Chapter 4 - Liam Told Me the One Truth That Could Destroy Diana’s Family, and I Realized the Enemy Was Much Closer Than We ThoughtLiam closed the office door.
“You need to give me that.”
I held the document.
“Why?”
“Because you don't understand what you're looking at.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can't.”
“That's convenient.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“I've been trying to protect Diana.”
“By stealing millions?”
His jaw tightened.
“I never stole anything.”
“The transactions lead to your account.”
“My account was used.”
“By whom?”
He stared at me.
“Gabriel.”
“Then why haven't you told Diana?”
“Because she wouldn't believe me.”
“She might.”
“No.”
He looked toward the hallway.
“Because Gabriel controls the board.”
“So?”
“Because he isn't alone.”
I frowned.
“Who else?”
Liam's voice dropped.
“Diana's mother.”
I stared.
“That's impossible.”
“No.”
“Her mother died.”
“They said she died.”
The room went silent.
I sat down.
“Start from the beginning.”
Liam nodded.
“Edward Vance had two children.”
“Diana and?”
“Vivian.”
“Vivian who?”
“Vivian Vance.”
“Where is she?”
“Dead.”
“You just said she wasn't.”
“She was declared dead.”
“But?”
“She had a daughter.”
I looked at the birth certificate.
The pieces aligned.
“Diana.”
Liam nodded.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Then why was her mother listed as unknown?”
“Because the family erased her.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“She wasn't supposed to inherit.”
I understood.
Diana hadn't been the favored heir.
Someone else had been.
A hidden daughter.
The trust had been structured around that secret.
But Vivian disappeared.
Then Diana's father died.
And Gabriel took control.
“Why protect Diana?”
Liam looked exhausted.
“Because her father loved her.”
“What about Vivian?”
“She disappeared because she found out what Gabriel had done.”
“What did he do?”
“Everything.”
Money laundering.
Fraud.
Coercion.
Blackmail.
Maybe worse.
Liam continued.
“He arranged the accident that killed Edward.”
I stared.
“You said Edward died.”
“He did.”
“Then what did you mean about the accident?”
“He wasn't supposed to survive.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did he?”
Liam hesitated.
“No.”
Then someone knocked.
We both froze.
The door opened.
Diana.
She looked at me.
Then Liam.
“Why are you two discussing my family?”
Neither answered.
Diana walked toward us.
“Owen?”
I held out the document.
She read it.
Her face changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“Your system.”
She looked at Liam.
“Did you know?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
She slapped him.
The crack echoed.
Liam didn't move.
“You lied to me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“Don't use that word.”
She looked at the certificate.
“Who is Vivian?”
Liam said nothing.
Diana's face twisted.
“Answer me.”
“Your mother.”
Silence.
I watched Diana's world collapse in real time.
“My mother died.”
“She disappeared.”
“Where is she?”
Liam hesitated.
Then said:
“Alive.”
Diana stepped backward.
“No.”
“Owen.”
She looked at me.
“Tell me this isn't true.”
I couldn't.
“I found the document.”
She stared at me.
Then she whispered,
“My mother is alive.”
That evening, Diana disappeared.
Her car was found outside the cemetery where her father was buried.
She was gone.
I called everyone.
Nothing.
Then I received a message.
Come alone to Warehouse 17.
I went.
Diana was there.
So was Vivian.
Her mother.
Alive.
Older.
Thin.
Her hands trembled.
But her eyes were unmistakably Diana's.
Diana stood between us.
“This is my mother.”
Vivian looked at me.
“You are Owen?”
“Yes.”
“Your father was Edward's closest ally.”
I stared.
“He knew.”
“Knew what?”
Vivian whispered,
“Edward wasn't your father's employer.”
I frowned.
“He was his friend.”
“What does that mean?”
Vivian took a breath.
“Your father and Edward built Vance Industries together.”
I stared.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“But why isn't his name anywhere?”
“Because Gabriel erased him.”
Diana looked stunned.
“Why?”
“Because your father discovered the trust.”
Vivian turned toward her daughter.
“He knew Gabriel was planning to steal control.”
Diana whispered,
“Then why didn't he stop him?”
“He tried.”
“What happened?”
Vivian looked at me.
“He died protecting the documents.”
Silence.
Then she said:
“And those documents were given to one person.”
Diana stared.
“Who?”
Vivian pointed toward me.
“Your father.”
I felt the floor disappear.
My father had died protecting the trust.
He had hidden it.
And somehow, all these years later, his secret had led me directly to Diana.
Vivian stepped closer.
“He believed you would eventually find it.”
“Find what?”
“The original succession charter.”
She took out a photograph.
On the back was an address.
An old library in Brooklyn.
“That's where your father hid the evidence.”
Diana looked at me.
“Will you go?”
“Yes.”
She took my hand.
This time she didn't pull away.
“I need you.”
I looked at our intertwined fingers.
“I know.”
Then a car sped past the warehouse.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Vivian dropped.
Diana screamed.
I tackled her to the floor.
When the shooting stopped, Vivian was alive.
Barely.
And on the concrete beside her was a note.
STOP LOOKING FOR THE CHARTER, OR DIANA WILL JOIN HER FATHER.
Diana read it.
Then looked at me.
Her eyes were no longer frightened.
May you like
They were furious.
“Let's find it.”
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