Signed in Blood: The Price of Secrets

Part 12 in a mess...

"This was all part of our plan," Henry admitted, his voice laced with unease as he carried a tray of coffee into the room. His gaze flickered toward Lilith, searching for a reaction.

Lilith's expression darkened instantly. "What was?" she demanded, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Very few people knew this about her, but she despised being outmaneuvered—hated when she wasn't the one in control.

Axel handed her a cup, his eyes tinged with guilt. She accepted it without a word, tapping the ceramic against the table with a soft thud, trying to steady the fury rising within her. She knew Axel wouldn't have done something like this without reason, but that didn't mean she was willing to let it slide.

Tension thickened the air as Axel exhaled deeply and began explaining. "Henry sent me to Australia to keep an eye on Ronan," he said, sparing Ronan a brief glance before continuing. "When I was called back to New Zealand, I learned that Mr. Cross was responsible for my father's murder—Mr. Creed."

Lilith's eyes softened, just for a moment.

Henry took a sip of his coffee, his voice steady. "I have connections in your company, Lilith. Through them, I uncovered the tangled web between Cross, Creed, and the Hawthornes."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Leo, Noah, and Adrian listened intently, recognizing the gravity of the conversation. They knew better than to interject, especially when Ronan—who, much like Lilith, had an undeniably dominant presence—was involved.

Ronan, unfazed by the revelation of his father's crime, merely leaned forward. "Why did my father kill yours?" His voice was calm, but his eyes carried the weight of understanding.

Axel hesitated before shifting slightly away from Lilith's seat, his discomfort evident. "He knew something he shouldn't have."

Adrian opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Axel pressed on. "When I discovered the truth, I knew I had to settle the unfinished business left behind by our parents. So when Henry and my uncle learned that Ronan was pressuring you to take up the case, I decided to fan the flames." He let out a quiet breath. "That's why I showed up at your office that day, Lilith—to push you into the investigation."

Lilith let out a dry, bitter laugh. "Unbelievable." Without another word, she turned and left the room.

Lilith's POV

I stormed into my bedroom, seething. I wasn't even sure what I was truly angry about—everything they did had its reasons. And yet, I couldn't shake the sting of betrayal. At the same time, a part of me felt grateful.

Something was finally being done about my mother's death.

They hadn't said it outright, but I knew. Deep down, I was certain her murder was entangled in all of this. The timeline of events was too close for it to be a coincidence.

Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing through memories—ones that now felt tainted with deception.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Axel stepped inside, hesitating before muttering, "Hey."

I sat up, exhaling sharply. "It's fine. I get it."

His eyes widened in surprise. "You do?"

I gave him a small, humorless smile. "I know you'd never do anything against me, Axel. But for a moment, that belief was on the verge of shattering."

He fished out a cigarette from his pocket, lighting two and passing me one. I accepted it without hesitation.

Now standing on the balcony, the cool air did little to soothe the bitterness curling in my chest. The betrayal still lingered, a quiet ache I couldn't ignore.

"What's going on outside?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Axel returned from my room with an ashtray, setting it down between us. "Noah's on a call with Caleb. Leo and Henry are talking, and Ronan and Adrian are discussing the next steps in the case."

I exhaled a long stream of smoke before stubbing out my cigarette. "I need answers." Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out.

End of POV

Lilith found Ronan with purpose in her stride, her fury reigniting like an untamed fire. Before anyone could react, she grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward, their faces inches apart. Her eyes blazed, turning a dangerous shade of red.

"You stalked me, didn't you?" she hissed. "How the hell did you know about my family? How did you find out just the right wounds to exploit—just the right words to pull me into your twisted family's mess? How dare you use my personal history to justify your dead sister's vendetta?"

Ronan's expression darkened, his hands curling into fists. "Lilith, you're crossing a line. Don't say another word about Mira."

He pushed back, but before he could lunge, Adrian grabbed his arm, holding him in place. At the same time, Axel stepped between them, his grip firm on Lilith's wrist.

Henry cleared his throat, his voice carrying an air of reluctant guilt. "About that..." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I had my source deliver the information to you through Chris." His voice dropped as he admitted the last part, as if hoping it would lessen the impact.

The room fell silent.

Leo and Noah exchanged a glance before murmuring in unison, "Does that mean...?"

Adrian finished their sentence. "The three new employees... they're your spies?"

Henry and Mr. Hawthorne nodded.

Lilith slowly turned her head, her gaze landing on Axel. He met her eyes and gave a barely perceptible nod—confirming what she already suspected.

A cold shiver ran down her spine as she muttered the words that hung heavy in the air.

"Should I trust you, Dad?"