The night seemed to hold its breath.
Samuel stood beneath the moonlight, his gun pointed straight at Richard.
I couldn't move.
I couldn't even blink.
Samuel was alive.
The same Samuel we had spoken about as though he were nothing more than a memory.
The same man my mother had found badly injured after the fire.
The same man Victor had supposedly taken away.
He had survived.
But the look in his eyes told me that surviving had cost him everything.
"Samuel…" my mother whispered.
Samuel's eyes shifted toward her.
For a moment, something softened in his expression.
Then it disappeared.
"You should have told her."
My mother began crying.
"I was trying to protect her."
"Protect her?"
His laugh was bitter.
"You've all been protecting her with lies."
I felt my chest tighten.
Everyone kept saying the same thing.
Protecting me.
But their protection had only buried the truth deeper.
I looked at Samuel.
"What happened to you?"
He looked at me.
"I survived the fire."
My voice trembled.
"Then why did everyone think you were dead?"
"Because they wanted me dead."
"Who?"
Samuel raised his gun toward Richard.
"Him."
Richard's expression remained strangely calm.
"You're still blaming me?"
Samuel's jaw tightened.
"You left me to burn."
Richard shook his head.
"I didn't."
"You locked the warehouse."
"No."
"You watched it burn."
"I wasn't there when it started."
Samuel laughed.
"You always were a liar."
Adrian stepped forward.
"Enough."
Samuel looked at him.
"You."
Adrian froze.
"You're Richard's son."
"Yes."
Samuel's eyes narrowed.
"You have no idea what your father did."
Adrian's voice hardened.
"Then tell me."
Samuel lowered the gun slightly.
"Your father wasn't the one who started the fire."
Everyone froze.
I looked at my mother.
Then my father.
Then my uncle.
"Who did?"
Samuel looked directly at my uncle.
My uncle's face turned pale.
"Don't."
Samuel smiled bitterly.
"You remember."
My uncle took a step backward.
"I had nothing to do with it."
Samuel raised the gun.
"You were there."
"I wasn't!"
"You were standing beside Victor."
My heart pounded.
The photograph.
The same photograph my father had shown me.
My uncle and Victor outside the warehouse.
The metal container between them.
I finally understood why my uncle had been terrified.
"You started the fire," I whispered.
My uncle looked at me.
"No."
"Then why were you there?"
He said nothing.
Samuel answered for him.
"They were moving the money."
I stared at the metal container in my memory.
"What money?"
"The family fortune."
My father closed his eyes.
Samuel continued.
"Your uncle and Victor planned to steal it."
My uncle shouted,
"That's not true!"
Samuel's voice became colder.
"You thought the fire would destroy the evidence."
I looked at my uncle.
"And Lily?"
Samuel hesitated.
"They weren't supposed to know she was there."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
Samuel looked at my mother.
"Your mother brought Lily to the warehouse that night."
My mother nodded slowly.
"I had no choice."
"Why?"
"She was being followed."
I stared at her.
"By who?"
My mother looked toward Richard.
"His people."
Richard's expression hardened.
"You're still blaming me for everything."
"You wanted Lily," my mother said.
"She was your daughter."
Richard shook his head.
"She was never supposed to be involved."
"Then why did you come for her?"
Richard didn't answer.
My heart pounded.
Something still wasn't right.
I looked at Samuel.
"You said the fire wasn't meant to kill Lily."
"Yes."
"Then who was it meant to kill?"
Samuel looked at Adrian.
My stomach dropped.
"Adrian."
Samuel nodded.
"He was the target."
Adrian stared at him.
"Why?"
Samuel looked toward Richard.
"Because your father had decided to expose the truth."
Richard's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
Adrian stepped closer.
"What truth?"
Samuel lowered his weapon.
"The fortune wasn't your family's."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
Samuel looked at me.
"It belonged to her family."
My heart stopped.
"My family?"
"Yes."
My father suddenly stepped forward.
"Samuel, stop."
I turned toward him.
"No."
My voice shook.
"I want the truth."
Samuel nodded.
"Your grandfather built the fortune."
I stared at him.
"Then why did Richard have it?"
"He didn't."
I felt confused.
"Then who did?"
Samuel pointed toward the gold key in my hand.
"The key leads to it."
I looked down.
The tiny gold key suddenly felt heavier.
"What does it open?"
Samuel looked at me.
"Something your grandfather hid before he died."
"What?"
"A second vault."
My breath caught.
"Where?"
Samuel's eyes moved toward the road.
"Under the old church."
My father immediately shook his head.
"No."
I turned toward him.
"Why?"
"Because nobody goes there."
Samuel laughed.
"Exactly."
Suddenly, my phone vibrated.
I looked down.
A message appeared.
YOU ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTIONS.
My blood ran cold.
Another message followed.
LILY IS NOT AT THE WAREHOUSE.
I stared at the screen.
Then another appeared.
SHE IS WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST.
My heart stopped.
Someone I trusted?
I looked at my mother.
My father.
Adrian.
Samuel.
Who?
My phone vibrated again.
One final message.
LOOK BEHIND YOU.
I slowly turned.
Nobody.
Then I saw it.
A small red light blinking from inside our car.
My eyes widened.
"Adrian…"
He followed my gaze.
"Get down!"
He grabbed me and pulled me to the ground.
A deafening explosion tore through the night.
The car erupted into flames.
I screamed.
Heat rushed across my face.
Adrian shielded me with his body.
For several seconds, all I could hear was ringing.
Then I realized—
Someone had planted a bomb in our car.
Someone knew exactly where we were.
Someone was watching us.
Samuel stood up, staring at the burning wreckage.
Richard was gone.
Victor was gone.
My uncle was gone.
Only my parents, Adrian, Samuel, and I remained.
I looked at Samuel.
"Who did this?"
He stared at the flames.
"I don't know."
Then his expression changed.
"Yes, I do."
"Who?"
Samuel looked directly at me.
"The person who has been sending you those messages."
My heart raced.
"Who?"
He whispered,
"The person who has been protecting Lily."
I stared at him.
"Who is it?"
Samuel looked toward the darkness.
"Your sister."
I froze.
"Lily?"
He nodded.
"Lily isn't being held captive."
My mouth went dry.
"Then where is she?"
Samuel's eyes met mine.
"She has been hiding."
"From whom?"
He took a breath.
"From you."
My heart shattered.
"Why?"
Samuel's voice dropped.
"Because she knows what happened the night of the fire."
He paused.
"And she knows who really killed Richard."
I stared at him.
"But Richard is alive."
Samuel looked at the darkness where Richard had disappeared.
"That…"
He whispered,
"is exactly the problem."