Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
UNTIL SUNRISE
“You have until sunrise.”
Lucas’s words stayed in the air long after he stopped speaking.
Outside the old island house, the wind screamed across Lake Superior.
Inside, nobody moved.
Damon stood beside me, his face pale but controlled.
Eli was somewhere beyond the locked doors of the house.
Alive.
That was the only thought I could afford to hold onto.
Alive.
My son was alive.
But Lucas had just told me that if I chose Damon, Eli would inherit everything.
And if I chose Eli—
Damon would die.
I looked at Damon.
He looked back at me.
There was no anger in his eyes.
No fear.
Only something that broke my heart more than either of those things.
Acceptance.
“No,” I whispered.
Damon reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
His expression tightened.
“Evelyn.”
“No.”
I shook my head harder.
“This is exactly what they want.”
Lucas smiled faintly.
“They?”
“The people who built this entire nightmare,” I said. “The people who have spent generations turning love into leverage.”
Lucas’s smile disappeared.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Then explain it.”
He looked toward the dark hallway.
“Your son is the final heir.”
I stared at him.
“Eli.”
“Yes.”
“And Damon?”
“The last Vale son.”
My stomach twisted.
Lucas continued.
“The original trust was created after Elias Vale realized what his family had become. He feared the fortune would destroy every child born into it. So he created a final condition.”
“What condition?”
Lucas’s eyes settled on me.
“The heir must choose between blood and love.”
I laughed once.
It came out broken.
“That isn't a choice.”
“It is to the trust.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“That isn't a choice. That's torture.”
Lucas didn't answer.
Damon finally spoke.
“What happens at sunrise?”
Lucas looked at him.
“The trust closes.”
“And if Evelyn refuses to choose?”
“Then both claims are invalid.”
Damon frowned.
“And what happens to Eli?”
Lucas's silence was answer enough.
My heart stopped.
“What happens to my son?”
“He disappears from the Vale system permanently.”
I felt cold.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he will have no legal claim. No protection from the trust. No inheritance.”
“I don't care about the inheritance.”
Lucas's voice hardened.
“You should.”
“I don't.”
“Because the people hunting him do.”
That stopped me.
Lucas stepped closer.
“The trust isn't just money, Evelyn. It's property. Companies. land. accounts. political influence. Private security networks. People who have spent decades waiting for an heir.”
He looked at Damon.
“They won't simply walk away because you don't want the fortune.”
Damon's jaw tightened.
“Then what do they want?”
Lucas answered quietly.
“They want control of Eli.”
I felt something inside me snap.
“No.”
Damon reached for my hand again.
This time, I let him.
His fingers closed around mine.
Warm.
Steady.
Human.
Not a fortune.
Not a trust.
Not a family name.
Just Damon.
The man I had loved before I knew his last name was worth billions.
The man who had broken my heart because he believed breaking it would save my life.
The man who had spent four years searching for me.
The man standing beside me now, knowing he might die before sunrise.
I looked at him.
“Tell me you’re not going to do this.”
His eyes softened.
“Do what?”
“Tell me to choose Eli.”
He didn't answer.
“Damon.”
He swallowed.
“If that's what keeps you and Eli safe—”
I slapped his chest.
Hard.
He barely moved.
“Don't.”
“Evelyn—”
“Don't you dare make this noble.”
His eyes filled with pain.
“I’m trying to protect you.”
“I don't need you to die for me.”
“I know.”
“Then don't.”
He looked at our joined hands.
“I don't know if I have a choice.”
“You do.”
I stepped closer.
“You have a choice.”
His eyes lifted to mine.
“You chose me once,” I whispered. “You just chose the wrong way to love me.”
His breathing changed.
“And I'm not letting you make the same mistake twice.”
A sound came from the hallway.
We both turned.
Eli stood there.
Barefoot.
Wearing the blue sweater I had bought him last winter.
His face was wet with tears.
“Mom?”
I ran to him.
I dropped to my knees and pulled him against me.
He buried his face in my shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
My heart broke.
“For what?”
“I thought I could fix it.”
I pulled back.
“What did you do?”
His eyes moved toward Lucas.
Lucas closed his eyes.
“Eli,” I said gently. “Tell me.”
Eli wiped his face.
“I found the old room.”
“What old room?”
“The one Grandma Marian showed me.”
Damon froze.
“What room?”
Eli looked at him.
“Your father's study.”
Silence.
Lucas turned sharply.
“That room was sealed.”
Eli nodded.
“It was.”
“How did you get inside?”
Eli hesitated.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small brass key.
My breath caught.
“Where did you get that?”
“Grandma Marian.”
Lucas stared at the key.
“What did she tell you?”
Eli looked at him.
“She said the truth was never in the trust.”
My skin prickled.
“What does that mean?”
Eli looked at Damon.
“She said the trust was a distraction.”
Lucas stepped forward.
“What else?”
Eli shook his head.
“She said Dad would know.”
Damon looked confused.
“Know what?”
Eli reached into his other pocket.
He pulled out a folded piece of paper.
He handed it to Damon.
Damon unfolded it.
His face changed.
I watched the color drain from his cheeks.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
“Damon.”
He handed me the paper.
There were only six words written on it.
THE DEAD MAN IS NOT MICHAEL.
My stomach dropped.
I looked at Lucas.
He was already backing away.
“Lucas?”
He didn't respond.
“Who is the dead man?”
Lucas whispered something.
“What?”
He looked directly at Damon.
“Thomas.”
Damon went completely still.
“My father?”
Lucas nodded.
“Thomas Vale died twelve years ago.”
“No,” Lucas said.
“He died twelve years ago according to the records.”
A terrible silence filled the room.
“Then according to the truth?”
Lucas looked toward the window.
The eastern sky was still black.
“We have less than five hours.”
I tightened my grip on the note.
“Tell me.”
Lucas finally looked at me.
“Thomas Vale didn't die twelve years ago.”
My heart pounded.
“Then who did?”
May you like
Lucas's answer came quietly.
“A man who looked exactly like him.”
