Chapter 4: The Night Amara Disappeared
For the first time since Nathan had known her, Victoria had nothing to say.
Her champagne satin gown shimmered beneath the afternoon sun. Her diamond necklace rested perfectly against her skin. But the woman wearing them looked nothing like the bride who had walked onto the rooftop that morning.
Nathan held Amara's letter in one hand.
His other arm remained wrapped around Lily.
"Explain what you just said," he demanded.
Victoria swallowed.
"I was angry.""
"You said Amara wasn't supposed to survive.""
"I didn't mean it that way.""
"Then what way did you mean it?""
Victoria looked toward the glass doors.
Nathan stepped into her line of sight.
"Don't walk away from me.""
She let out a frustrated breath.
"You have no idea what I went through because of that woman.""
Nathan stared at her.
"Amara was pregnant with my child.""
"And she used that child to destroy everything!""
"She never even told me she was pregnant!""
Victoria laughed bitterly.
"Because I made sure she couldn't.""
The confession hung between them.
Jada, still standing beside Lily, slowly lowered her hand from her injured cheek.
Nathan's voice became quiet.
"What did you do?""
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
"I visited her apartment. I told her you didn't want the baby. I told her you were going to marry me.""
"That was a lie.""
"I know.""
Nathan looked as if he might collapse.
"Did she believe you?""
Victoria nodded.
"She cried. She begged me to let her speak to you.""
"And you refused?""
"I told her to leave.""
Nathan shook his head.
"You had no right.""
Victoria suddenly raised her voice.
"I was protecting my future!""
"From a pregnant woman?""
"From losing you!""
Nathan took a step backward.
Lily looked up at him.
"Daddy?""
He immediately softened.
"You're okay, sweetheart.""
"Is she going to hurt Mommy again?""
Nathan closed his eyes.
He had no answer.
Jada crouched beside Lily.
"She's not going to touch you.""
Victoria glared at her.
"Stay out of this.""
Jada stood.
"You've had enough opportunities to hurt people today.""
Victoria looked toward Nathan.
"Are you really going to believe her over me?""
Nathan pointed at the letter.
"I believe what Amara wrote. I believe what Lily told me. And I believe what I watched you do.""
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"Then you're making the biggest mistake of your life.""
Nathan reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
"I'm going to find out exactly what happened to Amara.""
Victoria's face changed.
"Who are you calling?""
"Someone who can help establish what happened.""
She lunged toward his phone.
Nathan moved away.
"Don't.""
Victoria froze.
For a moment, the rooftop was silent except for Lily's quiet crying.
Then Nathan made the call.
"Marcus, it's Nathan. I need you to come to the rooftop immediately.""
He paused.
"Bring the security records from the wedding preparations. And I need you to help me locate everything connected to Amara Hayes.""
Victoria laughed nervously.
"Security records? You're making this into a criminal investigation?""
Nathan looked directly at her.
"It became one when you pushed my daughter over a wall.""
Victoria's face hardened.
"You can't prove that.""
Jada stepped forward.
"I can.""
Victoria turned.
"You think anyone will believe a server over a wealthy bride?""
Jada's eyes filled.
"Maybe not. But I know what I saw.""
Nathan looked at Jada.
"You're the only witness?""
Jada nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then I'll make sure your statement is recorded.""
Jada studied him.
"And what about the slap?""
Nathan lowered his eyes.
"I'll answer for that too.""
It was the first time he had acknowledged his actions without trying to excuse them.
Jada didn't forgive him.
But she nodded.
A few minutes later, Nathan looked at Amara's letter again.
"The fireplace," he whispered.
Victoria immediately stiffened.
Nathan noticed.
"You know what I'm talking about.""
"No.""
"Amara left something there.""
"I don't care.""
"Then you won't mind if I look.""
Victoria grabbed his sleeve.
"Nathan, please. We can talk about this privately.""
He pulled away.
"There is nothing private left.""
She looked toward Lily.
Then something changed in her expression.
It was subtle.
A calculating look.
"Before you destroy your life, you should know something about that child.""
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
"What?""
Victoria took a slow breath.
"Lily isn't the only thing Amara kept from you.""
Nathan stared at her.
"What are you talking about?""
Victoria looked at the silver necklace around Lily's neck.
"That necklace has a matching piece.""
Nathan nodded.
"I know.""
"No, Nathan. You don't understand. The matching necklace wasn't just jewelry.""
She stepped closer.
"It contained something. Something Amara took from your company before she disappeared.""
Nathan frowned.
"That's impossible.""
"Ask yourself why she kept it.""
Nathan looked at Lily's pendant.
Then back at Victoria.
"What was inside?""
Victoria smiled faintly.
"That's what you should have asked six years ago.""
Before Nathan could respond, a sharp vibration came from his phone.
An incoming message.
He opened it.
It was from Marcus.
I'm reviewing the rooftop footage. Something isn't right.
Nathan typed back.
What do you mean?
The reply came almost immediately.
The camera facing the parapet was disconnected before the wedding began.
Nathan looked up.
Victoria was watching him.
Her expression was unreadable.
He showed her the message.
"Did you arrange that?""
Victoria's lips parted.
"No.""
"Then who did?""
She looked away.
Nathan stepped closer.
"Victoria!""
She finally answered.
"Ask the man who installed the cameras.""
Nathan's phone vibrated again.
Another message.
This time, Marcus had attached a photograph.
It showed a security access log from the previous evening.
One name appeared beside the camera shutdown request.
*VICTORIA HAYES.*
Nathan slowly lifted his eyes.
Victoria took one step backward.
"That doesn't prove anything.""
But Nathan wasn't looking at the photograph anymore.
He was staring at the woman who had almost become his wife.
"Why did you turn off the camera?""
Victoria opened her mouth.
Then she whispered:
"Because someone else was supposed to be standing where Lily was.""
Nathan's blood ran cold.
And before he could ask who, Victoria's phone began ringing.
The name on the screen made her entire face go pale.
*UNKNOWN CALLER.*
She rejected the call.
It rang again.
May you like
And this time, Nathan saw the message that appeared beneath it.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE GIRL QUIET.
