Chapter 15 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
The chase ended at the old Whitmore estate.
The property had been abandoned for years.
Ethan knew the place.
His father had once kept horses there.
Now the barns were empty.
The black SUV stopped near the main house.
Caleb and Dr. Harris ran inside.
Ethan followed.
“Caleb!”
The ranch manager turned.
“Stop!”
Ethan raised his weapon.
Caleb slowly raised his hands.
Dr. Harris stood beside him.
“You killed Caroline,” Ethan said.
Dr. Harris shook his head.
“I didn't.”
“You poisoned her.”
“I was forced.”
“By whom?”
Dr. Harris looked toward Caleb.
“By him.”
Ethan's weapon shifted.
Caleb said:
“Listen to me.”
“You kidnapped my children.”
“I moved them.”
“You took them from their nursery.”
“Because the nursery was compromised.”
“You poisoned them.”
“No.”
Dr. Harris stepped forward.
“The poison was already in the house.”
Ethan stared.
“Then why did you run?”
Dr. Harris looked exhausted.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of whom?”
He whispered:
“Your sister.”
Ethan's face changed.
“My sister is alive.”
Caleb nodded.
“She is the one controlling the organization now.”
Ethan stared.
“Who is she?”
Caleb looked at him.
“Rebecca Whitmore.”
The name meant nothing.
Then Ethan remembered.
A childhood photograph.
A little girl.
Standing beside him.
He had been told she was a cousin.
But she had always looked like him.
Same eyes.
Same face.
His mother had lied.
“Where is she?”
Caleb looked toward the house.
“She has been waiting for you.”
A woman stepped from the shadows.
She was in her forties.
Elegant.
Cold.
And unmistakably Ethan's sister.
Rebecca smiled.
“Hello, little brother.”
Ethan couldn't move.
“You killed Caroline.”
Rebecca's smile faded.
“Caroline betrayed me.”
“She was your sister-in-law.”
“She was a liability.”
Mara stepped forward.
“Why did you want the babies?”
Rebecca looked at her.
“Because they are heirs.”
“To what?”
“The Trust.”
Ethan stared.
“You wanted to control my children.”
“I wanted to control the future.”
Rebecca walked closer.
“Your father built an empire. Your mother tried to destroy it. Caroline tried to expose it. You were supposed to inherit it.”
“I never wanted it.”
“I know.”
Rebecca smiled.
“That is why you were useful.”
Ethan's face hardened.
“You killed my wife.”
“I gave the order.”
The words hung in the air.
Ethan raised his weapon.
Sheriff Cole shouted:
“Ethan!”
Rebecca smiled.
“Go ahead.”
Ethan's hand trembled.
Then a voice came from behind him.
“Don't.”
Ethan turned.
His mother stood there.
Rebecca looked at her.
“You always were weak.”
The older woman stepped forward.
“No.”
She looked at Ethan.
“I was afraid.”
Then she pulled a small device from her coat.
“I recorded everything.”
Rebecca's expression changed.
Sheriff Cole immediately moved.
“Rebecca Whitmore, you are under arrest.”
Rebecca laughed.
“You think this ends with me?”
She pressed a button.
The building shook.
Explosions erupted outside.
Ethan grabbed Mara.
Caleb tackled Dr. Harris to the floor.
Rebecca ran.
Ethan chased her through the burning hallway.
At the end of the corridor, Rebecca turned.
She held a gun.
“You should have stayed ignorant.”
Ethan stopped.
“Where are my children?”
Rebecca smiled.
“Safe.”
“Where?”
She fired.
The bullet struck the wall beside his head.
Then she disappeared through a hidden door.
Ethan reached it.
Locked.
Behind him, the building began to collapse.
Sheriff Cole shouted:
“Ethan! Move!”
Ethan ran.
Outside, the estate burned.
Rebecca was gone.
But on the ground, Ethan found something.
A baby bracelet.
One of his triplets' bracelets.
And beneath it, a note.
You saved two.
Ethan's heart stopped.
He turned toward the darkness.
May you like
One of his children was gone.
Again.
