Chapter 5: The Secret Anna Died Protecting
Daniel read the message twice.
Then he looked at Lily.
She was standing beside Margaret, clutching the older woman's hand.
For the first time that evening, he understood why Anna had been so afraid.
Richard wasn't simply trying to hide the past.
He was still controlling the present.
“Daniel?”” Margaret asked.
He showed her the photograph.
Her face drained of color.
“He knows.””
“Knows what?””
“That Anna gave you the original evidence.””
Victoria suddenly moved toward the ballroom exit.
Daniel noticed.
“Where are you going?””
She stopped.
“Home.””
“No.””
She turned sharply.
“You cannot order me around.””
“Then answer one question. Have you been communicating with Richard?””
Victoria looked toward the guests.
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
“Did you know he was alive?””
Her eyes filled.
“I knew he wasn't dead.””
The admission silenced the room.
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Daniel stared at his bride.
“How long?””
Victoria swallowed.
“Since before we got engaged.””
Daniel took a step back.
“Three years?””
She nodded.
“Why?””
“Because he said he could help me.””
“Help you do what?””
She glanced at her mother.
Eleanor's voice was sharp.
“Victoria, don't say another word.””
But Victoria was already breaking.
“He promised to give me control of the company.””
Daniel looked at her in disbelief.
“You were going to marry me for my shares?””
“I loved you!””
“You loved the shares?””
Victoria began crying.
“I did love you. I still do.””
“Then why?””
“Because my mother and Richard told me I had to. They said if I didn't secure the trust, everything would collapse.””
Daniel looked at Eleanor.
“Your family has been planning this for years.””
Eleanor answered coldly.
“We were trying to secure the future.””
“By destroying mine?””
“Your father left a mess.””
“My father built that company.””
“And Richard helped build it!””
Daniel's voice rose.
“Richard tried to kill him!””
Eleanor flinched.
Victoria covered her face.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Margaret placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.
“There's something else you need to know.””
He turned.
“What now?””
“Anna didn't simply find Richard. She discovered what he was planning to do next.””
Margaret opened her handbag and removed a small notebook.
The pages were covered in Anna's handwriting.
Daniel recognized it immediately.
Margaret handed it to him.
“Read the last entry.””
The page was dated eleven days before Anna died.
Richard knows about Lily.
He has threatened to take her away unless I give him the original documents.
I told him I destroyed them.
He didn't believe me.
I am running out of time.
Daniel's hands tightened around the notebook.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
Margaret's voice broke.
“She was trying to protect you both. She believed Richard would use you to get to Lily.””
Daniel looked at his daughter.
“Did anyone ever hurt you, sweetheart?””
Lily shook her head.
“Mommy didn't let anyone near me.””
“Did you ever meet Richard?””
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Once.””
Daniel felt his stomach twist.
“When?””
“Before Mommy went to the hospital.””
Margaret crouched beside her.
“Lily, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.””
But Lily continued.
“He came to our apartment. Mommy told me to hide in the bedroom.””
Daniel knelt.
“What did he say?””
“He wanted a little black box.””
Daniel looked at the USB.
“Was it this?””
Lily shook her head.
“No. Mommy said the box was somewhere safe.””
Margaret's expression changed.
“Anna never told me about a box.””
Lily looked at her.
“Mommy said it was inside the yellow house.””
Daniel frowned.
“What yellow house?””
Lily pointed toward the ballroom's floral decorations.
“The little house in the picture.””
Margaret immediately understood.
“Anna's childhood home.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Where is it?””
“On the old property near the lake.””
He glanced at the address in Lily's handbag.
It was the same property Richard had photographed.
Daniel exhaled slowly.
“He wants the box.””
Margaret nodded.
“And he believes we know where it is.””
Daniel looked at his phone again.
The message remained on the screen.
COME ALONE.
He turned toward his security director, who had been standing near the ballroom entrance.
“Martin, I need you to contact the police.””
Martin nodded.
“Already doing it, sir.””
“Tell them Richard Cole is alive and potentially armed. Give them the estate address.””
Martin stepped away.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“I'm not going anywhere alone.””
“Good.””
Victoria suddenly laughed through her tears.
“You really think the police will help you?””
Daniel turned.
“Why wouldn't they?””
“Because Richard has people in places you don't even know exist.””
Margaret looked at her.
“Are you threatening him?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I'm warning him.””
Daniel approached her.
“Then warn me properly. What does Richard have?””
Victoria's voice dropped.
“He has evidence that could destroy the Whitmore company.””
“What evidence?””
“Records of payments made through your father's accounts. Transfers to companies connected to politicians. Signatures from people who are still powerful today.””
Daniel frowned.
“My father wouldn't have been involved in anything illegal.””
Victoria looked away.
“He wasn't.””
“Then whose signatures?””
She hesitated.
“Richard's. And Eleanor's.””
Daniel turned toward Eleanor.
She remained silent.
Victoria continued.
“Richard kept copies of everything. He told my mother that if she ever betrayed him, he'd release the documents and make sure she went to prison.””
Eleanor's face hardened.
“That's enough, Victoria.””
But Victoria had reached the point where fear was stronger than loyalty.
“He also has a copy of the original trust agreement.””
Daniel frowned.
“What about it?””
Victoria whispered:
“It says the Whitmore family company belongs to the firstborn biological son of your father.””
Daniel stared.
“That's me.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
A cold silence settled over the ballroom.
Daniel looked at her.
“What are you saying?””
Victoria's eyes filled.
“Richard isn't your biological father.””
Margaret frowned.
“But you said—”
“Richard lied about that too,” Victoria interrupted.
“He told my mother he was Daniel's father because he wanted control of the estate. But he isn't.””
Daniel felt the room spin.
“Then who is?””
Victoria looked toward Eleanor.
Eleanor closed her eyes.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“Your father's brother.””
Daniel stared.
“Uncle James?””
Margaret's hand flew to her mouth.
Daniel shook his head.
“My uncle died before I was born.””
Eleanor slowly nodded.
“He didn't.””
Daniel stepped backward.
“What?””
“James Whitmore left the country after a family dispute. Your father covered it up because he wanted to protect the family name.””
Margaret looked horrified.
“Then Richard…”
Eleanor nodded.
“Richard knew the truth. He used it to blackmail your father.””
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
“So who am I?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“You are still the son your father raised.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
She lowered her eyes.
“I don't know.””
Daniel looked toward Lily.
The little girl had been listening.
She stepped closer and slipped her hand into his.
“Does it matter?””
He looked down.
She continued.
“Mommy said you were my daddy. That's enough for me.””
Daniel knelt and pulled her close.
For the first time that night, the uncertainty didn't matter.
He knew one thing.
He would not lose her.
A sudden crash came from the ballroom entrance.
Martin rushed back inside.
“Sir!””
Daniel stood.
“What happened?””
“The police have been delayed. Someone called in a false emergency at the station.””
Margaret went pale.
“Richard.””
Martin nodded.
“And there's another problem.””
He held out his phone.
A live security image showed the entrance to the hotel.
A black SUV was parked beside the valet station.
A man stood outside.
Richard Cole.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“He's here?””
Martin nodded.
“He came in through the service entrance.””
Daniel looked toward the ballroom doors.
Then every light went out.
Women screamed.
Chairs scraped against the floor.
The emergency lights flickered red.
“Everyone stay where you are!”” Martin shouted.
Daniel reached for Lily.
But his hand caught only empty air.
“Lily?””
He turned.
Margaret was still beside him.
But the little girl was gone.
“LILY!””
He pushed through the darkness.
Someone grabbed his shoulder.
“Daniel!””
It was Margaret.
“She's not here!””
A scream came from the service corridor.
Then a door slammed.
The emergency lights returned.
Daniel ran toward the corridor.
On the floor lay Lily's little red handbag.
The photograph of Anna was still inside.
But the girl was gone.
Daniel picked up the handbag.
His phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
*THE BOX FOR THE GIRL. YOU HAVE ONE HOUR.*
Beneath it was a photograph of Lily sitting in the back of a black car.
Her eyes were wet.
May you like
Her hands were tied loosely in front of her.
And beside her sat Richard Cole.
