Chapter 12: The Backup Plan
Weston read the message again.
Then again.
Like repeating the words might change them.
“It’s not true.””
His voice sounded different.
Not angry.
Afraid.
I watched him carefully.
“Then tell me what it means.””
“I don’t know.””
“Weston.””
“I swear.””
He stood up.
“I didn’t know.””
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
Somewhere beneath everything he had done, he was still my little brother.
The kid who used to steal cookies from the kitchen and blame the dog.
The kid who cried when I left for college.
The kid who once told me I was the smartest person he knew.
Before my father taught him otherwise.
We went back inside.
Victor was waiting.
I held up my phone.
“Explain.””
He looked at Weston.
Then back at me.
“Your father created a contingency plan.””
“For what?””
Victor’s expression was serious.
“For failure.””
I crossed my arms.
“Failure of what?””
“To remove you.””
The room went cold.
Weston stepped back.
“What does that mean?””
Victor opened the file he was carrying.
“Project Phoenix had two possible outcomes.””
He placed the documents down.
“Either Simone gives up her claim.””
He pointed at Weston.
“Or Weston takes control.””
My brother stared.
“Why me?””
“Because your father believed you were easier to influence.””
The words hit him.
Hard.
Victor continued.
“Richard needed a replacement heir.””
I looked at Weston.
“And you agreed?””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I didn’t know.””
Victor nodded.
“I believe you.””
That surprised me.
“You do?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard made the same mistake with everyone.””
Victor looked at the files.
“He underestimated people.””
My phone buzzed.
Detective Miles.
I answered.
“Simone, we found the insurance policy.””
My heart tightened.
“And?””
“It’s worse than we thought.””
I stepped away.
“What do you mean?””
A pause.
“The policy was modified six months after it was created.””
“Modified how?””
Miles’ voice lowered.
“The beneficiary changed.””
I looked at Weston.
“To who?””
Silence.
Then:
“Richard Hale.””
Everything stopped.
My father.
Not Weston.
Not some secret plan.
My father had changed the policy so he benefited.
Weston looked stunned.
“He lied to me.””
I stared at him.
“Yes.””
And somehow, that was the moment everything changed.
Because Weston wasn’t just the person who benefited from my pain.
He was another person my father had used.
My phone buzzed again.
This time, a video file.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
The screen showed my grandfather.
Older.
Tired.
Sitting at his desk.
My breath caught.
A recording.
A message.
His voice filled the room.
“Simone, if you are seeing this, then Richard failed.””
I couldn’t breathe.
My grandfather continued.
“I need you to listen carefully.””
The room went silent.
“Your father believes the inheritance is the reason I protected you.””
A pause.
“He is wrong.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“The inheritance was never the most valuable thing I left you.””
The video flickered.
Then my grandfather said the words that changed everything.
“The real inheritance is the truth about who your father is.””
The screen went black.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then another message appeared beneath the video.
Not from my grandfather.
From my father.
May you like
One sentence.
*You finally found the truth. Now come find out what your grandfather hid from you about your own birth.*
