Chapter 4 - THE SECRET INSIDE CAROLINE’S LETTER
August’s hands shook as he held the letter.
For eight years, he had imagined countless times what Caroline would say if she ever came back.
Would she be angry?
Would she forgive him?
Would she blame him?
But he never imagined reading her words from a piece of paper while a little girl who carried his family ring stood beside him.
He slowly began reading.
“Dad,
If you’re reading this, then something happened to me.
And if Victoria is standing near you, be careful.
Please don’t believe everything she tells you.”
August stopped.
His eyes moved toward his wife.
Victoria immediately looked away.
“Keep reading,” Thomas Reed whispered.
August continued.
“I wanted to tell you the truth eight years ago, but every time I tried, someone stopped me.
I discovered something about Caldwell Holdings.
Something that could destroy everything we built.
But the person I trusted most was the person who betrayed me.”
August’s jaw tightened.
Victoria crossed her arms.
“This is a ridiculous letter written by someone who was scared and confused.”
August ignored her.
He continued.
“Dad, I know you love me. But you have always believed people who look loyal. That is your weakness.
You never saw the person standing closest to you.”
August felt his chest tighten.
Because he knew exactly who Caroline meant.
Victoria.
His wife.
The woman who held his hand at Caroline’s funeral.
The woman who cried beside him.
The woman who told him she wished she could have saved Caroline.
August looked at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this letter?”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“Because it’s fake.”
Elsie suddenly spoke.
“No, it’s not.”
Everyone turned.
The little girl reached into her backpack again.
“She told me never to let anyone take it away.”
August looked at her.
“Who gave you this?”
“My mom.”
“When?”
Elsie lowered her eyes.
“Before she went to the hospital.”
The room went silent.
August felt his heart break.
“She was alive?”
Elsie nodded slowly.
“She told me she tried calling you.”
August froze.
“She called me?”
“Yes.”
The words hit him like a punch.
“Why didn’t I know?”
Thomas looked down.
Victoria said nothing.
And suddenly August remembered.
Eight years ago.
The week before Caroline disappeared.
His phone had been filled with missed calls.
But he never saw them.
Because Victoria told him his phone had been damaged during a business trip.
She said she transferred everything to a new device.
August slowly turned toward her.
“Where was my old phone?”
Victoria’s face changed.
Just for a second.
But it was enough.
“You deleted her calls.”
Victoria’s voice became defensive.
“You’re accusing me based on the words of a child?”
“No.”
August stepped closer.
“I’m accusing you because you’re afraid.”
Victoria’s calm disappeared.
“You have no idea what you’re doing.”
August stared at her.
“Then explain.”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
May you like
Because for the first time...
She had no prepared answer.
