CHAPTER 7 — The Blood-Stained Journal
Emily dropped to her knees.
"Thomas!"
Her voice echoed through the dark mansion.
No answer.
Only the distant sound of hurried footsteps.
Richard grabbed an antique candle from the hallway table and lit it with trembling hands.
Its weak flame revealed a horrifying sight.
The leather journal lay open on the marble floor...
Splattered with fresh blood.
Emily's heart pounded.
"No..."
She looked around wildly.
The elderly butler had disappeared without a trace.
Only a trail of crimson droplets led toward the mansion's old east wing.
Richard immediately shouted,
"Seal every exit!"
His security team rushed through the estate.
No one was allowed to leave.
Not the guests.
Not the staff.
Not even members of the Harrington family.
Whoever had attacked Thomas was still inside the mansion.
Emily picked up the journal.
Most of the pages were soaked...
But one folded envelope had survived.
On the front was written:
"For my daughter... if she ever comes home."
Emily's hands trembled so badly she almost couldn't open it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
"Emily..."
She froze.
It was the first time she had ever seen her own name written by someone who knew her before she could remember.
"If you're reading this, it means I failed to protect you."
"Someone inside this family wanted our bloodline erased."
"Never believe anyone who says the fire was an accident."
"The proof is hidden beneath the angel who never cries."
Emily frowned.
"The angel who never cries?"
Richard looked stunned.
"The cemetery..."
"Our family cemetery has a marble angel statue."
Before anyone could react...
A security guard burst into the room.
"Sir!"
"We found Thomas!"
Emily rushed after him.
The old butler was alive...
Barely.
He had been stabbed in the shoulder and left unconscious in the wine cellar.
As paramedics carried him away, Thomas weakly grabbed Emily's wrist.
With his final strength, he whispered only four words.
"Don't trust..."
He coughed blood.
"...the DNA test."
His eyes closed.
Emily stared after the ambulance in shock.
If she couldn't trust the DNA test...
Then someone had already planned to fake the results.
Across the hallway...
May you like
Evelyn quietly smiled.
Everything was unfolding exactly as she had planned.
