All Chapters of A CONTRACT SIGNED IN BLOOD AND DESIRE : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lina watched the video again.The girl on the screen looked exactly like her.Same dark eyes. Same nose. Same small mark near her eyebrow.“Lina?” the girl said again.Lina moved closer to the phone.“Who are you?”The girl looked confused.“You don't know me?”“No.”“My name is Leah.”Lina's heart jumped.“Leah?”“That's what they call me.”“Who?”Leah looked behind her.“I can't tell you.”A man's voice came from somewhere outside the room.“Time's up.”Leah's face changed.“Lina, listen to me.”Fames suddenly looked at the camera.“Don't give them anything.”The video shook.A hand reached for the phone.Fames shouted, “Lina, don't trust—”The screen went black.Lina stood frozen.Her mother took the phone from her.“Leah.”“You knew her name?”Her mother looked away.“I heard it once.”“Where?”“From your uncle.”Lina stared at her.“You knew my sister was alive?”“I knew there was a chance.”“A chance?”Her voice broke.“You've all known more than me.”Her mother reached for her

Lina stared at Anthony.“Which sister survives?”Anthony didn't answer.Her mother stepped closer.“Anthony, what did they mean?”He looked at Lina and Leah.“They want one of you.”“Why?” Lina asked.Anthony's eyes filled with fear.“Because only one of you can open the account.”Lina frowned.“But you said we both could.”“I was wrong.”Leah stepped forward.“Then why did they take me?”Anthony looked at her.“Because they thought you were the key.”“And I'm not?”“No.”Leah's face fell.“Then what am I?”Anthony took a breath.“A decoy.”Silence.Lina stared at him.“You're saying my sister was used as a decoy?”“Yes.”“By who?”“Your uncle.”Leah shook her head.“He raised me.”Lina looked at her.“He told me I was his niece. He said my parents died.”Her mother covered her mouth.“I’m sorry.”Leah looked at her.“You knew?”“No.”“Then why did you never find me?”Her mother began to cry.“I tried.”“But you stopped.”“I never stopped.”Leah looked away.Lina stepped between them.

The church was almost empty when Lina arrived.Only a few lights were on.The old building looked peaceful from outside, but Lina didn't feel peaceful at all.Her sister was missing.Her father was missing.And now she had learned that her family had more secrets than she could count.Fames walked beside her.“Are you sure this is the place?”Lina held up her father's letter.“He said the church where my parents were married.”Anthony followed them inside.“I remember this church.”Lina looked at him.“You were here?”“Once. A long time ago.”Her mother stayed near the entrance.She looked nervous.Lina noticed.“Mum?”“Yes?”“Did you know about the floorboard?”Her mother shook her head.“No.”Lina looked at the floor.“Then let's find it.”They searched the first floor.Nothing.They checked the small rooms beside the main hall.Still nothing.Finally, they found a narrow staircase at the back.It led to the third floor.The stairs creaked beneath their feet.Fames walked ahead.“Ca

Lina stared at Anthony.Her mind refused to accept what she had just heard.Your father has been beside you all along.“No,” she whispered.Anthony didn't move.Lina took a step toward him.“Tell me it's not true.”He looked at her.“I can't.”Her heart sank.“You're my father?”Anthony nodded slowly.“Yes.”The room became silent.Fames looked between them.“Anthony…”“I know,” Anthony said quietly.Lina shook her head.“You lied to me.”“I was trying to protect you.”“Everyone says that!”Her voice broke.“Everyone lies to me and then says they were protecting me.”Anthony lowered his head.“I know.”“Did my mother know?”“Yes.”“Did Elias know?”“Yes.”Lina stared at him.“So Elias isn't my father.”“No.”“Then who is he?”“Your uncle.”Lina's eyes widened.“My uncle?”Anthony nodded.“Your mother's brother.”Lina stepped backward.“So all this time…”“Elias was protecting you because he promised your mother he would.”Lina wiped her tears.“Why did you let me believe he was my fat

Lina couldn't breathe.Her mother's words echoed in her head.“Your uncle.”Anthony had stopped the car.Nobody moved.Leah looked between them, completely confused.“What does that mean?”Lina couldn't answer.She looked at her mother.“You said my uncle.”Her mother nodded, tears running down her face.“I know what it sounds like.”“Then explain it.”Her mother took a shaky breath.“Your uncle wasn't your biological father. He only claimed he was.”Lina froze.“What?”“He told me he was the father because he wanted control over you.”Anthony looked at her.“You should have said that first.”“I was scared.”Lina leaned back in her seat.“So Daniel is my father?”“Yes.”“And my uncle only lied about being my father?”“Yes.”Lina closed her eyes.For a moment, she felt relieved.Then another thought came.“Why would he do that?”Her mother looked out the window.“Because he wanted The Circle to believe you belonged to him.”Leah frowned.“But why?”“Because the person who controls the