Chapter 8: My Brother's Accusation
Lucas entered the house without waiting for an invitation.
He stood in the doorway, looking at me as though he were studying a reflection he had never expected to see.
We had the same eyes.
The same nose.
Even the same small crease between our eyebrows.
He looked at Daniel.
"Hello, Father.""
Daniel stood slowly.
"Lucas.""
"Don't.""
Lucas raised one hand.
"You don't get to call me that.""
Daniel's expression crumbled.
"I know you're angry.""
"Angry?""
Lucas laughed.
"You think I'm angry?""
He walked toward the table and picked up the photograph of our mother.
"Do you know how many times I asked Richard why my mother abandoned me?""
He turned toward me.
"Do you know how many birthdays I spent wondering why she never wanted to see me?""
I couldn't find my voice.
Lucas continued.
"Every year, Richard told me she was dead. He said she had chosen another family before she died.""
I shook my head.
"She never knew you were alive.""
"That's what he says now.""
"Lucas, I'm telling you the truth.""
He looked at me.
"How convenient.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Your mother searched for you until the day she died.""
Lucas turned sharply.
"Then where were you?""
"I was trying to find you.""
"Twenty-five years?""
Daniel looked down.
"I was being watched. Your grandfather had people following me. Every time I got close, someone moved you.""
Lucas shook his head.
"Excuses.""
Dad approached him.
"Son, you need to understand—"
Lucas turned toward him.
"Don't call me son.""
Dad stopped.
Lucas looked around the living room.
"So this is the famous Carter mansion.""
He gave a bitter smile.
"Beautiful place. Must be nice growing up surrounded by money.""
I looked at him.
"I didn't grow up like that.""
He glanced at my torn shirt.
"Really?""
"I came back six months ago because I lost my job and couldn't afford my apartment.""
He stared at me.
Then his expression softened slightly.
"I didn't know.""
"Nobody told me anything.""
Lucas looked at Daniel.
"That's the problem with this family. Nobody tells anyone anything.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Lucas, you need to leave.""
He turned toward her.
For the first time, I saw genuine hatred in his eyes.
"You're the woman who took me from my mother.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
"I was only following instructions.""
"Did you ever hold me?""
She didn't answer.
"Did you ever look at me and think I was a human being?""
"Please—"
"You stole my life!""
Lucas slammed his hand onto the table.
Vanessa flinched.
"I was a baby! I couldn't even speak! And you helped someone sell my future!""
Dad moved toward him.
"Lucas, calm down.""
"Don't tell me to calm down!""
He turned to Daniel.
"And you. You were supposed to protect us.""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"I tried.""
Lucas shook his head.
"No. You protected yourself.""
Daniel looked as if he had been struck.
I stepped between them.
"Please. We need to know what happened.""
Lucas turned toward me.
"Then ask him about the hospital.""
I looked at Daniel.
"What hospital?""
Daniel hesitated.
"After your mother gave birth, she developed complications. She was transferred to another facility.""
Lucas laughed.
"That's not what I heard.""
He pulled a folded document from his jacket.
"This is a copy of her original medical file.""
I took it.
The first page listed my mother's admission details.
The second contained medication records.
The third had a handwritten note.
Patient requested to speak with Daniel Carter. Request denied by attending physician.
My fingers trembled.
"Why wasn't he allowed to see her?""
Daniel looked at the floor.
"Because Arthur had ordered me to stay away.""
Lucas pulled out another page.
"This one is worse.""
It was a hospital visitor log.
A signature appeared beside the time of my mother's final medical emergency.
*DANIEL CARTER — 11:42 P.M.*
I stared.
"You were there?""
Daniel nodded.
Lucas stepped forward.
"Tell her what happened.""
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
"Your mother was dying. I managed to get into her room.""
"And?""
"She was conscious for a few minutes.""
I felt tears slipping down my cheeks.
"What did she say?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"She asked me to find both of you.""
"Both?""
"She knew Lucas was alive by then.""
Lucas stared at him.
"How?""
"She had discovered the hospital transfer papers. She knew Arthur had arranged everything.""
Daniel continued.
"She told me she had left evidence in the inheritance documents. She said I needed to protect you both.""
I looked at the medical record.
"Then why didn't you tell anyone?""
Daniel's face tightened.
"Because Arthur's men were outside the hospital. I had to leave before they found me.""
Lucas shook his head.
"And Mom died.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"While you ran away.""
"I was trying to survive long enough to protect you.""
Lucas turned away.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then I noticed something in the visitor log.
The signature wasn't the only entry.
Below it was another name.
*VANESSA CARTER — 12:06 A.M.*
I held up the page.
"You were there too?""
Vanessa looked terrified.
Dad grabbed the document.
"Why did you visit Claire that night?""
She shook her head.
"I don't remember.""
"Don't lie.""
"I was working at the hospital!""
"Why did you enter her room?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Arthur told me to check whether she had spoken to Daniel.""
My stomach turned.
"What did Mom tell you?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"She asked me to give you something.""
"What?""
"A little silver key.""
I froze.
"What key?""
Vanessa reached into her purse and pulled out a tiny velvet pouch.
Inside was a silver key attached to a small metal tag.
My name was engraved on it.
*EMILY — WHEN YOU ARE READY.*
I took it.
"Where did this come from?""
"Your mother gave it to me.""
Dad stared.
"You kept it all these years?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She told me not to give it to Arthur. She said it would reveal everything.""
Lucas stepped closer.
"Everything about what?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Your grandfather's original records. The real adoption papers. The financial transfers. And the truth about Claire's death.""
Dad looked at the key.
"Where does it go?""
Vanessa finally answered.
"There's a storage facility outside Richmond. Unit 214. Arthur kept his private records there.""
Daniel suddenly grabbed the key.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?""
Vanessa stared at him.
"Because I was afraid.""
Lucas laughed bitterly.
"You're always afraid when someone asks you to tell the truth.""
Dad took the key from Daniel.
"We're going there.""
Thomas Reed's voice suddenly came through the phone, which had remained on the table.
"Michael, don't.""
Dad picked it up.
"Thomas, what now?""
"I've just received a call from the police. Someone has already entered that storage facility.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
Thomas hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Richard Hale.""
Lucas looked at the door.
"Of course.""
Thomas continued.
"And there's something else. The police found a second set of documents inside the unit.""
"What documents?""
"A sealed letter from Claire.""
Dad stared at the phone.
Thomas lowered his voice.
"It is addressed to both of her children.""
Lucas looked at me.
For the first time, I saw fear replace anger in his expression.
May you like
Then Thomas delivered the final warning.
"Emily, Lucas—whatever you do, don't let Richard read that letter first. It contains the name of the person who ordered your mother's death.""
