Chapter 14 - THE BLOOD THAT WAS NEVER SHARED|
The monitor continued beeping.
Dr. Pierce worked to stabilize Richard while Ethan stood motionless beside the bed.
"Daniel isn't your brother."
The words kept repeating in his mind.
When the doctor finally stabilized Richard, Ethan turned toward Daniel.
"Explain."
Daniel laughed.
"You're really going to believe him?"
"Who are you?"
Daniel looked at Richard.
"Tell him."
Richard closed his eyes.
"Daniel was adopted."
Ethan stared.
"Adopted?"
"Your mother found him after a fire. She brought him home. I allowed it because I thought he would be useful."
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"Useful?"
Richard continued.
"His real father was a man I once trusted. A man who tried to take my business."
Ethan looked at Daniel.
"Who?"
Richard hesitated.
"Robert Hart."
Vanessa's father.
The man whose death had been faked.
Daniel's face hardened.
"So now you know."
Ethan turned toward Vanessa.
"Did you know?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"How long?"
"Since I was a child."
Daniel laughed.
"She was always the favorite. Her father taught her how to lie before she could read."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"You promised me the Blackwell name."
"I promised you power."
"You promised me a family."
Daniel looked at her coldly.
"You were never going to be family."
Vanessa's expression broke.
Claire watched them.
"Why did you help him keep me in the cellar?"
Vanessa looked at her.
"Because Daniel told me he would kill Amelia if I refused."
Claire shook her head.
"You could have told Ethan."
"I thought he would choose you."
"He would have."
Vanessa looked down.
The silence said more than any confession.
Richard suddenly began coughing.
Ethan turned back.
"Get him to the hospital."
The doctor shook his head.
"Moving him could kill him."
"Then stabilize him here."
Richard reached for Ethan's hand.
"Listen. The ledger isn't the only thing your mother hid."
"What else?"
"A recording."
"Where?"
"Under the altar."
Ethan looked at Claire.
They both remembered the wedding.
Their wedding had taken place in a small stone church outside Chicago. The altar had been built by Claire's grandfather, and the family had used the church for generations.
"What's on the recording?" Claire asked.
Richard looked at her.
"The truth about Amelia's birth."
Ethan frowned.
"Why?"
Richard's eyes filled with regret.
"Because she wasn't the only child."
Claire froze.
"What do you mean?"
Richard looked at Ethan.
"You had twins."
Claire's face went white.
"Where is the other baby?"
May you like
Richard closed his eyes.
"Daniel took him."
