Chapter 4: The Brother Who Came Back Bleeding
“Michael?” Daniel rushed toward his brother. “Who did this to you?”
Michael leaned against the wall. “Two men outside the chapel.”
Victoria shouted through the phone, “Daniel, do not listen to him!”
Daniel slowly raised the phone. “Mom, why are you afraid?”
“I am not afraid. Your brother is unstable.”
Michael laughed through blood on his lip. “That’s what you told everyone after Dad died too.”
Emily looked at the envelope in his hand. “What report?”
Michael handed it to Daniel. “Your mother paid a private lab to create a false DNA result. It says Emily’s baby is mine.”
Daniel stared at the paper.
Emily began crying. “That’s why you called me?”
Michael nodded. “I wanted to warn you. But Clara followed me. Then the report disappeared.”
Daniel turned back to the phone. “Mom?”
Victoria’s voice changed. “Daniel, listen carefully. Emily entered this family for money.”
“No,” Emily said. “I signed a prenup.”
Michael added, “She signed the harshest prenup Mom’s lawyer could write.”
Daniel looked at his brother. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I tried. Mom had me locked out of the estate.”
Karen, still crying, spoke from the corner. “Clara said Victoria promised her Daniel would come back to her.”
Daniel snapped his head toward her. “Victoria was involved?”
Karen nodded. “Clara said your mother only needed one more push.”
Emily touched her stomach. “One more push…”
Daniel’s face darkened.
The doctor said, “Security is here. We need statements from everyone.”
Michael pulled out another page. “There’s more.”
Daniel opened it.
“What is this?”
“Your father’s will.”
Daniel blinked. “Dad left everything to Mom.”
“No,” Michael said. “Dad left controlling shares to your firstborn child.”
Emily whispered, “Our baby?”
Michael nodded. “If Daniel has a child, Victoria loses control of Hart Industries.”
Daniel stared at the hospital monitor, hearing his child’s heartbeat.
“So this was never about Clara.”
Michael shook his head. “Clara was a weapon.”
Emily said, “Your mother wanted my baby gone.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed again.
A new message from Victoria appeared.
COME HOME NOW, OR MICHAEL’S NEXT ACCIDENT WILL BE FINAL.
At that exact moment, Michael coughed and collapsed.
The doctor shouted, “Get him on a bed!”
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Daniel grabbed his brother’s arm.
A small needle mark was visible on Michael’s neck.
