Chapter 5 - The Mother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Genevieve stared at the screen.
Her father continued.
“I was told your mother died in a fire. That was the story I gave you because it was the only way to keep you safe.”
Genevieve covered her mouth.
Nico stood beside her.
The video continued.
“Your mother discovered the Whitmore network before I did. She tried to expose them. They staged her death.”
The recording paused.
Then Thomas leaned closer.
“If you are seeing this, then they have probably already come for me.”
Genevieve whispered, “Dad…”
“I need you to understand something. Your mother was not weak. She disappeared because she believed it would keep you alive.”
The video ended.
Genevieve turned toward Nico.
“She’s alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“We'll find her.”
Two days later, they located her.
Mara Hayes was living under another name in Wisconsin.
When Genevieve saw the woman standing in the doorway, she almost couldn't move.
The same eyes.
The same smile.
Older.
Tired.
Alive.
“Genevieve?”
Genevieve broke down.
She crossed the room.
Her mother caught her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Mara whispered, “Your father promised he would tell you when the danger was gone.”
“It never went away.”
“No.”
“What happened?”
Mara explained.
She had discovered evidence against Harrison Whitmore years earlier.
When she tried to expose him, a staged fire destroyed her home.
Thomas believed she had died.
Mara survived.
She went into hiding.
And Thomas spent years quietly collecting evidence.
“He knew they would eventually target you,” Mara said.
Genevieve cried.
“He should have told me.”
“He wanted you to have one normal year.”
“I married Preston.”
Mara closed her eyes.
“I know.”
Nico stepped forward.
“He planned everything.”
Mara looked at him.
“You're Nico DeLuca.”
“Yes.”
“Your father trusted Thomas.”
“He did.”
Mara's voice softened.
“Then perhaps there is still hope.”
That night, Mara revealed the missing piece.
The original evidence against the Whitmores was hidden in Chicago.
Inside a church.
Mara knew exactly where.
St. Jude’s Cathedral.
Genevieve’s wedding venue.
The irony was almost unbearable.
The three of them returned after midnight.
Nico and his men secured the building.
Genevieve walked through the cathedral in darkness.
Her wedding flowers had been removed.
The altar had been cleaned.
Nothing remained of the ceremony that had never happened.
Near the old confessionals, Mara stopped.
“There.”
A stone panel opened.
Inside was a metal box.
Genevieve lifted it.
Documents.
Photographs.
Recordings.
Bank records.
And a list of names.
Judges.
Police commanders.
Businessmen.
Politicians.
Every name connected to the Whitmore network.
Then Genevieve saw one more name.
Judge Harrison Whitmore.
Beside it was another.
Daniel Hayes.
Her uncle.
Genevieve stumbled.
“My uncle.”
Mara nodded.
“He helped them.”
A sound echoed behind them.
Slow clapping.
Preston stood at the end of the aisle.
He was wearing the wedding suit Genevieve had once loved.
His smile was broken.
“You really should have stayed at the cathedral, Genevieve.”
Nico drew his gun.
Preston laughed.
“You won't shoot me here.”
Nico's expression never changed.
“Try me.”
Preston looked at Genevieve.
“I loved you.”
Genevieve shook her head.
“No. You loved what I owned.”
Preston's face twisted.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed for you.”
“You killed my father.”
“I didn't kill him.”
“You admitted it.”
“No.”
He looked at the box.
“My father arranged it. I only agreed to marry you.”
That confession was enough.
Nico's security team had recorded everything.
Preston suddenly pulled a gun.
But Mara stepped between them.
“Put it down.”
Preston froze.
He stared at Mara.
“No.”
Genevieve watched his face collapse.
“You really are alive.”
Mara smiled sadly.
“And you really are your father's son.”
Police sirens approached.
Preston looked toward the windows.
Nico whispered, “It's over.”
But Preston laughed.
“You think this is the end?”
May you like
He dropped the gun.
“Wait until you hear what your uncle has been doing with your inheritance.”
