Chapter 11: The Aunt Who Sold Me Out
I stared at the signature.
Victoria Carter.
My father’s sister.
The woman who held my hand at my parents’ funeral.
The woman who told me she would always protect me.
My aunt.
“No.””
The word escaped before I could stop it.
Daniel looked at me sadly.
“I wanted to believe it wasn’t true.””
I shook my head.
“She raised me after my parents died.””
Claire looked away.
“Emily…”
“No.””
I stood up.
“She was the only family I had.””
Daniel’s voice softened.
“She was the only family you thought you had.””
The sentence hurt.
Because a part of me knew.
I knew because I had seen this before.
Mark had taught me what betrayal looked like.
But I never expected to see it from blood.
“Where is she?””
Daniel looked at the document.
“She disappeared after Mark was arrested.””
I frowned.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Because she helped create the plan.””
My chest tightened.
I walked toward the window.
The city lights blurred through the glass.
I remembered being nineteen.
Alone.
Grieving.
Victoria making me tea.
Telling me everything would be okay.
Telling me some people weren’t meant to stay.
Including Daniel.
She was the one who convinced me my brother abandoned me.
She was the one who told me not to search for answers.
“She controlled my whole life.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
I turned around.
“Why?””
Nobody answered immediately.
Then Claire spoke.
“Because your inheritance was protected.””
I looked at her.
“Protected?””
“Your parents knew people would come after it.””
Daniel explained.
“The trust couldn’t be accessed unless you willingly transferred ownership or had a child who became the next beneficiary.””
I understood.
Mark needed me.
But Victoria needed Mark.
“They used each other.””
“Yes.””
A silence followed.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
Daniel looked at me.
“Don’t answer.””
I stared at the screen.
“What if it’s her?””
He knew who I meant.
Victoria.
After everything, I needed answers.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then a woman’s voice whispered:
“Emily.””
My heart stopped.
“Aunt Victoria?””
A shaky breath came through the phone.
“I know what you found.””
I stood still.
“Where are you?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“You helped Mark.””
Silence.
Then:
“I made a mistake.””
I laughed bitterly.
“A mistake?””
My voice rose.
“You destroyed my life.””
“I was trying to save myself.””
The honesty shocked me.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria started crying.
“Mark’s father threatened me.””
Daniel immediately stepped closer.
I put the phone on speaker.
“What did he threaten you with?””
Her voice trembled.
“Your parents.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“Your parents discovered what he was doing.””
I looked at Daniel.
Victoria continued.
“They weren’t killed because of an accident.””
My breathing stopped.
“I knew.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“You knew?””
Victoria cried.
“I was there afterward.””
The words felt impossible.
“You saw what happened?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you lie?””
A long pause.
Then she said:
“Because the person who ordered it was not Mark’s father.””
Nobody moved.
“Who was it?””
Victoria whispered:
“Your own father.””
My heart stopped.
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
“What?””
Daniel’s face changed.
“No.””
Victoria continued.
“I found the documents. Your father was hiding something.””
I couldn’t understand.
“My father was the victim.””
“He was.””
“Then why are you saying this?””
Another pause.
Then:
“Because your father wasn’t protecting the company.””
The room felt colder.
“He was protecting you.””
I swallowed.
“From what?””
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“From the person who was supposed to inherit everything after you were born.””
Daniel looked confused.
“After she was born?””
Victoria whispered:
“Your father knew someone would try to use Emily’s child.””
Then the line suddenly went silent.
The call ended.
Everyone stared at the phone.
Then Daniel’s security alarm began ringing.
A red light flashed across the office.
One of the guards rushed in.
“Sir.””
Daniel turned.
“What happened?””
The guard looked terrified.
“Someone broke into the building.””
My blood went cold.
“Who?””
The guard looked at me.
“They left one message.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“What message?””
The guard swallowed.
“They said…”
May you like
He looked at my stomach.
“Tell Emily the baby belongs to us.””
