The truth about Elena

Elena couldn't stop staring at her name.

ELENA ROSE BENNETT.

The words seemed impossible.

“I don't understand.”

Victoria remained silent.

Elena turned toward her.

“You said Lily was the heir.”

“She is the key.”

“But Charles said I'm the real heir.”

Victoria nodded slowly.

“Yes.”

Adrian looked at his mother.

“Explain.”

Victoria took a breath.

“Catherine created the original agreement before Elena was born.”

Elena listened carefully.

“She believed the next generation should inherit the truth instead of the wealth.”

Richard interrupted.

“But Alexander changed the agreement.”

Victoria nodded.

“He wanted control of the trust.”

Elena looked at the notebook.

“And where do I fit into this?”

Victoria's voice softened.

“You were born into the agreement.”

Elena frowned.

“I was a baby.”

“Exactly.”

“What did Alexander want from me?”

“Your identity.”

Elena stared at her.

Victoria continued.

“Alexander knew you were his biological daughter. He knew Daniel wasn't your biological father.”

Daniel's confession returned to Elena's mind.

She suddenly understood why he had always been so protective.

“He wanted to hide me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because if the world discovered you were Alexander's daughter, you would have a claim to everything connected to the original agreement.”

Adrian looked shocked.

“And Lily?”

Victoria looked at him.

“Lily inherited something different.”

“What?”

“The ability to unlock the final trust.”

Elena's confusion deepened.

“So I'm the heir, but Lily is the key.”

“Yes.”

“Then why was she taken?”

Victoria looked away.

“Because Catherine believes the agreement should be completed through Lily.”

Elena shook her head.

“She has no right.”

“No.”

Victoria looked at her.

“But neither does anyone else.”

A cold silence followed.

Adrian stepped closer to Elena.

“Where is Catherine?”

Victoria didn't answer.

“Mother.”

“She has a house.”

“Where?”

“Outside the city.”

Richard's eyes narrowed.

“Victoria.”

“She needs to know.”

Richard shook his head.

“You have no idea what Catherine will do.”

Victoria looked at him.

“I know exactly what she will do.”

Elena stepped forward.

“Then take us there.”

Victoria looked at her.

“No.”

Elena's voice hardened.

“Why?”

“Because Catherine won't meet you willingly.”

“Then I'll go without her permission.”

Victoria shook her head.

“She has Lily.”

Elena froze.

Adrian stepped forward.

“Then we go carefully.”

Richard shook his head.

“You're walking into a trap.”

Elena looked at him.

“Everywhere I turn is a trap.”

She held up the page.

“But this is my daughter.”

Adrian nodded.

“We'll bring her home.”

Richard looked at his son.

“You don't know what you're promising.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“I know exactly what I'm promising.”

Elena looked at him.

For the first time that night, she felt less alone.

Then Victoria's phone rang.

She answered.

Nobody spoke on the other end.

Her face changed.

“What?”

She listened.

Then whispered,

“No.”

She ended the call.

Elena stepped closer.

“What happened?”

Victoria looked at her.

“Catherine knows we have the final page.”

“And?”

“She wants Elena.”

Elena's heart dropped.

“Why?”

Victoria's eyes filled with fear.

“Because she believes you are the only person who can complete the agreement.”

Adrian immediately shook his head.

“She isn't going anywhere.”

Victoria looked at him.

“Then Lily won't come home.”

The words hit Elena hard.

She turned away.

Her mind raced.

Her mother had disappeared to protect her.

Her father had lied to raise her.

Richard had hidden the truth.

Victoria had known everything.

And now Catherine had Lily.

The family secrets had finally become impossible to ignore.

Elena looked at Adrian.

“I'll go.”

“No.”

“If Catherine wants me, I'll go.”

Adrian shook his head.

“I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself.”

“I'm not sacrificing myself.”

She looked toward the road where Charles had disappeared.

“I'm ending this.”

Adrian stared at her.

Then he reached for her hand.

“We end it together.”

Elena looked down at their joined hands.

For a moment, the years between them seemed to disappear.

Then Richard interrupted.

“There is something you both need to know.”

Elena looked at him.

“What?”

Richard's voice was heavy.

“Catherine isn't the person who started this.”

Elena frowned.

“Then who did?”

Richard looked toward the chapel.

“Someone older.”

“Who?”

Richard whispered,

“Alexander's mother.”

Elena's eyes widened.

“She was alive?”

“No.”

Richard shook his head.

“She died decades ago.”

“Then how can she be responsible?”

Richard looked at the final page.

“Because the agreement began before Alexander.”

He paused.

“And Catherine was only carrying out her instructions.”

Elena felt a chill.

“Whose instructions?”

Richard looked at her.

“The woman who built the first Blackwood fortune.”

Before Elena could respond, her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered.

A child's voice whispered,

“Mummy?”

Elena's heart stopped.

“Lily?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you?”

“I don't know.”

“Are you safe?”

A pause.

Then Lily whispered,

“There's a woman here.”

Elena closed her eyes.

“Who?”

Lily's voice trembled.

“She says she's my grandmother.”

The call suddenly ended.

Elena stared at the phone.

Adrian's face went pale.

“Catherine.”

Richard shook his head.

“No.”

Elena looked at him.

“Then who?”

Richard whispered,

“Someone we thought died before you were born.”

A final message appeared on Elena's phone.

COME ALONE, ELENA.

THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCE.