CHAPTER NINE: THE WOMAN WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER

The gunshot echoed across the bridge.

"Daniel!"

Isabella screamed as the man collapsed onto the cold pavement.

Alexander pulled her behind his black car, shielding her body with his own.

"Stay down!"

Another bullet struck the windshield.

Isabella trembled.

"He's bleeding! Alexander, we have to help him!"

Alexander glanced toward Daniel.

The man was lying motionless, blood spreading across his black coat.

"James!" Alexander shouted into his phone. "I need an ambulance at the old bridge. Now!"

He ended the call and looked at Isabella.

"Don't move."

But she was already crawling toward Daniel.

"Isabella!"

She ignored him.

Daniel's eyes were barely open.

"Please..." he whispered.

Isabella grabbed his hand.

"Who did this to you?"

Daniel struggled to speak.

"Clara..."

His eyes closed.

Isabella's blood ran cold.

Clara.

The woman who had smiled at her during dinner.

The woman who knew Alexander's past.

The woman who had threatened their marriage.

"Why would Clara shoot him?" Isabella whispered.

Alexander's expression darkened.

"Because Daniel knows something she doesn't want revealed."

Suddenly, a woman's laughter came from the shadows.

"You're finally beginning to understand."

Isabella turned.

Clara stood near the bridge railing, holding a gun.

Her beautiful face was twisted with anger.

"Clara!" Alexander growled.

She smiled.

"Hello, darling."

Alexander stepped in front of Isabella.

"Put the gun down."

Clara laughed bitterly.

"After everything you've done to me?"

"Clara, this is over."

"No!" she screamed. "You destroyed my life!"

Her eyes moved toward Isabella.

"And you replaced me with her."

Isabella stared at her.

"Why are you doing this?"

Clara raised the gun.

"Because you took everything from me."

Alexander's voice became dangerously quiet.

"Clara, don't."

She pointed the weapon directly at Isabella.

"Move away from her."

Alexander didn't move.

"You're going to have to shoot me first."

Clara's hand trembled.

For a moment, Isabella thought she might actually pull the trigger.

Then sirens sounded in the distance.

Clara's expression changed.

She lowered the gun slightly.

"This isn't over, Alexander."

She turned and disappeared into the darkness.

---

The ambulance arrived minutes later.

Daniel was rushed to the hospital.

Isabella sat inside Alexander's car, staring at her hands.

They were stained with Daniel's blood.

She couldn't stop thinking about Clara.

Or the photograph Alexander had shown her.

Or the mysterious document that supposedly revealed her real father.

"Alexander."

He looked at her.

"What?"

"Who is my real father?"

Alexander remained silent.

She turned toward him.

"You said Daniel wasn't my biological father."

"That's correct."

"Then who is?"

He gripped the steering wheel.

"Someone you already know."

Isabella's heart skipped.

"Who?"

Alexander looked at her.

"Richard Williams."

She stared at him.

"Richard? My adoptive father?"

Alexander nodded.

"Your mother was married to Daniel before she met Richard. But after Daniel disappeared, she married Richard."

Isabella shook her head.

"That doesn't make sense."

Alexander continued.

"Your mother was pregnant when she married Richard. He chose to raise you as his own daughter."

Isabella's eyes filled with tears.

"So Richard really is my father?"

"Yes."

She covered her mouth.

All the confusion.

All the lies.

All the fear.

At least one thing finally made sense.

Richard Williams was her biological father.

But why had Victoria claimed otherwise?

---

At the hospital, Alexander stood outside Daniel's room.

James approached him.

"Sir, the police have identified the shooter."

Alexander turned.

"Clara?"

James nodded.

"But there's something else."

"What?"

"Clara wasn't working alone."

Alexander's eyes narrowed.

"Who was helping her?"

James handed him a photograph.

It showed Clara standing beside a man outside Blackwood Mansion.

Alexander recognized the man immediately.

His own uncle.

Victor Blackwood.

Alexander's expression hardened.

"Victor..."

James lowered his voice.

"Sir, we believe he's been behind the attacks for years."

Alexander stared at the photograph.

His uncle had always been a dangerous man.

But he had never imagined Victor would go this far.

"Find him."

"Yes, sir."

---

Inside the hospital room, Isabella sat beside Daniel.

The man was awake.

His eyes opened slowly.

"Isabella..."

She leaned forward.

"You're awake."

Daniel nodded weakly.

"Did Alexander tell you the truth?"

She hesitated.

"About my father?"

"Yes."

Isabella took a deep breath.

"Richard Williams is my biological father."

Daniel closed his eyes.

"Thank God."

She frowned.

"Why?"

Daniel looked at her.

"Because the man who wanted you dead was never your father."

Isabella's heart pounded.

"Who?"

Daniel struggled to speak.

"Victor Blackwood."

Her eyes widened.

Alexander's uncle.

The man who had been helping Clara.

The man who had been secretly attacking their families.

Daniel grabbed her hand.

"Isabella, you must leave Blackwood Mansion."

"Why?"

His eyes filled with fear.

"Because Victor knows you're the key to everything."

Before Isabella could ask another question, the hospital door opened.

Alexander walked inside.

His expression was cold.

"Daniel."

Daniel immediately stiffened.

"Blackwood."

Alexander approached the bed.

"Tell me what Victor wants."

Daniel looked toward Isabella.

Then he whispered:

"He wants the Blackwood fortune."

Alexander's jaw tightened.

Daniel continued.

"But the fortune isn't the real prize."

Isabella frowned.

"What is?"

Daniel looked directly at her.

"Your mother's final secret."

The room fell silent.

Alexander turned toward Isabella.

And for the first time, he realized that the woman he had married might be the only person capable of destroying his entire family.

END OF CHAPTER NINE