Chapter 7: The Woman Holding the Gun
The gun was pointed directly at my chest.
Vanessa Sterling stood behind the filing cabinets, her blonde hair falling across one eye. Her champagne-colored evening gown was gone, replaced by black trousers and a leather jacket.
There was blood on her sleeve.
But she wasn't looking at Thomas.
She was looking at me.
"Drop the papers, Eleanor.""
I tightened my grip on the medical records.
"Why did you shoot him?""
Vanessa glanced at Thomas, who was lying on the concrete floor.
"He's not dead.""
Alexander dropped beside his father.
"Dad! Can you hear me?""
Thomas groaned.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Alexander pressed both hands against the wound.
"Call an ambulance!""
Vanessa laughed.
"You're still giving orders like you own the world, Alex.""
He looked up at her.
"What the hell is wrong with you?""
"Put your hands where I can see them.""
"You're shooting people now?""
"Don't pretend you're innocent.""
I slowly placed the documents on a nearby cabinet.
Vanessa moved closer.
"Your father should have stayed dead.""
Thomas opened his eyes.
He looked directly at Vanessa.
"Richard...""
"Don't say his name," she snapped.
"Richard knows...""
Vanessa raised the gun.
"SHUT UP!""
Alexander lunged forward.
"Vanessa, don't!""
The gun fired again.
The bullet struck the metal cabinet above Thomas's head.
I threw myself toward Vanessa.
We crashed against the filing cabinets.
The gun skidded across the floor.
Vanessa struck my face with her elbow.
Pain exploded through my cheek.
"GET OFF ME!""
She grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the cabinet.
I fought back, twisting her wrist until she released me.
Alexander rushed over and kicked the gun away.
Vanessa stumbled backward.
"You ungrateful bastard!"" she screamed.
Alexander stood between us.
"Stay away from her.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"You're protecting your little sister now?""
The words made him freeze.
She laughed.
"Oh, you didn't know? Of course you didn't. Your precious father has been lying to you your entire life.""
Alexander's expression hardened.
"Enough.""
"Your father didn't just steal Margaret from Daniel. He stole you, too.""
Thomas groaned.
"Vanessa...""
She ignored him.
"Your biological mother wanted to keep you. Thomas arranged your adoption because he wanted to maintain his reputation. Then he used Margaret's relationship with Daniel to control the company.""
Alexander looked down at his father.
"Is that true?""
Thomas struggled to speak.
"Not... everything.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Ask him about the hospital.""
I looked at her.
"What hospital?""
"The hospital where your mother was supposedly treated for cancer.""
My stomach tightened.
Vanessa lowered the gun slightly.
"She wasn't dying of cancer, Eleanor.""
I stared at her.
"Then what was wrong with her?""
"Nothing. She was being held under a false identity because she had evidence against my father.""
Alexander shook his head.
"You're lying.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Your father arranged it. He kept Margaret hidden because she knew who actually ordered the safety inspection.""
Thomas tried to sit up.
"Don't listen...""
Vanessa kicked the medical records across the floor.
"She signed the authorization, Eleanor. Your mother. She signed the papers that made the construction site dangerous.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"She was tricked.""
"Perhaps. But she knew afterward.""
Vanessa leaned closer.
"And she still took the money.""
I shook my head.
"Why are you doing this?""
Her expression changed.
For the first time, I saw something beneath the arrogance.
Hatred.
"Because everyone keeps treating my family like monsters while pretending yours were saints.""
She pointed toward Thomas.
"He murdered Daniel. My father covered up the accident. Your mother signed the documents. And Alexander's father stole the company.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Nobody is innocent.""
Alexander stared at her.
"Then why did you shoot him?""
"Because he was going to give you the original report.""
"What report?""
"The one that proves everything.""
She pointed toward the filing cabinets.
"Where is it?""
Thomas closed his eyes.
Vanessa raised the gun again.
"WHERE IS IT?""
He whispered something.
I couldn't hear.
She stepped closer.
"Speak louder.""
Thomas looked at Alexander.
Then at me.
And said:
"The original report is inside the bracelet.""
I looked down at the silver bracelet in my hand.
The one my mother had given to Alexander.
The one engraved with the words For our first child. Forever.
Vanessa's eyes followed mine.
Her expression transformed.
"Give it to me.""
I closed my fist.
"No.""
She aimed the gun.
"Give me the bracelet.""
Alexander stepped forward.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She looked at him.
"You have no idea what that bracelet means.""
"Then explain it.""
"It contains the only proof that can destroy Richard Sterling.""
I looked at her.
"And you want to destroy it?""
Vanessa smiled.
"I want to own it.""
The sirens began outside.
Vanessa glanced toward the staircase.
"How did you call the police?""
I looked at Alexander.
He had quietly pressed the emergency button on his watch during the struggle.
Vanessa noticed.
"You really think they'll save you?""
She backed toward the basement exit.
"Richard has people everywhere.""
Alexander stood between her and the stairs.
"You're not leaving.""
She laughed.
"Move.""
"No.""
Vanessa raised the gun.
I saw Alexander's shoulders tense.
Then Thomas reached out and grabbed her ankle.
She screamed and fired.
The bullet struck the concrete beside his hand.
Alexander rushed forward.
I grabbed the gun barrel and forced it toward the ceiling.
A struggle followed.
Vanessa struck me across the face.
I stumbled.
Alexander managed to wrench the weapon from her hand.
It fell into the corner.
He pinned her against the wall.
"Stay down!""
Vanessa laughed through her tears.
"You don't understand, Alex. Your father is not the only one who knows where the report is.""
Alexander looked at her.
"Who else?""
She turned toward me.
"Your mother.""
Then she smiled.
"She's alive, Eleanor. And she's been waiting for you.""
I stepped closer.
"Where is she?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"You'll never find her.""
Police officers rushed into the basement.
"EVERYONE, HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!""
Alexander raised both hands.
Vanessa immediately began shouting.
"He's attacking me! He's the one with the gun!""
One officer approached her.
"Ma'am, get on your knees.""
She looked at me as they handcuffed her.
"This isn't over.""
I stared back.
"It is for you.""
She leaned closer as the officer pulled her away.
Then she whispered something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Ask your mother why she chose Alexander over you.""
Thomas was rushed to the hospital.
He survived the shooting, but the doctors said the bullet had caused significant internal damage.
Alexander sat beside his father's hospital bed.
I stood near the window.
Neither of us spoke for almost twenty minutes.
Finally, Alexander broke the silence.
"Do you believe anything he said?""
I looked at the bracelet.
"I don't know.""
He rubbed his face.
"I've spent my entire life searching for my biological mother. Now I find out she's alive, and everyone seems to know more about her than I do.""
I sat beside him.
"At least you know the truth now.""
He gave a bitter laugh.
"Do we?""
His phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
There was an attachment.
A photograph of a woman sitting in a small room.
Her hair was shorter.
Her face was thinner.
But I recognized her immediately.
My mother.
Beneath the photograph were eight words.
Come alone if you want her alive, Eleanor.
I showed Alexander.
He stood.
"Absolutely not.""
"She's my mother.""
"And someone is using her to lure you into a trap.""
"I don't care.""
"Eleanor, think.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My mother was holding a newspaper.
On the front page was a headline:
*STERLING ENGAGEMENT COLLAPSES AFTER SHOCKING FAMILY ALLEGATIONS.*
She was alive.
She had seen everything.
And now she wanted me.
I turned toward Alexander.
"I'm going.""
He shook his head.
"Then I'm coming with you.""
I looked down at the bracelet.
The original report was hidden somewhere inside it.
But there was another question.
May you like
Why had my mother given it to Alexander instead of me?
And what had she been protecting him from all these years?
