Chapter 6: The Blood Between Them
For a moment, nobody moved.
The basement felt smaller.
The walls felt closer.
And the sentence kept repeating in my mind.
*It's time you learned why your husband has my blood.*
I looked at Michael.
He looked like someone had reached inside him and pulled out the last piece of armor he had been wearing.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something worse.
Resignation.
“You're related to him.””
It wasn't a question.
Michael didn't answer.
I stepped back.
“You're related to Richard.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Daniel looked away.
That was all the confirmation I needed.
“How long?””
Michael swallowed.
“Emily.””
“How long have you known?””
“I've always known.””
The words hurt more than I expected.
I laughed quietly.
“Of course you have.””
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“No, because every time I ask you a question, you give me half a truth and expect me to be grateful.””
His face tightened.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You were born into his family.””
“Yes.””
“You shared his blood.””
“Yes.””
“My father trusted you anyway.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Michael looked toward the ceiling.
Because somewhere above us, my uncle was waiting.
Watching.
Probably smiling.
“Because your father knew the truth about me.””
I stared at him.
“What truth?””
Michael took a breath.
“I wasn't Richard's son.””
The room went silent.
I blinked.
“What?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Michael.””
Thomas shook his head.
“You're telling her now?””
Michael ignored them.
“My mother worked for Richard's family.””
“Worked?””
“She was a housekeeper.””
I frowned.
“And Richard?””
“He was sixteen when I was born.””
The pieces moved slowly.
“But the message said Richard has your blood.””
Michael nodded.
“He does.””
I stared at him.
“Then how?””
He looked at the floor.
“Because Richard is my biological father.””
My heart stopped.
“But you just said—”
“My mother never told anyone.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard was married.””
I understood.
A secret child.
A hidden family.
A man who built his life around lies.
Just like everyone else in this story.
“So Richard knew?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“When I was twelve.””
I shook my head.
“And he still let you live?””
Michael gave a humorless smile.
“No.””
The word chilled me.
“He tried to erase me.””
My mouth went dry.
“Why?””
“Because I was proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That he wasn't the man everyone thought he was.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Richard spent his entire life building a perfect image.””
Daniel added quietly, “A respected businessman. A loyal brother. A family man.””
Michael nodded.
“But a secret son from an affair didn't fit that image.””
I looked at him.
“So what did he do?””
Michael's expression became empty.
“He sent my mother away.””
“And you?””
“He sent me to a boarding school.””
“That's it?””
“No.””
I waited.
Michael looked at me.
“He told people my mother abandoned me.””
A cold anger moved through me.
“And your father?””
Michael looked at me carefully.
“You mean yours.””
I froze.
“My father knew.””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“After the fire.””
I frowned.
“How?””
“Because your father investigated Richard.””
Michael looked at Thomas.
“That's how he found out about me.””
Thomas nodded.
“Edward Hale discovered Richard had a second life.””
My father's name sounded strange coming from strangers.
Like they knew a version of him I never did.
“And then?””
Michael continued.
“Your father found me.””
“Why?””
“To use me against Richard.””
I stared.
“Use you?””
“At first.””
The honesty surprised me.
Michael continued.
“Your father didn't trust me. He thought I might be working with Richard.””
“Were you?””
“No.””
“Why should I believe you?””
His eyes met mine.
“Because if I was, I would have let you die years ago.””
The words were harsh.
But true.
I hated that.
I hated that every answer created another question.
A sound echoed above us.
A door opening.
Richard's voice drifted down the stairwell.
“Emily?””
Everyone froze.
His voice was gentle.
Almost loving.
“I'm not angry.””
Michael moved closer to the exit.
Thomas stopped him.
“Wait.””
“He knows we're here.””
“Yes.””
“Then we leave.””
“No.””
Michael looked at him.
Thomas pointed toward the ceiling.
“That's what he wants.””
I looked between them.
“What does he want?””
Thomas answered.
“You.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“Because your father left something only you can access.””
I looked at the bank statement.
“The account.””
Thomas nodded.
“Richard can't touch it.””
“Why?””
“Because your father made sure.””
Daniel whispered, “He tied it to her.””
I looked at him.
“How?””
“Your DNA.””
I stared.
“What?””
“The bank requires genetic confirmation.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“My father created a vault only I could open?””
“Yes.””
“And you all knew?””
Michael looked ashamed.
“I knew part of it.””
“Part?””
“I didn't know about the DNA lock.””
A slow clap came from above.
Everyone turned.
Richard's voice floated through the stairwell.
“Still lying, Michael?””
The blood drained from my face.
My uncle appeared at the top of the stairs.
No weapon.
No anger.
Just a gray suit and a calm smile.
The same smile from every family photograph.
“Uncle Richard.””
He looked at me warmly.
“There you are.””
I wanted to run.
But my feet wouldn't move.
He walked down slowly.
“Emily, I know this is overwhelming.””
I stared at him.
“You ordered the fire.””
His smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
Then it returned.
“Who told you that?””
“My father.””
Richard sighed.
“Your father always had a dramatic imagination.””
Michael stepped forward.
“Don't talk to her.””
Richard looked at him.
And something changed.
The warmth vanished.
“You.””
The word was full of disgust.
Michael didn't react.
Richard smiled again.
“After everything I gave you.””
I looked at Michael.
“What did he give you?””
Richard laughed.
“You didn't tell her?””
Michael said nothing.
Richard walked closer.
“I raised him.””
The room went silent.
“You sent him away.””
“I corrected a mistake.””
“You abandoned him.””
“I disciplined him.””
Michael's fists clenched.
Richard looked at me.
“Your husband has always had a talent for making himself look like a victim.””
I stepped between them.
“You murdered my mother.””
Richard's face changed.
Not guilt.
Not shock.
Annoyance.
“Your mother made choices.””
My voice shook.
“She was poisoned.””
“She was sick.””
“No.””
Richard smiled.
“You believe everything people tell you.””
I looked at Michael.
Then Thomas.
Then Daniel.
And realized something terrifying.
Richard was doing the same thing they had all done.
Giving me pieces.
Making me choose who to believe.
“You were there that night.””
Richard looked at me.
“Yes.””
“At the factory.””
“Yes.””
“My father was alive.””
“Yes.””
“And Michael was there.””
Richard smiled.
“Yes.””
I looked at Michael.
“Why?””
Richard answered.
“Because your father asked him to help.””
My head snapped toward him.
“What?””
Richard laughed.
“You thought Michael betrayed your father?””
He looked at Michael.
“You never told her the best part.””
Michael went still.
Richard continued.
“Your husband was the one who set the fire.””
The room exploded into silence.
I stared at Michael.
“No.””
Michael didn't move.
Richard smiled.
“There it is.””
The moment he wanted.
The doubt.
The crack.
I whispered, “Michael?””
He looked at me.
His eyes were full of pain.
“Emily.””
“Did you set the fire?””
A long silence.
Then Michael said:
“Yes.””
I felt the world disappear.
Daniel whispered, “No…”
Thomas closed his eyes.
Richard smiled.
Because he had been waiting for this moment.
I couldn't breathe.
My husband.
The man I had loved.
The man my father trusted.
The man who had protected me for fourteen years.
Had just admitted the one thing I never thought I would hear.
“Yes.””
I stepped backward.
“Why?””
Michael looked at me.
“I didn't burn your father's factory.””
“But you said yes.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
His voice broke.
“Because I was the one who lit the fire.””
The silence afterward was unbearable.
Richard turned away, satisfied.
Thomas looked at Michael.
“You should have told her.””
Michael didn't look away from me.
“I was trying to find the right time.””
“There is no right time for that.””
Michael nodded.
“I know.””
I stared at him.
“Then tell me.””
My voice barely came out.
“Tell me why my husband burned down my father's factory.””
Michael took a breath.
And the answer changed everything.
“Because your father was inside.””
My blood went cold.
“What?””
Michael looked toward Richard.
“He wasn't trying to escape the fire.””
Richard's smile disappeared.
Michael said:
“He was trying to stop me from killing him.””
May you like
And for the first time that night…
Richard looked afraid.
