Chapter 19: The Vault's Final Secret

The following morning, the council gathered at the Wren estate.

I stood before the sealed inheritance vault with the broken pieces of my mother's pendant in my hand.

Mara and the other council members watched in silence.

Kane remained several steps behind me, keeping the promise he had made the night before.

I placed the broken pendant into the stone lock.

The pieces joined together as if they had never been shattered.

A soft silver light spread across the wall.

Then the vault opened.

Inside was a single wooden box.

I lifted the lid and found several documents wrapped in cloth.

The first was my father's original bloodline certificate.

The second was my mother's statement.

I unfolded it with shaking hands.

"My daughter Evelyn is the biological heir of Elias Wren."

My eyes filled with tears.

After seventeen years, there was finally proof that no one could erase.

Then I found something even more important.

A list of payments made by Richard Vale.

Every payment had a purpose beside it.

Bribing the registry keeper.

Silencing a healer.

Altering the Wren bloodline records.

And finally, arranging for Vera to enter the Calder household.

My hands went cold.

Vera hadn't simply been protected by the Calder family.

She had been placed there deliberately.

Mara read the documents and immediately ordered the guards to secure the vault.

"This evidence is enough to reopen the entire case," she said.

Kane stared at the papers.

"Then my family's name will be investigated too."

Mara nodded.

"It will."

Kane didn't argue.

For once, he accepted the consequences without trying to protect his position.

I looked at the final document.

It was a letter from my mother.

"Evelyn, if you ever find this, remember one thing. You were never abandoned. I left because staying would have gotten you killed."

My tears finally fell.

"I loved you every day I was away from you."

I pressed the letter against my chest.

All the anger I had carried toward my mother suddenly broke apart.

She hadn't chosen to leave me.

She had chosen to save me.

Kane watched silently.

I turned toward him.

"My mother protected me when she had no one."

He nodded.

"I should have protected you when I had everything."

I didn't answer.

A messenger suddenly entered the room.

"Councilwoman Mara, there's an urgent message from the healing center."

Mara took the note.

Her expression changed immediately.

"It's about Vera."

Kane's body stiffened.

"What happened?"

Mara looked at him.

"She disappeared from the healing center last night."

I frowned.

"Disappeared?"

"The guards found her room empty," Mara said. "There was blood on the floor, but no body."

Kane's face went pale.

Then Mara handed me another note.

"This was left on your mother's old property."

I opened it.

There were only six words.

"If you want Vera alive, come alone."

I stared at the message.

Someone had taken Vera.

And whoever had done it knew exactly how to use her against me.