Chapter 7 - The Secret Between Daniel and My Father
I stared at the document in my hands.
Fifteen years.
That was how long this secret had existed.
Fifteen years before Daniel became my husband.
Fifteen years before he held my hand in the hospital when we lost our first pregnancy.
Fifteen years before he promised me we would build a family together.
My father and Daniel had known each other.
And Daniel never told me.
“Why?” I whispered.
Margaret looked at the floor.
“Because Daniel was afraid.”
I looked at her.
“Afraid of what?”
“Afraid that telling you would destroy your relationship with your father before you were ready.”
I almost laughed.
“My father dragged me out of my house while I was pregnant.”
My voice cracked.
“He destroyed that relationship himself.”
Margaret didn’t argue.
Because she knew I was right.
Thomas stood near the window, silent.
I turned toward him.
“You knew too?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“Yes.”
“How many people knew my life was built on secrets?”
Nobody answered.
And that hurt more than anything.
I walked to Daniel’s desk and sat down.
My hand rested on the wood where he used to work.
“Tell me everything.”
Margaret opened the document.
“Fifteen years ago, Richard Hale was involved in a financial scheme.”
“What kind of scheme?”
“He was moving company money through fake accounts.”
My stomach tightened.
“My father stole money?”
“Yes.”
“How did Daniel find out?”
“Daniel was working as a young financial consultant at the time. He discovered unusual transactions connected to one of Richard’s companies.”
I shook my head.
“So Daniel exposed him?”
“No.”
Margaret looked at me.
“Daniel gave him a chance to fix it.”
That sounded exactly like Daniel.
He always believed people could change.
Even when they didn’t deserve it.
“What happened?”
“Richard promised he would return the money and leave Daniel alone.”
I looked at the papers.
“But he didn’t.”
“No.”
Thomas finally spoke.
“Your father blamed Daniel for everything.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because Daniel became successful. Because Daniel built something Richard could never build.”
My hands tightened.
“My father was jealous.”
Margaret nodded.
“Richard believed Daniel was the reason he lost power.”
The room felt colder.
Then I remembered something.
“The night before Daniel died…”
Both of them looked at me.
“What?”
“He received a phone call.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“From who?”
“I don’t know.”
I closed my eyes.
“But he looked scared.”
Margaret became serious.
“What did he say?”
I swallowed.
“He said…”
I remembered Daniel’s exact words.
“‘If something happens, protect Emily.’”
Silence.
Then Thomas whispered:
“He knew.”
I looked at him.
“He knew someone was coming after him.”
“Yes.”
A tear slipped down my face.
“And he still came home.”
Because that was Daniel.
He protected people even when he was the one in danger.
Then Margaret’s phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
She answered.
“Hello?”
A few seconds passed.
Then her face went pale.
“Are you sure?”
She stood up.
“What happened?”
Margaret slowly lowered the phone.
“The county recorder’s office.”
“What about it?”
She looked at me.
“Someone filed an emergency transfer request on your house.”
My heart dropped.
“But the house is protected.”
“Yes.”
“Then how?”
Margaret looked at the document.
“Because someone used Daniel’s old authorization.”
I froze.
“Daniel never gave anyone permission.”
Margaret looked terrified.
“Exactly.”
Thomas walked closer.
“Someone is using Daniel’s identity.”
A terrible thought entered my mind.
“Someone who had access to him.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Margaret said the words that made my blood run cold.
May you like
“Emily…”
“Your husband’s death may not have been the only thing they planned.”
