PART 31: KELLER’S DAUGHTER
Samuel dropped the briefcase.
“My father had no daughter.”
Isabella looked at him sadly.
“He did. He simply never told you.”
Patricia had been born two years before Samuel.
Her mother died during childbirth, and Dr. Keller secretly placed the baby with a wealthy family.
Ernesto discovered the truth years later.
But that was not the secret that got him killed.
Patricia had not entered our family by accident.
Dr. Keller had sent her.
For decades, he had blamed Ernesto for destroying his medical career after an experimental drug trial injured several patients. Patricia grew up believing Ernesto had ruined her father’s life.
Ricardo used that hatred.
He promised Patricia revenge and a share of Ernesto’s fortune if she helped him steal from the company.
But when Ernesto uncovered their scheme, Patricia learned something Ricardo had concealed.
Dr. Keller’s trial had not failed because of Ernesto.
Ricardo had altered the patient records and framed the doctor to seize control of a medical investment fund.
Samuel’s face hardened.
“Ricardo destroyed our family.”
Ricardo remained on the floor, clutching his wounded shoulder.
“I gave Patricia everything she wanted.”
“You gave her lies,” Isabella said.
A police officer stepped forward to arrest him.
Then a phone began ringing.
The sound came from my mother’s coat.
She pulled it out with trembling fingers.
Patricia’s name glowed on the screen.
Everyone froze.
Isabella activated the recorder.
My mother answered.
“Patricia?”
A woman laughed softly.
“I assume you found Ernesto’s recording.”
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you’ll never reach me.”
Samuel moved closer to the phone.
“You’re my sister.”
Silence followed.
Then Patricia’s voice changed.
“Samuel?”
He swallowed hard.
“Father spent ten years hiding because of you.”
“No,” Patricia replied. “Father spent ten years hiding from Ricardo.”
Ricardo shouted from the floor.
“She’s lying!”
Patricia ignored him.
“There is something inside Keller’s briefcase. A false bottom. Open it.”
Samuel searched beneath the files and found a concealed compartment.
Inside was a passport.
A photograph.
And a death certificate.
He unfolded it slowly.
The name belonged to Samuel Keller.
According to the document, Samuel had died nineteen years ago.
He stared at it in disbelief.
“If I’m Samuel, who died?”
Patricia began crying.
“You did.”
The man before us went completely still.
Patricia continued.
“The accident destroyed your memory. Father rebuilt your face and gave you Samuel’s identity because he needed someone to protect me.”
“Then who am I?”
Nobody answered.
He looked toward Isabella.
Her expression revealed she already knew.
The man raised his gun.
“Tell me my real name.”
Isabella whispered it.
“Your name is Adrian Vargas.”
My mother screamed.
Because Adrian Vargas was her firstborn son.
The baby she had been told died at birth.
