Chapter 7 – The Woman Who Was Never His Sister
The repair shop burned behind Ethan as firefighters battled the growing flames.
Charlotte dragged him into a nearby alley just seconds before the roof collapsed.
"You have to trust me," she said.
Ethan pulled away.
"Trust you? I met you less than twenty-four hours ago."
Charlotte reached into her purse and handed him a faded family photograph.
It showed Thomas holding two children.
A little boy.
And a little girl.
The boy was Ethan.
But the little girl...
Wasn't Charlotte.
Ethan looked up.
"Who is this?"
Charlotte lowered her eyes.
"She's the real daughter."
"Then who are you?"
For several painful seconds, she couldn't answer.
Finally, she whispered the truth.
"I'm not your sister."
"My real name isn't Charlotte Hale."
"I was raised by Victor."
Ethan felt the ground disappear beneath him.
Victor had trained her since childhood.
She had spent years spying on Thomas, earning his trust while secretly reporting everything back to the man who destroyed the Hale family.
"So why are you helping me now?" Ethan asked.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Because Victor gave me one final order."
"He told me to get close enough..."
"...to kill you."
Before Ethan could react, Charlotte pulled a pistol from her coat.
Her trembling hands aimed directly at his chest.
For one endless moment...
Neither of them moved.
Then a gunshot echoed through the alley.
Charlotte collapsed into Ethan's arms.
A crimson stain spread across her white blouse.
The bullet hadn't come from her gun.
It came from the rooftop across the street.
A sniper had just silenced the only witness who knew Victor's secrets.
As Charlotte struggled to breathe, she pressed a small flash drive into Ethan's hand.
May you like
"Don't... let him... become president..."
Those were the last words she ever spoke.
