
“You visited Richard while he kept me chained to a room.”
Sophia raised her phone.
“I recorded everything you said tonight.”
Police sirens sounded outside.
Eleanor released the gun.
Richard reached the tunnel door.
Then Lily kicked the metal case beside her chair.
It slid beneath Richard’s feet.
May you like
He fell backward.
Lucas reached him before he could stand.
