THE BILLIONAIRE FIREFIGHTER

Chapter 5: The Confrontation

Richard Chen's office smelled like expensive whiskey and entitlement.

Ava stood in the doorway, her fists clenched at her sides. She'd been here a thousand times. This office used to belong to her father. Then her grandmother. Now Richard had taken it over like a vulture picking at bones.

He sat behind the massive oak desk, a glass of amber liquid in his hand. His eyes were cold. Calculating. He didn't look surprised to see her.

"Ah, Ava." He smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "I was wondering when you'd come."

"You knew."

Richard tilted his head. "Knew what, dear niece? You'll have to be more specific."

Ava stepped forward. She slammed the diary onto his desk. The pages fluttered. The locket clattered against the wood.

Richard looked down. His smile faded.

"Where did you get these?"

"The ruins. The basement. The room you thought no one would find."

Richard was quiet for a long moment. Then he leaned back in his chair. He took a sip of his whiskey.

"You really shouldn't have gone poking around in the past, Ava. Some things are better left buried."

"Like my mother? Like my aunt? Like my sister?"

Richard's eyes flickered.

"I have a sister," Ava continued, her voice shaking. "I have a sister I never knew about. And my father buried her. Buried them both. You knew."

Richard placed his glass down slowly. He folded his hands on the desk.

"I knew," he admitted.

Ava's blood ran cold.

"Did you know about the fire? Did you set it?"

Richard laughed. It was hollow. Bitter.

"You think I set that fire? You think I want you dead?"

"You want my company."

"I want what's mine." His voice was sharp now. "Your father should have been the one to inherit. But he was weak. He let that woman—your mother—destroy him. She was poison. They both were."

"Who?"

Richard leaned forward. His eyes were dark.

"Your mother. And her twin sister. They ruined this family. They ruined your father. They ruined everything."

Ava stared at him.

"You knew my mother had a twin."

"Everyone knew. It was the family secret." Richard smiled bitterly. "Your aunt was the wild one. The dangerous one. Your mother was the good one. The perfect one. Until they switched."

"Switched?"

Richard laughed again. It was ugly.

"Your mother wanted to leave your father. She wanted to take you and run. So your aunt offered to take her place. To pretend to be her. To let your mother escape."

Ava's legs felt weak.

"But something went wrong," Richard continued. "Your father found out. He was furious. He wanted to kill them both. So your mother and aunt decided to fake one of their deaths."

Ava's heart stopped.

"Which one?"

Richard met her eyes.

"Your aunt," he said quietly. "Your aunt died in your mother's place. But your mother... she couldn't stay away. She came back to watch you. To protect you."

Ava shook her head.

"That's impossible. The diary—"

"The diary is only half the truth. Your mother never died. She's been watching you your entire life, Ava. And she's not the only one."

Ava gripped the edge of the desk.

"Who else?"

Richard smiled.

"Your sister."

Ava's breath left her lungs.

"My sister is alive?"

"Very much alive." Richard stood. He walked to the window. Stared out at the city. "Your father thought he'd buried her. But he didn't. Your mother and aunt saved her. They hid her. And now she wants to meet you."

Ava's hands were shaking.

"Where is she?"

Richard turned. His smile was gone.

"Close," he said softly. "Closer than you think."

Ava's phone buzzed.

She pulled it out. A message from an unknown number.

"The sister you've been looking for. She's not lost. She's been waiting."

Ava looked up at Richard.

He was still smiling.

"Who sent this?"

Richard laughed.

"You really don't know, do you, Ava?"

"Know what?"

Richard stepped closer. His voice dropped.

"Your sister has been in your life the entire time. You just never noticed."

Ava's blood turned to ice.

"Who is she?"

Richard shook his head.

"Figure it out yourself, niece. That's the fun part."

Ava grabbed his shirt. Her face was inches from his.

"Tell me who she is."

Richard looked down at her hands. Unmoved.

"Her name," he said slowly, "is the one name you never expected."

Ava's grip tightened.

"Say it."

Richard leaned in.

"Lily."

Ava let go. She stumbled backward.

"Lily? Ethan's sister?"

Richard laughed.

"Surprised? Your mother placed her with the Cross family years ago. They thought she was their daughter. They never knew the truth. That's why Ethan has been drowning in her medical bills. Your sister's illness—it's genetic. From your father's side."

The room tilted.

Ava gripped the wall.

"Ethan doesn't know?"

"Ethan knows nothing. He thinks he's saving his sister. But he's been saving yours."

Ava stared at Richard.

"You're lying."

"I'm telling the truth for once." Richard's voice was calm. "Your sister is alive. She's a child. She's dying. And the only person who can save her is you."

Ava's phone buzzed again.

Another message.

"Your sister needs you. Don't let her die."

Ava looked up at Richard.

"How do I save her?"

Richard smiled.

"Come back to me when you know who the real enemy is, Ava. Then we'll talk."

Ava's eyes narrowed.

"You're the enemy."

"Am I?" Richard spread his arms. "I'm your uncle, Ava. I've been protecting you from the truth your entire life."

"Liar."

"Am I?" He laughed. "Who told you about the fire? Who told you about the basement? Who told you about the locket?"

Ava was silent.

"I've been here for you, Ava. Your mother abandoned you. Your aunt watched you from the shadows. Your sister was hidden from you. But I've been here. Trying to protect you."

"You want my company."

"Of course I do. But I also want you to survive. And the only way you survive is if you stop looking for answers that will destroy you."

Ava stepped back.

"Where is my mother?"

"She's waiting," Richard said. "She's always waiting."

"What does that mean?"

Richard smiled.

"It means," he said slowly, "that your mother has been planning this for years. And right now, she's closer than you think."

Ava's phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn't a text message.

It was a picture.

A woman.

In the shadows.

Watching.

Her mother.

And the caption:

"I'm here, Ava. I've always been here. Come find me."