Chapter 12 - Two Daughters, One Inheritance
Claire moved through the villa as though she owned it.
She poured herself water, removed her gloves, and looked at the photographs without visible emotion.
David’s security officers kept their weapons ready.
Claire ignored them.
“You found Mother’s confession,” she said.
“Where is she?” Olivia asked.
“Missing.”
“You worked with Roland.”
“I survived Roland.”
“You advised his companies.”
“I advised companies he controlled because refusing him was not an option.”
Olivia studied her sister.
Every movement felt unsettlingly familiar. Claire tilted her head the same way Olivia did when skeptical. She rested her left thumb against her index finger while thinking.
They were not mirror images.
They were echoes.
“Did you send Brandon to me?” Olivia asked.
“No.”
“Did you help him access Northstar?”
“No.”
“Do you want my company?”
Claire smiled faintly.
“I want the company that may have been stolen from me.”
“Jonathan left it to me.”
“Jonathan left it to the girl he believed was Olivia.”
“You don’t know that I’m not.”
“Neither do you.”
The legal issue was devastating.
If Claire proved she was Jonathan’s biological and legal daughter while Olivia was the child raised by Roland, she could challenge the inheritance.
Yet Caroline was mother to both.
Jonathan might still be biological father to both.
The question involved identity, not parentage.
Claire placed a file on the table.
It contained medical records from the dermatologist who removed Olivia’s birthmark.
The tissue sample had been preserved.
Genetic testing showed the child treated at twelve was related to Jonathan and Caroline.
That proved nothing between twins.
But another detail appeared.
The sample contained traces of an old bone injury in the left leg.
Claire rolled up her trouser leg.
A surgical scar crossed her knee.
“I was injured during the mountain escape,” she said. “Mother’s tape claims the girl she recovered was injured.”
Olivia looked at the scar.
“Medical records can be manufactured.”
“Exactly. Roland taught me that.”
“Then why show it?”
“Because certainty is the trap. Roland wants us fighting over identity while he takes the assets.”
Claire explained the Zurich account contained bearer instruments granting control over several foundational trusts. If either sister entered the bank alone and answered incorrectly, the assets would transfer automatically to Roland’s creditors.
“If we enter together?” Olivia asked.
“The bank must recognize both claims and suspend transfer.”
“Why would you help me?”
“Because I cannot defeat Roland alone.”
David asked, “Where is Brandon?”
“Being transported to Zurich. Roland needs a Hale witness to invoke the original debt agreement.”
“And Gabriel?”
“Daniel was supposed to replace him if Brandon refused.”
Olivia remembered the theater.
“Who shot Daniel?”
Claire looked at Elena.
“Custodian Two.”
Elena stiffened.
“The archive fire was meant to suggest Custodian Two had been eliminated,” Claire continued. “In truth, the custodian destroyed the records and escaped.”
“Who is it?” Olivia asked.
“Thomas Hale.”
Thomas had saved them during the institute attack.
Then he disappeared.
“He was protecting Roland?” Rebecca asked.
“He was protecting his sons. Roland promised to spare one if Thomas delivered the other.”
“Which son?”
Claire’s expression hardened.
“That is why Brandon is still alive.”
The plan formed quickly.
Olivia and Claire would travel publicly to Zurich, creating the appearance of cooperation. David would coordinate with Swiss authorities. Rebecca would isolate Northstar’s voting systems. Elena would remain under medical protection.
Victor called during the preparations.
He claimed the board had voted to suspend Olivia pending investigation.
“How many votes?” Olivia asked.
“Seven.”
“And your vote?”
“I supported the suspension.”
The result was unanimous.
Jonathan’s warning returned.
Trust no board vote that passes unanimously.
Olivia smiled.
“Thank you, Victor.”
“For what?”
“For confirming the vote is invalid.”
She invoked an obscure founder-protection clause allowing the controlling shareholder to suspend board authority if unanimous action occurred during an active Hearthstone event.
Victor’s confidence broke.
“You don’t understand what you’re activating.”
“I understand you helped design my marriage contract.”
“I protected you after Jonathan died.”
“You prepared to seize my shares.”
“To preserve the company.”
“For Roland?”
Victor looked away from the camera.
“Roland is not the greatest threat.”
“Then who is?”
“Your mother.”
Claire stepped into view.
Victor recoiled.
“You.”
“Hello, Victor.”
He whispered, “You were never supposed to meet.”
Claire leaned toward the screen.
“Tell Olivia why Caroline needed two heirs.”
Victor disconnected.
They boarded a chartered aircraft that evening.
Halfway across the Atlantic, the cabin lights flickered.
The pilot announced an electrical fault.
Then the aircraft began descending.
Rebecca checked the flight display.
“We’re turning north.”
David contacted the cockpit.
No response.
Claire looked toward the locked forward door.
“Roland changed the crew.”
The aircraft dropped sharply.
An oxygen mask fell from the ceiling.
Olivia secured it as David attempted to breach the cockpit.
Claire grabbed a fire extinguisher and struck the door mechanism.
The lock broke.
Inside, the pilot was unconscious.
The copilot held a pistol.
He turned toward them.
Claire threw the extinguisher.
The gun fired.
A window cracked.
Air screamed through the cabin.
Olivia crawled toward the controls while David restrained the copilot.
The aircraft descended toward the black Atlantic.
Claire reached the pilot’s seat.
“Do you know how to fly?”
“No.”
“Neither do I.”
Rebecca found the emergency radio.
A controller guided them through stabilization.
Together, Olivia and Claire held the aircraft level until the pilot regained consciousness.
They landed at a military base in Iceland.
As emergency crews surrounded the plane, Olivia received a message from Brandon.
The first Zurich meeting has already begun.
Attached was a photograph inside the bank.
Margaret stood beside Roland.
Between them was a blonde woman who looked exactly like Claire.
Olivia turned toward her sister.
Claire stared at the image.
“That isn’t me.”
May you like
There were not two daughters.
There were three.
