Signed in Blood: The Price of Secrets

Part 11 got played...

Lilith's POV

I sat on the couch with my father and brother, waiting for the others to arrive. Even Axel hadn't shown up yet. Anticipation buzzed in my veins—I was eager to see how Dad would react to meeting him after all these years.

"Dad, why have you called us here? Are you planning to get involved..." My voice trailed off, laced with uncertainty. I wasn't sure if intertwining my future with my family's past was the right decision.

He placed a reassuring hand over mine, his grip firm yet gentle. "I knew Mr. Cross. We weren't particularly close, but I helped him with some of his clients' payments and other financial matters. Trust me, Lilith, I know what I'm doing. There's a lot I don't want you burdened with. Just go with the flow."

His words didn't fully settle my nerves. "You're going to hear some things today that will hurt you," he continued, his voice lower now, his gaze shifting away from mine.

A cold sensation crawled down my spine. "It's about Mom, isn't it?" My voice was sharper than I intended, the underlying frustration rising to the surface. But before my father could respond, my brother, Eric, interjected.

"I think they're here," he announced, cutting through the tension.

Perfect timing.

Leo was the first to step in, his presence warm yet composed. "Hello, Mr. Hawthorne," he greeted my father with a respectful bow, a box of chocolates in his hands. "It would've felt rude to come empty-handed."

Dad's lips quirked up in a small smile. "Oh, of course not. Have a seat."

Behind Leo, the brothers offered a casual wave before stepping inside,all big smiles looking at the old man after so long.

I saw noticed Henry looking at Caleb,his gaze lingering  a bit too long on him.He looked in some thought.

"Hey, Noah! How have you been?and Caleb!" Dad's voice was light with familiarity as he embraced the youngest among us.

"How are you uncle?you still look as good as me" both their laughs escaped,the brothers and dad met after a very long,and it was all love to him.Noah hugged dad back, but his gaze flickered toward me, a silent question in his eyes—What's going on?"

Before I could answer, Adrian and Ronan entered, dressed in formal attire that seemed almost excessive for the occasion.

"You must be Mr. Hawthorne," Ronan greeted, bowing slightly.

Dad's brows lifted a fraction. "Hello, Ronan." His voice was steady, but his pupils dilated ever so slightly. I had no idea why.

When Ronan finally sat, Dad quipped, "Isn't the outfit a bit much?"

Ronan chuckled, brushing it off, while Adrian greeted everyone and took his seat beside Henry.

Ronan's POV

Once everyone settled in, the conversation turned serious.

"So, Ronan," Mr. Hawthorne began, his tone unwavering, "I went through all the old evidence from when the case was first filed. Let me tell you, it was tampered with from the very start. The inconsistencies are glaring."

I had anticipated his straightforwardness, but his sharpness exceeded my expectations.

He pulled out a pair of glasses from his pocket, placed them on the bridge of his nose, and flipped through the worn pages of an aged file. "Do you know someone named Sierra?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the text.

Silence fell over the room.

All eyes lifted in confusion. "She was the only one never questioned, even though her phone was traced near Mira's house just moments before the fire. She was seen in the parking area right outside. More importantly, she has ties to someone in the company."

A heavy weight pressed against my chest.

Noah's hand covered his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief. Leo and Adrian turned to stare at me in shock.

Lilith broke the silence. "Who is she?"

My voice barely found its way out. "She... she's Nicolai's sister."

My world tilted. Out of all the people connected to the company, Nicolai had never crossed my mind. It had to be a coincidence. It had to be.

Mr. Hawthorne studied my reaction carefully. "By the look on your face, I can tell this was unexpected." He paused before delivering the final blow. "Let me clarify—this is still an assumption."

I exhaled, a small sense of relief washing over me.

"But it's a strong one."

Damn it.

His voice lowered, steady yet grave. "Before I retired, Sierra was the last lead I had. But the moment I got close, I was forced out—politically pressured to step down. Your parents shut the case down before a real investigation even began. Every piece of evidence I've held onto points straight to them. And from what Lilith told me, you have records against them as well."

I nodded, unable to speak.

A son desperate to prove his parents guilty—how ironic. But my parents never cared for me; I was merely an investment. Their empire was built on cold calculations, and I was just another pawn on their chessboard.

Lilith's POV

We delved deeper into the case, the atmosphere growing heavier with each revelation. Dad admitted his suspicions about Mr. Cross from the beginning. What started as an investigation quickly turned into an emotional confession.

Ronan spoke of his childhood—of the suffocating expectations, the relentless pressure to succeed. He shared how Adrian was the first real friend he made.

Adrian had found him when he was just fifteen, standing on the edge of a rooftop. It was Adrian who saved him, who gave him the strength to leave New Zealand behind and pursue his dreams in the U.S. Adrian's father had been Ronan's schoolteacher, the only adult who had ever shown him kindness.

As Ronan spoke, his voice wavered. Adrian, already in tears, accepted a napkin from Henry.

"In this world, people either follow the rules or get crushed," Ronan murmured.

A deep, familiar voice cut through the room. "Or they make the rules. Forcefully."

My breath hitched. I recognized that voice in an instant.

Axel.

Before I could react, Ronan was already on his feet, nearly sprinting toward him. He wrapped Axel in a tight embrace, relief evident in his every movement.

I stared, dumbfounded. "You know him?"

Ronan turned back, a grin breaking through the storm that had clouded his face all evening. "He's the friend who helped me in Australia."

And then, my father added, "I sent him to Ronan."

My head snapped toward him. "Wait, what?!"