Chapter 8 - Lily Blackwood“No.”
Catherine noticed.
“How noble.”
“Where’s Evelyn?”
Catherine’s smile faded.
“Missing, I assume.”
“You assume?”
“I stopped controlling my sister years ago.”
Alexander nearly laughed.
“You’re sitting inside a secret room under my mansion.”
“Your mansion?”
Catherine tilted her head.
“That question is why we’re all here.”
Grace whispered, “You knew I was kidnapped.”
“I knew Sebastian had become reckless.”
“You let him take me.”
“I tried warning him not to.”
Grace stared at her.
“That's supposed to make it better?”
“No.”
Catherine’s composure remained unnerving.
“It simply makes it accurate.”
Alexander saw cameras covering the room.
“You’ve been watching us.”
“For years.”
“Why?”
“Because Blackwoods lie.”
“You’re a Blackwood.”
“By marriage.”
“You manipulated Sebastian.”
Catherine’s expression flickered.
“My son did not require much manipulation.”
“Your sister?”
“Evelyn wanted revenge long before I did.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“And Richard?”
For the first time Catherine looked away.
“My husband was a monster.”
“Grace says Sebastian killed him.”
Catherine closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“I couldn’t.”
Alexander studied her.
“Or wouldn’t?”
Catherine’s gaze sharpened.
“You know nothing about Richard.”
“Then tell me.”
And she did.
Richard’s disappearance in 1987 was not exile.
It was escape.
He had beaten Rebecca Vale during an affair in Baltimore.
Rebecca tried leaving.
Richard threatened her young son, Marcus.
Theodore paid Rebecca to disappear and forced Richard overseas.
But Theodore also hid Richard’s crimes to protect the Blackwood name.
Years later Richard married Catherine.
The violence continued.
When Catherine tried leaving, Richard threatened Sebastian.
Seventeen-year-old Sebastian helped his mother stage her death.
Then, after she disappeared, he remained with Richard.
Not because he loved him.
Because Richard promised him the Blackwood fortune.
“Sebastian became obsessed,” Catherine said.
“He believed money would repair everything.”
“And you?”
“I wanted proof.”
“Of what?”
“That Theodore knew.”
Alexander stared at her.
“You spent eighteen years hiding for documents?”
“No.”
Catherine’s eyes filled.
“I spent eighteen years learning how to live without fear.”
That answer sounded true.
Maybe the first truthful thing she had said.
Grace stepped beside Alexander.
“Then why return?”
“Because Richard came back.”
Catherine looked toward the ceiling as if seeing the mansion above.
“He had cancer. He wanted his name restored before he died.”
“And you couldn’t allow it.”
“I couldn’t allow him to rewrite history.”
Alexander understood.
Richard wanted to present himself as the cheated heir.
Catherine wanted the archive to expose him.
Sebastian wanted the fortune.
Evelyn wanted revenge.
Marcus wanted truth.
Grace walked into the middle and discovered all of them.
“Where is Richard’s body?” Alexander asked.
Catherine pointed toward another hidden door.
Alexander opened it.
A refrigeration chamber.
Empty.
“Sebastian moved him.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Alexander turned.
“I don’t believe you.”
Catherine shrugged.
“Belief has ruined this family.”
Then alarms began sounding upstairs.
Alexander’s phone rang.
Owen.
“Sir, police convoy approaching.”
“Police are already here.”
“Not ours.”
Alexander heard shouting.
“Federal agents.”
Minutes later, the mansion filled with people wearing FBI jackets.
A federal warrant authorized seizure of Blackwood Holdings financial records.
Charges included fraud, racketeering, bribery, and obstruction.
Alexander read the warrant.
His name appeared at the center.
“What is this?”
The lead agent, Daniel Ross, remained professional.
“We received evidence indicating you authorized multiple illegal transfers over six years.”
“Forged.”
“That will be investigated.”
Evelyn.
Alexander realized immediately.
She had not merely fled.
She had launched her contingency plan.
Blackwood stock fell twelve percent before market close.
News helicopters surrounded the estate.
Headlines appeared worldwide.
BLACKWOOD BILLIONAIRE UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
Grace watched Alexander stand before cameras outside the mansion.
He could have denied everything.
Instead he said only:
“I will cooperate fully. I have nothing to hide.”
Inside, Catherine smiled bitterly.
“That’s what Charles said too.”
Alexander ignored her.
Federal agents seized computers.
Documents.
Phones.
The board called an emergency meeting.
Half demanded Alexander temporarily resign.
He agreed.
Grace found him alone in the library after midnight.
“You gave up control.”
“Temporarily.”
“You could fight.”
“I am fighting.”
He looked toward the room where Lily slept.
“But I won’t burn everything around me to protect a title.”
Grace sat beside him.
“Sebastian would.”
“That’s why Sebastian lost.”
“He hasn’t.”
“No.”
Alexander looked at her.
“But he will.”
Grace studied him.
“You really believe that?”
“I have to.”
She smiled weakly.
“Good.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily does.”
Alexander looked surprised.
Grace continued.
“She thinks you can fix anything.”
“Dangerous belief.”
“She also thinks you’re lonely.”
Alexander almost choked.
Grace laughed for the first time since her rescue.
It changed her entire face.
Then the library door opened.
Detective Hayes entered holding a folder.
“We found Richard’s body.”
Catherine stood.
“Where?”
Hayes looked at her.
“Your sister’s house.”
Everyone froze.
Richard Blackwood had been buried beneath Evelyn Shaw’s greenhouse.
But that was not the worst discovery.
Inside Evelyn’s home police found dozens of passports, surveillance files, and letters.
One letter was addressed to Alexander.
Hayes handed it to him.
Evelyn’s handwriting.
Dear Alexander,
By the time you read this, you will finally understand your mistake. Sebastian was never the heir I intended to place in your chair.
Alexander’s eyes moved to the final line.
The real Blackwood heir has been living inside your mansion for five years.
Alexander looked at Grace.
Grace looked equally confused.
May you like
Then Catherine whispered one name.
“Lily.”
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