Chapter 13 - The Woman Behind the Voice)
The voice led Elena to a private hotel room.
She entered alone.
Inside was a woman wearing a dark coat.
Her face remained hidden.
Elena stopped.
"Who are you?"
The woman turned.
Elena's knees almost gave way.
She was older.
Her hair was gray.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
"Mom?"
The woman began to cry.
Elena could not move.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then her mother whispered:
"I am sorry."
Elena stepped forward.
"Why did you leave me?"
"Because I was trying to keep you alive."
"You let me believe you were dead."
"I had no choice."
"Who was after you?"
Her mother looked toward the door.
"Everyone."
She explained that Elena's father had discovered Thomas's financial network.
But there was another secret.
The Carter family had not created the network.
Elena's father had.
Thomas had taken control of it after discovering the truth.
Elena's mother had tried to expose him.
Her father stopped her.
Not because he wanted to protect Thomas.
Because he wanted to protect Elena.
"Then why did he lie to me?"
"Because you were the only thing Thomas could use against him."
Elena began to understand.
Her entire childhood had been constructed around one enormous lie.
Her mother continued.
"Your father left something for you."
"What?"
"A key."
She reached into her coat.
Before she could hand it over, the door exploded open.
Julian rushed inside.
"Elena!"
Her mother immediately stepped between them.
"Stay away from her."
Julian stopped.
Elena looked at him.
"Did you know she was here?"
"No."
Her mother shook her head.
"He's lying."
Julian looked at Elena.
"Your mother is wrong."
Then someone behind him raised a gun.
Elena screamed.
The lights went out.
When they came back on, her mother was gone.
May you like
So was the key.
And Julian was lying on the floor.
