37. Discuss countermeasures

Miriam Anderson rushed through the dimly lit hallway, her normally composed demeanor shattered by a sense of urgency she couldn't shake. Her footsteps echoed as she approached the guest quarters where the imposter now resided, posing as the long-lost Hamilton daughter. Miriam hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door, her hands trembling slightly. When the door opened, the imposter—who had seamlessly blended into the family—greeted her with a cold, calculating stare.

"Come in, Miriam," she said, her voice smooth yet laced with an undercurrent of impatience. "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Miriam quickly stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before speaking. "We have a problem," she began, her voice hushed. "Samuel Hamilton is getting suspicious. He might start investigating your identity, and if he digs too deep…"

The imposter's eyes narrowed. "And you're sure he's onto something?"

Miriam nodded. "I overheard him talking to his father. He doesn't trust you, and Victor Hamilton… well, he didn't seem too concerned, but that could change if Samuel finds anything concrete. We need to be careful."

The imposter frowned, tapping her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "This is troubling. I've worked too hard to get this close to the Hamiltons, and I'm not about to let some overly curious brother ruin everything."

"There's more," Miriam added, her voice trembling slightly. "I received a message from the Subterfuge Alliance. They've ordered us to halt the assassination attempt on the real daughter. Apparently, there's been some kind of major upheaval within their ranks. They didn't give any details, and I didn't dare ask."

The imposter's eyes widened slightly, her cool exterior faltering for a brief moment. "What kind of upheaval?"

"They didn't say," Miriam replied, shaking her head. "But if they're calling off the hit, it must be something serious. That organization doesn't stop a mission unless they absolutely have to."

The imposter clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "So she's safe, for now," she muttered, more to herself than to Miriam. "That woman has all the luck in the world. First, she escapes death, and now this."

Miriam could sense the imposter's anger boiling beneath the surface. "What should we do? Without the Subterfuge Alliance, we have no way to eliminate her. She'll continue to be a threat to your position here."

The imposter took a deep breath, composing herself. "If we can't rely on outside forces, we'll have to change tactics. We need to solidify my position within the family. I've already made some progress, but we need to ensure that I'm untouchable. Even if they have doubts, they won't act on them without undeniable proof."

Miriam nodded, her anxiety slightly easing as she saw the imposter regaining control of the situation. "What do you propose?"

"We'll start with Grandfather Marshall," the imposter said, her tone decisive. "He's the patriarch of the family, and his approval carries the most weight. If I can win him over, the others will be more likely to follow."

Miriam looked concerned. "Marshall Everett Hamilton is a difficult man to impress. He's known for his sharp mind and even sharper instincts. If he senses something is off, it could be disastrous."

The imposter smirked. "I'm aware of that. But Marshall has a soft spot for family, and I intend to exploit that. I'll play the role of the dutiful granddaughter, eager to reconnect and make up for lost time. He won't be able to resist."

"And what about Victor?" Miriam asked, still nervous. "He's already dismissed Samuel's concerns, but we can't be too careful."

"Victor is proud," the imposter replied. "He values the family's reputation above all else. I'll make myself indispensable to him, proving that I'm an asset, not a liability. I'll involve myself in the family's business, offering insights and suggestions that align with his ambitions. He won't want to believe I'm anything but who I claim to be."

Miriam nodded, though she still felt uneasy. "And the brothers?"

"The brothers are more complicated," the imposter admitted. "But they're also easier to manipulate in some ways. They each have their own lives and interests, and I'll find ways to ingratiate myself with each of them. Whether it's showing an interest in Christopher's scientific work, supporting Matthew's music career, or subtly offering assistance to the eldest in his military duties, I'll make myself indispensable to each of them."

Miriam listened carefully, impressed by the imposter's meticulous planning. But there was one thing still nagging at her. "And Samuel? He's the one we need to worry about the most."

The imposter's expression darkened. "Samuel is a problem. He's too smart for his own good, and he's already suspicious. We need to keep him distracted, busy with other matters. If he starts digging, we'll feed him just enough false information to throw him off course. But if he gets too close… we may have to find another way to deal with him."

Miriam shivered at the implication but knew better than to question the imposter's judgment. "I understand. I'll do what I can to help. Just be careful. If anything goes wrong…"

"It won't," the imposter cut her off, her voice cold and final. "I've come too far to let anything ruin this. Now, go. We have work to do."

Miriam nodded and left the room, her heart still pounding with fear and uncertainty. As she walked back to her quarters, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were playing a dangerous game—one that could destroy them all if they weren't careful.

Meanwhile, the imposter sat back in her chair, her mind racing with plans and strategies. She had always known that infiltrating the Hamilton family would be difficult, but she had underestimated how quickly things could spiral out of control. Still, she was determined to see her mission through to the end, no matter the cost.

With a sigh, she reached for her phone and composed a message to her contact within the Subterfuge Alliance, requesting more information about the upheaval that had led to the cancellation of the assassination mission. If there was turmoil within the alliance, it could either be an opportunity or a threat, and she needed to know which.

As she sent the message, she vowed to stay one step ahead of the Hamiltons, no matter what. If she could secure the loyalty and trust of Marshall, Victor, and the brothers, she would be untouchable. And then, when the time was right, she would make her move and claim what was rightfully hers.

But until then, she would play the role of the perfect daughter and sister, all the while keeping a watchful eye on Samuel and anyone else who might pose a threat to her plans. The Hamilton family had no idea what was coming.