Chapter 12: Unveiling Shadows

Richard sat in stunned silence, the sound of his mother’s heels echoing in the cold, sterile room long after she had left. His mind reeled, grappling with the twisted revelations Eleanor had so casually thrown at him. Alexander’s father… Emma’s father… Could it really be true? He couldn’t afford to dwell on the horror of it all. Not here. Not now. Eleanor had made it clear: survival meant staying calm, playing the long game. But for the first time in his life, Richard doubted whether his mother’s plan would save them—or destroy them both. Meanwhile, across town, Alexander and Emma were far from the prison walls that held Richard. They were seated in their spacious living room, the tension between them palpable. Alexander’s brow was furrowed in thought as he sifted through the files Rachel, their investigator, had provided. “This is all we have?” Alexander asked, his voice laced with frustration as he glanced at Emma. “It’s not enough to bring Eleanor down.” Emma looked at him, co