Chapter 8 - THE MAN DANIEL TRUSTED
The shadow stepped into the room.
Daniel stared.
His mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing.
“Robert?”
The man smiled.
Robert Hayes.
Daniel’s family attorney.
The man who handled his father’s company.
The man who helped Daniel after Sarah died.
The man who stood beside him at the funeral.
The man Daniel trusted.
“What are you doing here?”
Robert adjusted his expensive coat.
“Cleaning up a mess.”
Daniel felt anger rising.
“You knew?”
Robert looked around the hidden room.
“I knew everything.”
Emma moved backward.
“Daniel, don’t let him get close.”
Robert laughed.
“You still think he’s the hero?”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You locked Emma in here.”
Robert shrugged.
“She made things complicated.”
“You almost killed her.”
“No.”
Robert smiled.
“I protected the family.”
Daniel’s fists tightened.
“Don’t say that.”
“Why?”
Robert looked at Lily.
“Everything I did was for the Carter name.”
Daniel immediately moved Lily behind him.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Robert smiled.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The same thing Sarah saw in you.”
Daniel frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
“You protect people you love.”
Robert walked closer.
“And that’s exactly why your father used you.”
Daniel stared.
“My father?”
Robert nodded.
“Your father knew you would never believe the truth.”
“What truth?”
Robert reached into his briefcase.
He pulled out a folder.
Inside were documents.
Bank transfers.
Company records.
Photographs.
Daniel looked through them.
Every page made his face change.
Payments.
Hidden accounts.
Secret companies.
All connected to his father.
And Robert.
“You worked with him.”
Robert smiled.
“For twenty years.”
Daniel felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because your father built something bigger than a company.”
Robert leaned closer.
“He built control.”
A loud sound came from upstairs.
CRASH.
Everyone looked toward the ceiling.
Robert smiled.
“You’re running out of time.”
Daniel grabbed him.
“What did you do?”
Robert didn’t fight.
He simply whispered:
“Your house isn’t the only thing with secrets.”
Daniel released him and ran.
He reached the main hallway.
Smoke filled the air.
The old family office door was open.
Inside, flames were spreading.
Daniel rushed in.
On the desk was a single item.
A small wooden box.
The same kind Sarah used to keep important things.
He grabbed it.
Then he saw something carved into the wood.
A name.
Not Daniel.
Not Sarah.
Lily.
He opened the box.
Inside was a necklace.
A tiny silver pendant.
And a note.
Daniel unfolded it.
Sarah’s handwriting.
If Lily ever finds this, tell her the truth.
His hands shook.
He read the next sentence.
She was the reason I survived.
Daniel froze.
Because suddenly everything changed.
Lily wasn’t the secret.
Lily was the person Sarah had been protecting.
Then behind him…
The office door slowly closed.
Daniel turned.
Robert stood outside.
Holding the lock.
“You always were too curious, Daniel.”
The flames grew higher.
Robert smiled.
“Let’s see if you survive long enough to learn the truth.”
The fire surrounded the room.
And Daniel realized…
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The man who knew all his family secrets was now trying to bury him with them.
TO BE CONTINUED...
