Chương 5 - The Sister Who Opened the Door
The photograph was real.
Mercer explained.
Years ago, Damian's father had attended a private meeting at Magnolia Hollow.
Thomas Whitcomb had brought his granddaughter Delara with him because there had been no one to watch her.
Damian had been there too.
Two children had crossed paths near the fountain.
Damian remembered a little girl with muddy shoes.
Delara remembered only a red kite.
They had forgotten each other.
Until years later.
Until the garden gate.
Until the flowers.
Until the iron ring.
Neither knew whether to call it fate.
But someone else did.
Marcus Rourke.
He had been watching the Whitcombs for years.
And one of Delara's sisters had unknowingly become useful.
Vivian.
She had financial problems.
Credit card debt.
A failed business investment.
A life built on appearances.
Marcus sent her an offer.
Information in exchange for money.
At first, she refused.
Then he paid off one of her debts.
The second time, he asked when Damian would leave town.
She answered.
The third time, he asked about Magnolia Hollow.
Vivian hesitated.
Then she gave him the location of the old root cellar.
She told herself nobody would be hurt.
She was wrong.
One night, she found a message waiting on her phone.
You owe me.
Vivian began to panic.
She called Delara.
“What did you do?”
The question came before Vivian could speak.
Vivian started crying.
“I thought I could fix it.”
Delara went still.
“Fix what?”
“Something I did.”
“Tell me.”
Vivian finally admitted everything.
Delara closed her eyes.
“How long?”
“Two months.”
“Why?”
“I was jealous.”
“That isn't enough.”
“I wanted you to fail.”
The words hurt.
Vivian sobbed.
“I hated how happy you were.”
Delara stared at her.
“You could have told me.”
“I was ashamed.”
“You should have been.”
Vivian flinched.
Then Delara sighed.
“But you're still my sister.”
Before they could say more, the front windows exploded.
Damian's men rushed in.
Someone fired from outside.
Delara dropped to the floor.
Damian covered her.
The shooting stopped.
Elias ran inside.
“Vivian's gone.”
Delara froze.
They found her in the greenhouse.
Alive.
A message had been left beside her.
TRAITORS DON'T LIVE LONG.
Damian read it.
Then looked at Delara.
“This is no longer about the empire.”
“What is it about?”
“You.”
The next day, Colette was kidnapped.
Marcus called.
“You have twenty-four hours.”
Damian remained calm.
“What do you want?”
“My sister's revenge.”
“You've already had your revenge.”
“No.”
Marcus laughed.
“I want you to suffer the way my family did.”
He sent an address.
Then ended the call.
Delara turned to Damian.
“We go.”
“You stay here.”
“No.”
“This isn't negotiable.”
She stared at him.
“Yes, it is.”
He said nothing.
“I married you because I trusted you.”
“I know.”
“Then trust me enough to let me help save my sister.”
Damian looked at her.
Then nodded.
They went.
The rescue was chaotic.
Colette was held inside an abandoned warehouse.
Damian's men secured the perimeter.
Delara found her first.
Colette burst into tears.
“I am sorry.”
Delara cut the ropes.
“You can apologize later.”
They barely reached the exit when Marcus appeared.
He pointed a gun at Delara.
Damian stepped between them.
“Take me.”
Marcus smiled.
“That is exactly what I intend.”
A gunshot exploded.
Vivian jumped in front of Delara.
She fell.
Everyone screamed.
Damian rushed toward her.
Marcus escaped.
Vivian had been hit in the shoulder.
She was alive.
While the ambulance took her away, she grabbed Delara's hand.
“He told me something.”
“What?”
“He said Magnolia Hollow isn't really yours.”
Delara frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Vivian cried.
“He said your grandfather hid something there.”
May you like
Damian looked toward the dark road.
The answer was still buried beneath the garden.
