Chapter 19 - THE ABANDONED CHURCH Ethan chose the church where Jonathan Vale had married Margaret.
A final insult.
Claire entered alone carrying the tape.
Lily sat tied to a chair.
Vanessa lay nearby.
Alive.
Ethan held a gun.
“You ruined everything.”
Claire stared at him.
“You framed a child.”
“I was saving the family.”
“No.”
Claire stepped closer.
“You were saving yourself.”
Ethan screamed:
“Dad chose you!”
Claire froze.
“He always knew you weren’t his daughter, but everything became about Jonathan’s trust. Jonathan’s legacy. Jonathan’s brilliant little girl.”
Tears filled Ethan’s eyes.
“I spent my entire life trying to become the son Dad wanted.”
Claire suddenly saw him differently.
Not innocent.
Never innocent.
But broken long before he became cruel.
“You had a choice,” she said.
“So did you.”
Sirens approached.
Ethan panicked.
He grabbed Lily.
Claire dropped the tape.
“Take it.”
Ethan stared.
“You’d give up everything?”
“For her?”
May you like
Claire looked at her daughter.
“Without blinking.”
Related Stories
