“THOMAS VANCE STOLE SEVENTEEN YEARS FROM OUR MOTHER—AND I CAN PROVE IT!” Gabriel's voice echoed through the consultation room.
Maria stared at the frozen video.
Her newly discovered brother stood beside Victoria Sterling, his face tense and exhausted.
He looked barely seventeen.
His dark hair fell across his forehead, and a faint scar marked the underside of his chin.
But what frightened Maria most was his expression.
He didn't look like someone reading a prepared threat.
He looked like someone who believed every word he was saying.
Alexander turned to face Thomas.
“What is he talking about?”
Thomas stood motionless.
Maria stepped closer.
“Did you do something to my mother?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Not what he's been told.”
Grace stared at him.
“Then tell us what happened.”
Thomas looked toward the video.
“Gabriel has been raised on Richard Sterling's version of the past.”
Maria's voice hardened.
“Then give me yours.”
Thomas exhaled.
“Seventeen years ago, Isabella was preparing to testify about the blue trust. She had records connecting Richard to illegal transfers, identity fraud, and the disappearance of several children.”
Detective Bennett, listening through a secure call, interrupted.
“Do you have evidence supporting those allegations?”
Thomas nodded.
“Some. But the original ledger was never recovered.”
Maria folded her arms.
“And what happened to Isabella?”
Thomas looked at her.
“She disappeared before the hearing.”
“Because of Richard?”
“I believed so.”
Maria stared.
“You believed?”
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I later discovered that she had been held in a private medical facility under another name.”
Grace whispered, “Ravenwood.”
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“And you knew?”
“Not until years later.”
Maria's voice broke.
“Then why didn't you rescue her?”
Thomas looked devastated.
“I tried.”
Maria shook her head.
“You keep saying that.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“But every time we find another piece of the truth, you already knew part of it.”
Thomas said nothing.
Alexander watched his father carefully.
For the first time, he wondered whether the man standing before him was still protecting someone.
Or something.
Meanwhile, at the Sterling Estate, Victoria stood in a luxurious sitting room overlooking the Hudson River.
Gabriel sat across from her.
His hands were trembling.
“Did she watch the video?” he asked.
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
Gabriel looked toward the window.
“Then she'll come.”
Victoria smiled.
“Of course she will.”
Gabriel frowned.
“You promised I could speak to her.”
“And you will.”
“Without anyone listening?”
Victoria hesitated.
Gabriel noticed.
“That was the agreement.”
Victoria approached him.
“Gabriel, your sister is surrounded by people who have lied to her for years. I'm trying to help you.”
He looked at her.
“Then why won't you let me leave?”
Victoria's smile disappeared.
“Because Richard's people are looking for you.”
Gabriel stared.
“Your father?”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
Gabriel lowered his eyes.
For years, Richard Sterling had controlled his life through carefully chosen guardians, private schools, and medical specialists.
He had been told his mother was dangerous.
He had been told the Vance family wanted him dead.
He had been told his real name could never be revealed.
Then, three months earlier, he had discovered an old photograph.
Isabella holding him as a newborn.
On the back were three handwritten words.
MY BEAUTIFUL GABRIEL.
For the first time, he had proof that someone had loved him before Richard's world swallowed him.
He had spent every day since trying to find her.
Victoria sat beside him.
“Maria can help us.”
Gabriel looked up.
“Then tell her where Mom is.”
Victoria's expression changed.
“I can't.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don't know.”
Gabriel stared.
“You told me you did.”
Victoria looked away.
He stood abruptly.
“You lied.”
“Gabriel—”
“YOU LIED TO ME!”
Victoria rose.
“Lower your voice.”
Gabriel stepped backward.
“You're just like Richard.”
The accusation struck her harder than he expected.
For a brief moment, Victoria looked genuinely wounded.
Then her expression hardened.
“You have no idea what my father has done.”
Gabriel stared.
“Then tell me.”
Victoria hesitated.
Finally, she said softly, “He used you.”
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
“I already know that.”
“No,” Victoria replied. “You don't understand.”
She looked toward the closed door.
“Your name was attached to a financial structure designed to give Richard leverage over the blue trust.”
Gabriel frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means your existence became a bargaining tool.”
Gabriel stared.
“And you helped him?”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“At first.”
He stepped backward.
“You're admitting it?”
Victoria nodded.
“I thought the money would protect our family. I didn't understand what he was doing to the people behind those records.”
Gabriel's voice trembled.
“And now?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Now I want to destroy him.”
Gabriel studied her face.
He wanted to believe her.
But he had learned that people who spoke softly could still hide terrible intentions.
“Then let me call Maria,” he said.
Victoria hesitated.
Then handed him a phone.
“Five minutes.”
Gabriel dialed the number Victoria had given him.
Maria answered immediately.
“Hello?”
Gabriel froze.
For seventeen years, he had imagined what his sister might sound like.
Now she was there.
On the other end of a telephone.
“Maria?”
Her breath caught.
“Gabriel?”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Maria began crying.
“Are you safe?”
Gabriel looked toward Victoria.
“For now.”
“Are you being held there?”
He hesitated.
Victoria watched him closely.
Gabriel swallowed.
“I can talk.”
Maria's voice trembled.
“I want to meet you.”
Gabriel began crying.
“I want that too.”
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Then Gabriel whispered, “Do you remember Mom?”
Maria closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“What was she like?”
The question broke her heart.
She sat down.
“She was kind,” Maria whispered. “She sang when she cooked. She always made sure Sofia and I had enough to eat, even when she didn't.”
Gabriel covered his mouth.
Maria continued.
“She used to tell us that courage wasn't about being fearless. It was about doing the right thing when you were afraid.”
Gabriel began sobbing.
“She told me something like that.”
Maria froze.
“What?”
Gabriel wiped his tears.
“When I was little, a woman visited me at Hollowbrook. She said brave people were allowed to be scared.”
Maria's heart pounded.
“Was it Mom?”
Gabriel nodded.
“I think so.”
“Did you see her face?”
“Yes.”
Maria leaned forward.
“Gabriel, when was the last time you saw her?”
He hesitated.
“Three months ago.”
Maria stopped breathing.
“THREE MONTHS?”
Gabriel nodded.
“She came to see me after I found the photograph.”
Maria's voice broke.
“What did she say?”
Gabriel looked toward Victoria.
Then whispered:
“She said she was going to tell the truth about Thomas Vance.”
Maria felt cold.
“What truth?”
Gabriel's voice trembled.
“She said he wasn't the man everyone thought he was.”
Alexander, listening beside Maria, turned to face his father.
Thomas's face had gone pale.
Maria swallowed.
“Gabriel, what did Mom say he did?”
Gabriel took a shaky breath.
“She said Thomas had been given a choice seventeen years ago.”
Maria stared.
“What choice?”
Gabriel whispered:
“HE COULD SAVE HER… OR SAVE HIS OWN FAMILY.”
Silence fell over the room.
Then Gabriel added:
“AND HE CHOSE THE VANCES.”
Before Maria could respond, a door slammed in the background.
Gabriel turned.
Victoria's expression changed.
A man's voice sounded from the hallway.
“Where is the boy?”
Victoria went pale.
Gabriel whispered, “Richard.”
Maria gripped the phone.
“Gabriel, listen to me. Get somewhere safe.”
But Gabriel wasn't listening.
He was staring toward the doorway.
Then Richard Sterling's voice rang out.
“VICTORIA, STEP AWAY FROM MY SON.”
Maria froze.
Gabriel turned slowly.
Victoria looked horrified.
And Richard Sterling entered the room.
He pointed directly at Gabriel.
“THAT BOY ISN'T ISABELLA'S SON.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
