Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Had Been Buried Alive
Eleanor Woods was alive.
At least, according to Caleb.
Gunther didn't believe it.
He wanted proof.
They found it in an abandoned clinic two states away.
A woman had been living under another identity.
Medical records.
Old photographs.
A scar on her hand.
Gunther knew it immediately.
His mother.
He stood outside the room for nearly a minute before entering.
Eleanor looked up.
Her face broke.
“Gunther.”
He froze.
He had imagined this moment thousands of times as a child.
In every fantasy, she hugged him.
In reality, he couldn't move.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She began to cry.
“Because your father wanted me dead.”
Kayla stood beside him.
Eleanor looked at her.
“My daughter.”
Kayla started crying.
Gunther looked between them.
“You knew.”
Eleanor nodded.
“I knew Kayla existed.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I thought it would protect you.”
“From whom?”
“Your father.”
Gunther's hands shook.
“Then why didn't you take me?”
“I tried.”
She told him everything.
His father had built the empire.
He had hidden money.
He had sold information.
He had manipulated people.
Eleanor discovered it.
She planned to leave.
Her husband had her attacked.
She survived.
Then disappeared.
She left Kayla with her father.
She left Gunther with his father.
She thought it would separate the children.
Instead, it created two lives.
Gunther became the heir.
Kayla became the invisible daughter.
Eleanor looked at them.
“I wanted you to survive.”
Gunther's voice broke.
“You both survived.”
“Yes.”
He looked at Kayla.
“And she?”
“I thought you would never meet.”
Kayla whispered:
“I did.”
Eleanor smiled through tears.
“Then maybe I didn't fail.”
The family spent days together.
Gunther learned things about Kayla.
She loved old movies.
She hated olives.
She cried when animals were hurt.
She saved every birthday card Sam made for her.
Kayla learned things about Gunther.
He could cook.
Badly.
He hated hospitals.
He played piano when he couldn't sleep.
And he had spent his entire life afraid of becoming his father.
One evening, Kayla found him playing piano.
“You're good.”
“I don't play often.”
“Why?”
“It reminds me of my mother.”
She sat beside him.
“Play.”
He did.
For the first time, she saw the man beneath the reputation.
When he finished, she touched his shoulder.
“You're not him.”
He looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“You don't hurt people because you enjoy it.”
He was silent.
“I know what you do.”
“Yes.”
“But you don't want to be him.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Then you're different.”
That night changed their relationship.
Not romantic.
Not yet.
Something deeper.
Family.
But the world outside didn't care.
Silas Woods, Gunther's cousin and business rival, learned Eleanor was alive.
He wanted the evidence.
He wanted control.
He attacked the estate.
This time, Kayla was not invisible.
She became a target.
Silas kidnapped her.
Gunther lost control.
He ordered the city shut down.
Victor tried to stop him.
“You'll start a war.”
“I don't care.”
“She'll die if you make a mistake.”
Gunther stopped.
He breathed.
Then said:
“Find her.”
Kayla was held in an old warehouse.
Silas stood before her.
“You look like your mother.”
Kayla glared.
“You know my mother?”
“I knew exactly who she was.”
“What do you want?”
“The records.”
“What records?”
“The ones your father left.”
“I don't have them.”
Silas laughed.
“You will.”
Kayla stared.
“Why?”
“Because you're the key.”
“To what?”
“The Woods vault.”
Silas revealed the truth.
Her father's evidence had been hidden in the vault.
It could destroy everyone.
But it required blood from both heirs.
Gunther and Kayla.
Silas needed them together.
Kayla smiled.
“You won't get them.”
“You think Gunther will save you?”
“I don't need him to.”
Silas frowned.
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“I'm saving myself.”
She had spent years being invisible.
She knew every lock.
Every camera.
Every blind corner.
She escaped the room.
Then sent one message.
To Gunther.
Follow the lights.
He did.
The rescue was brutal.
Gunther arrived.
Kayla fought beside him.
They escaped together.
Outside, Gunther looked at her.
“You could have died.”
“So could you.”
“You're impossible.”
“You're worse.”
He laughed.
Then pulled her into his arms.
She didn't resist.
For the first time, she felt safe.
Not because he was powerful.
Because he trusted her.
And she trusted him.
But Silas escaped.
He took one thing.
May you like
The vault key.
The war was not over.
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