My father stood at the bottom of the staircase, his weapon pointed toward Victor.
Nobody moved.
Victor slowly released my mother.
"You really came alone?" he asked.
My father gave a bitter smile.
"You know me better than that."
Victor glanced behind him.
More footsteps echoed through the mansion.
My heart sank.
We weren't alone.
Men emerged from the shadows, surrounding the hallway.
Adrian immediately pulled me behind him.
Daniel moved toward my mother.
My uncle stood near the staircase, watching everything carefully.
Victor laughed.
"All of you walked right into it."
My father tightened his grip.
"What do you want?"
"The same thing I've always wanted."
"The money?"
Victor shook his head.
"No."
He looked at me.
"I want the truth."
I frowned.
"What truth?"
Victor pointed toward my father.
"The truth he has hidden from you."
My father shouted, "Don't listen to him."
Victor smiled.
"Still protecting her?"
He turned to me.
"Ask your father what happened to the child who disappeared that night."
My heart stopped.
"Lily?"
Victor nodded.
"Ask him where she really came from."
I looked at my father.
He said nothing.
My mother's face was filled with fear.
"What are you hiding?"
My father lowered his weapon.
"She was never supposed to know."
I felt tears forming.
"Know what?"
My uncle suddenly stepped forward.
"Tell her."
My father looked at him.
Then he looked at me.
"Lily isn't your sister."
Silence.
I felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath me.
"What?"
My mother began crying.
"No…"
I shook my head.
"You told me she was my sister."
My father closed his eyes.
"I lied."
My breathing became shallow.
"Then who is she?"
Victor answered.
"She's Richard Blackwood's daughter."
My heart stopped.
Adrian stared at him.
"What?"
Victor continued.
"Her mother died the night of the fire. Your mother found the baby and took her."
I looked at my mother.
"Why?"
She was crying too hard to speak.
My father finally answered.
"Because we believed she would be killed if anyone discovered she survived."
I turned toward Adrian.
He looked just as shocked as I was.
"Then why did you tell me she was my sister?"
My father looked at me.
"Because it was safer."
Victor laughed.
"Safer?"
He shook his head.
"You've been lying to this girl for ten years."
He stepped toward me.
"Your marriage was never about money."
I stared at him.
"Then what was it about?"
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Blood."
He pointed at Adrian.
"The Blackwood bloodline."
Then at Daniel.
"The Morgan bloodline."
Then at me.
"And yours."
I didn't understand.
Victor continued.
"Your father wanted to unite the three families through you."
Daniel's face hardened.
"So the marriage was an agreement."
"Exactly."
I looked at Adrian.
"If I marry Daniel…"
"You become the bridge between the families," Victor said.
My stomach turned.
"And Adrian?"
Victor smiled.
"Adrian was never supposed to survive long enough to interfere."
My blood ran cold.
My father immediately stepped forward.
"That's enough."
Victor raised his weapon.
"Not yet."
He looked at me.
"Now you know why everyone wanted you."
He paused.
"But there is still one secret you haven't discovered."
I stared at him.
"What?"
Victor looked toward my mother.
"Ask her who your real father is."
The room went completely silent.
I slowly turned toward my mother.
She couldn't look at me.
My heart shattered.
"Mom?"
She covered her face.
And I knew.
There was another secret.
One that could destroy everything I thought I knew about myself.