Chapter 6: The Truth Hidden In The Trust
The police wanted me to stay calm.
That was the first thing they said.
“Mr. Carter, we understand you’re angry, but we need you to think clearly.””
Think clearly.
I wanted to scream.
Someone had taken a picture of my daughter outside our home.
Someone who knew where she was.
Someone who had already proven they were willing to manipulate a child.
But I nodded.
Because Emily was upstairs.
And she needed her father to be steady.
Not afraid.
Not furious.
Steady.
Detective Harris sat across from me at the kitchen table.
“Have you received any threats before?””
“No.””
“Any enemies?””
I almost laughed.
“I’m a businessman. Everyone has enemies.””
He looked at the photo.
“Who is Rebecca Parker?””
I corrected him.
“Rebecca Collins.””
“Former fiancée?””
I looked away.
“Yes.””
“And Ethan Parker?””
“Her partner in whatever this is.””
The detective studied me.
“Do you have proof?””
I placed the documents on the table.
The messages.
The financial records.
The photographs.
He looked through everything carefully.
“This is enough to investigate.””
“But?””
He sighed.
“But we need more.””
I hated that answer.
Because while everyone searched for evidence, my daughter was the one living with fear.
That evening, I found Emily sitting on the floor drawing.
She was drawing our family.
Me.
Her.
And a house.
No Rebecca.
I sat beside her.
“That’s beautiful.””
She looked at the paper.
“I forgot to draw Mommy.””
My heart softened.
“You can add her.””
She shook her head.
“I don’t remember her face.””
That sentence destroyed me.
Laura had been gone for years.
Emily was only one when she died.
She knew her mother through photographs and stories.
Not memories.
“I’m sorry.””
She looked at me.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Did Rebecca hate me because Mommy died?””
The question stunned me.
“No.””
But then I stopped.
Because I wasn’t sure anymore.
“I think Rebecca had problems that had nothing to do with you.””
Emily looked at her drawing.
“I wish she liked me.””
I wrapped my arm around her.
“I know.””
The next morning, Thomas called.
“I found something.””
I grabbed my phone.
“What?””
“Rebecca accessed information about your trust before the wedding.””
“How?””
“She convinced your assistant to give her access.””
My stomach turned.
“My assistant?””
“Yes.””
I immediately thought of Claire.
She had worked with me for eight years.
Impossible.
“Are you sure?””
“Very.””
I drove straight to the office.
Claire looked terrified when I entered.
“Daniel.””
“Did Rebecca ask you about my trust?””
Her face changed.
That was enough.
“Claire.””
She sat down.
“I didn’t know what she was planning.””
“What did you tell her?””
She covered her face.
“She said she was worried about Emily.””
I stared.
“She said what?””
“She told me you were struggling emotionally after losing Laura. She said she wanted to understand the trust because she wanted to protect Emily.””
I closed my eyes.
Another lie.
“She used your kindness.””
Claire started crying.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at the documents on my desk.
“Did she get anything else?””
Claire hesitated.
“What?””
“She asked about changing the beneficiary.””
My blood ran cold.
“She asked you to change Emily’s inheritance?””
“She said Emily was too young to manage it.””
I stood.
“She was trying to steal my daughter’s future.””
Claire nodded.
“I refused.””
For the first time all day, I felt a little relief.
“Thank you.””
But then Claire whispered:
“Daniel…”
I looked back.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
“She wasn’t working alone.””
I froze.
Claire opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
“She left this in my office.””
My name was written on the front.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of Laura.
But something was written on the back.
A message.
*Your wife knew the truth before she died. Ask why she never told you.*
I stared at the words.
My hands went numb.
Because there was only one person who could have known that.
Someone who was there when Laura died.
May you like
Someone who had been hiding for years.
Ethan.
