Chapter 7 - BLOOD
Richard confronted Vanessa in the library.
He put the birth certificate on the table.
Her face changed.
“You found it.”
“You’re my sister.”
“Half.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Vanessa laughed.
“Would it have mattered?”
“Yes.”
“No, Richard. People like you only care about family when the family is useful.”
“What did my father do to you?”
Her eyes turned hard.
“He hid me.”
She told him Arthur had paid Vanessa’s mother to disappear.
He paid for private schools under fake names.
Apartments.
Medical bills.
Silence.
Vanessa grew up watching Richard appear in magazines beside the man she knew was also her father.
“I didn’t come here for your money,” she said.
“Then why Sophie?”
Vanessa looked away.
Richard slammed his palm on the table.
“Why my daughter?”
“Because Caroline asked me to.”
Silence.
Richard’s anger stalled.
“What?”
“Caroline found me five years ago.”
“How?”
“She was investigating Arthur.”
“Why?”
“Because she discovered Haven.”
Vanessa explained that Project Haven wasn’t a business project.
Arthur Sterling had secretly financed illegal surveillance, bribery, and coercion to silence people who threatened the company.
Caroline had uncovered pieces of it.
Then she became frightened.
“She thought Arthur was dead,” Richard said.
Vanessa met his eyes.
“She knew he wasn’t.”
Richard felt sick.
“Then why fake her own death?”
“She believed someone close to you was feeding Arthur information.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You locked Sophie in a room.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“So you admit it?”
“She started asking questions. She saw Claire.”
“And starving her?”
Vanessa said nothing.
Richard stared at her with disgust.
“You punished a six-year-old because she knew too much.”
Vanessa whispered, “I lost control.”
“That sentence does not fix anything.”
“No.”
For the first time, shame appeared on her face.
“It doesn’t.”
Richard turned away.
Then Vanessa said, “Caroline wanted Sophie protected until she could come back.”
Richard stopped.
“She’s coming back?”
“If she’s still alive.”
“You said she called me.”
“That doesn’t mean Arthur hasn’t found her.”
Brooks entered carrying a phone.
“We got another signal from Briarwood.”
Richard turned.
“Caroline?”
Brooks shook her head.
“A video.”
She pressed play.
Caroline appeared on screen.
Her face was bruised.
May you like
Behind her stood Arthur Sterling.
And he said, “Bring me Sophie.”
