Chapter 7 - THE GIRL WHO WAS USED AS A WEAPON

Ethan had faced angry investors.

He had survived business wars.

He had watched people betray him for money.

But nothing had ever made him feel as helpless as that moment.

Because this time…

The person in danger was not his company.

Not his reputation.

Not his fortune.

It was his daughter.

“Lena!”

Emma’s scream echoed through the empty lobby.

The video was gone.

The screen turned black.

But Ethan could still see her face.

His little girl.

The child he had only just discovered.

The child he had already lost seven years of memories with.

And now someone had taken her away.

“Find her.”

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

The kind of calm that came before a storm.

Martin watched him carefully.

“You should think before you act.”

Ethan turned slowly.

“Think?”

His eyes were filled with anger.

“My daughter was kidnapped.”

Martin lowered his voice.

“If you rush in blindly, Daniel wins.”

Ethan stepped closer.

“You don’t get to tell me about winning.”

The entire lobby went silent.

“You helped him.”

Martin’s expression changed.

For the first time…

He looked guilty.

“I made mistakes.”

“No.”

Ethan shook his head.

“You made choices.”

He turned toward his security team.

“Lock down every exit.”

Martin frowned.

“You think Daniel is still here?”

“No.”

Ethan looked at him.

“But someone who works for him might be.”

That sentence made several employees look away.

And Ethan noticed.

Someone knew something.

Someone was afraid.

He walked toward the security cameras.

“Show me the footage.”

The head of security hesitated.

“Mr. Cole…”

“Now.”

The footage appeared on the screen.

People entering.

People leaving.

Employees walking through the lobby.

Then Ethan saw it.

A woman in a gray coat.

She entered twenty minutes before Daniel’s video appeared.

She didn’t look suspicious.

She looked ordinary.

But Ethan recognized something.

The way she walked.

The way she avoided the cameras.

“Who is she?”

Nobody answered.

Ethan looked at the security manager.

“Who?”

The man swallowed.

“That’s…”

He hesitated.

“Daniel’s assistant.”

Ethan’s face hardened.

“Name.”

“Victoria Lane.”

Emma, who had been standing behind him, suddenly went pale.

“Victoria?”

Everyone looked at her.

Ethan turned.

“You know her?”

Emma’s hands began shaking.

“I thought she was gone.”

“Gone from where?”

Emma looked terrified.

“From Daniel’s life.”

A cold silence filled the room.

Ethan stepped closer.

“What happened?”

Emma whispered:

“She was there the night I disappeared.”

The words hit him.

“What?”

“She helped him.”

Ethan clenched his jaw.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was afraid.”

“Of Daniel?”

Emma looked at him.

“No.”

She swallowed.

“Of what they would do if I exposed them.”

Before Ethan could ask more…

His phone rang.

Unknown number.

Everyone froze.

He answered immediately.

“Where is my daughter?”

A woman’s voice responded.

Not Daniel.

Victoria.

“You really do love her.”

Ethan’s eyes darkened.

“Where is Lena?”

“Safe.”

“If you hurt her—”

“You’re making the same mistake again.”

“What mistake?”

“Thinking anger makes you powerful.”

Ethan gripped the phone.

“What do you want?”

A pause.

Then:

“The company.”

Ethan laughed coldly.

“You kidnapped my daughter for money?”

“No.”

Victoria’s voice became softer.

“We kidnapped your daughter because you would finally listen.”

Ethan looked at Emma.

“What does that mean?”

Victoria answered:

“Ask your wife why Lena’s birth certificate has another name on it.”

Ethan froze.

“What?”

The call ended.

Emma looked away.

And Ethan realized…

There was another secret.

One more truth Emma had hidden.

A truth about his own daughter.

CLIFFHANGER:

Ethan thought he knew the worst secrets.

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