CHAPTER 6 – The Secret Behind the Gun
Emma instinctively stepped backward, shielding her pregnant belly with both hands.
Vanessa raised the pistol—but she didn't fire.
Instead, she locked the front door.
"You've seen the files," Vanessa said calmly. "That means you're smarter than Ryan."
Emma's voice trembled.
"You tried to murder my husband for five million dollars."
Vanessa laughed.
"No, Emma."
"It was never about five million."
Emma frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Vanessa slowly pulled a thick envelope from her handbag and tossed it onto the coffee table.
Inside were newspaper clippings dating back nearly thirty years.
Every article featured the same family.
The Sterlings.
At the center of every photo stood Richard Sterling.
The respected billionaire.
The generous businessman.
The face of one of America's largest insurance companies.
Then Emma noticed one picture hidden underneath.
A little boy.
Around ten years old.
Standing beside Richard.
Emma's heart stopped.
The boy...
Was Ryan.
"What... is this?" Emma whispered.
Vanessa smiled.
"Ryan isn't just another customer."
"He's Richard Sterling's biological son."
Emma's knees nearly gave out.
"That's impossible."
"Richard abandoned Ryan's mother before he was born. She raised him alone. Ryan never knew who his father really was."
Vanessa walked closer.
"When Richard found out Ryan was dying of cancer, he saw the perfect opportunity."
Emma stared in disbelief.
"He created the insurance policy himself."
"He planned Ryan's death."
"He erased every record proving Ryan was his son."
"And once Ryan was gone..."
Vanessa smiled coldly.
"...no one would ever claim the Sterling fortune."
Emma's entire body shook.
Ryan hadn't been chosen randomly.
He had been hunted because of his bloodline.
Suddenly—
A loud crash exploded through the back window.
Glass flew across the room.
Vanessa spun around.
A masked man tackled her to the floor.
The gun slid across the hardwood.
Emma crawled desperately toward it.
The two strangers fought violently across the living room.
Then the masked man ripped off his hood.
Emma gasped.
"Ryan?!"
Bruised.
Bleeding.
But alive.
Ryan grabbed Vanessa before she could escape.
"You lied to me my entire life," he shouted.
Vanessa smirked despite the blood running down her face.
"You still don't understand."
Ryan tightened his grip.
"Understand what?"
Vanessa looked directly into his eyes and whispered the words that froze everyone in the room.
"Richard Sterling isn't your biggest enemy..."
She smiled one last time.
"Your mother is still alive."
Silence filled the house.
Ryan's face turned white.
"My... mother?"
Vanessa nodded slowly.
May you like
"And she's the one who ordered your death."
To Be Continued...
