Chapter 5 - The Man Who Tried to Kill His Own Son
“Where is the girl?”
Victor's voice was calm.
Alan stared at the gun.
“I don't know.”
Victor stepped closer.
“You were supposed to bring her.”
“She isn't here.”
“You're lying.”
Holly moved behind Victor.
“She took the child and ran.”
Victor looked toward the house.
“Then find her.”
Alan shook his head.
“I won't.”
Victor's expression changed.
“What did you say?”
“I said I won't.”
For the first time, Jenna saw something in Alan's face she had never seen before.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
For Paisley.
Alan stepped toward Victor.
“If you hurt her, I'll tell everything.”
Victor laughed.
“You think anyone will believe you?”
“I have evidence.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“What evidence?”
“The recordings.”
Holly looked alarmed.
“Alan…”
“I kept copies.”
Victor raised the gun.
Jenna couldn't watch.
She turned away.
A gunshot echoed.
She heard shouting.
Then another.
Federal agents rushed forward.
Victor was tackled.
Holly ran.
She didn't get far.
Alan stood frozen.
The gunshot had been fired into the ceiling.
Nobody was hurt.
But Alan was arrested too.
Not because he was the mastermind.
Because he had still participated.
Jenna watched him being taken away.
He looked at her.
Their eyes met.
He mouthed:
“I'm sorry.”
Jenna didn't answer.
She couldn't.
That night, the truth came out.
Victor had built the entire operation.
Holly had helped him.
Richard had handled the financial transfers.
Ashley had helped manipulate public opinion.
And Alan had been used as the bridge to Jenna.
But there was one final piece.
The Carter Trust.
Jenna was its rightful trustee.
And Paisley was its ultimate beneficiary.
The trust contained assets worth nearly eighty million dollars.
But there was also something else.
A controlling interest in a technology company.
Its current valuation was nearly $900 million.
Victor had spent decades trying to take it.
Jenna suddenly understood why her mother had hidden everything.
If Victor had discovered Paisley's existence earlier, he would have come after her.
The family had protected the child by hiding her identity.
But now the secret was out.
Jenna sat beside Paisley that night.
Her daughter was asleep.
Jenna stroked her hair.
“I promise I'll keep you safe.”
Paisley opened her eyes.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Are we going home?”
Jenna smiled.
“Yes.”
“Is Daddy coming?”
Jenna hesitated.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Why?”
“Because Daddy made some very bad choices.”
Paisley thought about it.
“Can people make better choices?”
Jenna's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“Even Daddy?”
Jenna kissed her forehead.
“I hope so.”
The next morning, Alexander came to see Jenna.
He handed her a folder.
“What's this?”
“Your mother's final instructions.”
Jenna opened it.
The first page contained one sentence.
Jenna, never let my money become the reason you stop living.
The second page contained another.
Give Paisley security, not luxury.
Jenna smiled through tears.
Her mother had known her.
Then Alexander said:
“There is one more problem.”
“What?”
“The trust requires a co-trustee.”
“Who?”
Alexander looked at her.
“Me.”
Jenna froze.
“You?”
“Your mother appointed me twenty years ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because she asked me to wait until you were ready.”
Jenna stared at him.
Then she remembered the photograph.
Her mother standing beside Alexander.
The trust.
The ring.
The letter.
Everything finally made sense.
But there was something else.
Alexander looked uncomfortable.
“What?”
“Your mother didn't choose me only because she trusted me.”
“Then why?”
He took a breath.
“Because your father asked me to.”
Jenna stared.
“My father?”
May you like
Alexander nodded.
“He wasn't who you thought he was either.”
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