Chapter 24 - THE HEIR NO ONE EXPECTED
Michael opened the folder.
Inside were contracts, company ledgers, and an old trust agreement bearing Claire’s signature.
Daniel scanned the pages in disbelief.
Northbridge had never truly belonged to Robert. Years earlier, Claire’s grandmother had placed the company’s controlling shares in a trust for her descendants.
The trust named both twins as equal beneficiaries.
“Claire discovered that Robert and Victor had been stealing from the company,” Michael explained. “If the twins were reunited, the trust could be restored, and every illegal transfer would be exposed.”
“So you helped Victor hide Evelyn,” Daniel said.
“I helped preserve the family.”
“You destroyed Claire’s life to protect stolen money!”
Michael’s expression hardened.
He struck Daniel across the face.
Daniel fell sideways, but Michael’s men held him down.
Evelyn stepped forward. “You murdered Rebecca because she knew where I was.”
Michael said nothing.
“That’s a confession,” Evelyn whispered.
Michael suddenly seized her and pulled her toward the staircase.
Daniel fought the men restraining him. A fist struck his ribs, and he dropped to one knee. He forced himself up again, knocking one attacker into a table.
Emma screamed from the locked room.
Margaret grabbed the keys and rushed to free her.
Michael shouted at her to stop.
For the first time, Margaret openly defied him.
“You have taken enough from these girls!”
She unlocked the door and pulled Emma into the hallway.
Michael released Evelyn and lunged at Margaret, striking her hard enough to send her against the wall.
Evelyn screamed.
Daniel broke free and tackled Michael. They crashed down the stairs, fighting until Michael reached for a concealed weapon.
A gunshot rang out.
Everyone froze.
Detective Harris stood in the doorway with armed officers.
Michael dropped the weapon and was arrested.
Margaret was taken to the hospital. Daniel stayed with Emma and Evelyn while police searched the estate.
They found records proving Michael had orchestrated the cover-up, but one file was missing: the original report identifying the person who entered Claire’s hospital room.
Harris approached Daniel.
“Michael claims Victor ordered Claire’s death. Victor says Michael acted alone. Neither story explains why your father paid the doctor.”
Daniel looked through the evidence.
A handwritten note had been tucked into the trust agreement.
It read:
The twins are not the only heirs.
Beneath it was another name.
Lily Hale.
Evelyn stared at the paper.
“Who is Lily Hale?”
Daniel remembered the bracelet discovered during the first investigation.
He called Harris.
“Find every record connected to that name.”
Harris looked troubled.
“Daniel, Lily Hale was declared dead more than twenty years ago.”
“Then why is her name on Claire’s trust?”
May you like
Harris lowered his voice.
“Because the records say she was your father’s first daughter.”
