CHAPTER 4 — The Sister No One Suspected
The burning SUV lit the night sky as Michael pushed Charlotte and Lucas into the armored truck.
“Drive!” he shouted.
The vehicle roared away just as bullets shattered the church windows behind them.
Charlotte couldn't stop staring at Michael.
For eight years, she'd cried over his grave.
Now he sat beside her, bruised and exhausted, very much alive.
She reached for his hand.
“Tell me everything.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“I wish I could.”
“No more secrets, Michael!”
He sighed heavily.
“Eight years ago, I discovered someone inside Hayes Global was laundering billions through shell companies. I gathered enough evidence to expose them.”
Charlotte frowned.
“So why didn't you?”
“Because they found me first.”
“They kidnapped me.”
“They staged my death.”
“They told the world I was gone.”
Charlotte covered her mouth.
“And Lucas?”
Michael smiled sadly.
“He was born after they took me.”
Charlotte's eyes filled with tears.
“I never knew I was pregnant…”
“You weren't.”
Michael looked down.
“Lucas isn't your biological son.”
Charlotte froze.
“What?”
“He's the son of the only witness who tried to protect the evidence.”
“His parents were murdered.”
“I promised I'd raise him as my own.”
Lucas quietly lowered his head.
“I know you're not my real mommy…”
“But Daddy said… you're the only person he ever trusted.”
Charlotte immediately hugged the little boy.
“You don't need my blood to be my family.”
Lucas burst into tears.
For the first time in years…
He smiled.
But Michael wasn't smiling.
He reached into his jacket and removed a small encrypted flash drive.
“This is everything.”
“Bank accounts.”
“Secret recordings.”
“Names.”
“The person behind all of it…”
Charlotte slowly took the drive.
“Who is it?”
Michael hesitated.
“I can't say it.”
“Why?”
“Because if I say the name…”
“You'll never believe me.”
Charlotte's voice shook.
“Try me.”
Michael looked straight into her eyes.
“The person who ordered my death…”
“…is your older sister.”
Charlotte felt the world stop.
“No…”
“Emily would never—”
Before she could finish, her phone vibrated.
One new message.
From Emily.
"Little sister… I hope you're enjoying your wedding."
A second message appeared instantly.
"By the way..."
"Tell Michael hiding won't save him this time."
Charlotte's blood turned to ice.
She slowly looked at Michael.
“You were telling the truth…”
Michael nodded.
“No, Charlotte…”
“I wasn't telling you the worst part.”
She frowned.
“What could possibly be worse than this?”
Michael stared out the window as the truck sped into the darkness.
Then, in a whisper barely louder than the engine, he said:
“Emily isn't the mastermind…”
“She's only following orders…”
Charlotte swallowed hard.
“Whose orders?”
Michael's answer left everyone speechless.
May you like
“Your father.”
To be continued...
