Chapter 13 - THE FINAL NAME ON THE LIST

Daniel stared at the name on the document.

For several seconds, his mind refused to accept it.

It couldn’t be true.

Not him.

Not the person who had stood beside him after Emily’s funeral.

Not the person who had held his shoulder and told him, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

The person who had pretended to mourn Emily…

Was the same person who helped destroy her.

Marcus watched Daniel carefully.

“You know him.”

Daniel slowly nodded.

“Yes.”

“Who is he?”

Daniel looked at the file again.

His voice was barely a whisper.

“Richard Vale.”

Maya, standing nearby, immediately recognized the name.

“Your father’s old attorney?”

Daniel nodded.

For twenty years, Richard Vale had handled the Ashford family’s legal affairs.

Contracts.

Investments.

Trusts.

Everything.

He had been trusted with millions of dollars.

And apparently…

He had been trusted with a secret.

Daniel rushed back to the mansion.

He needed answers.

The old office was exactly the way Richard had left it.

Daniel searched through every drawer.

Every document.

Every hidden compartment.

Then he found something.

A second laptop hidden beneath the floor panel.

Inside were encrypted files.

Marcus opened them.

After several minutes, his expression changed.

“Daniel…”

“What?”

“This isn’t just about stealing money.”

Daniel looked at the screen.

Thousands of transactions.

Fake companies.

Hidden accounts.

Then one folder caught his attention.

ASHFORD FAMILY PROJECT.

Daniel opened it.

Inside were photos.

Emily.

Lauren.

Victor.

Richard.

All together.

Planning.

Daniel felt sick.

“They were working together.”

Marcus nodded.

“But there’s something else.”

He clicked another file.

A recording appeared.

Emily’s voice filled the room.

“If anything happens to me, Richard Vale is the person you cannot trust.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

She knew.

Emily knew everything.

The recording continued.

“Richard has been moving company money for years. Lauren discovered it and joined him. Victor helped hide their actions.”

A pause.

Then Emily whispered:

“But the most dangerous thing is not the money.”

Daniel leaned closer.

Emily’s voice became softer.

“It’s what Richard did before he took our money.”

The recording stopped.

Daniel looked frustrated.

“What did he do?”

Marcus checked the file.

“Someone deleted the rest.”

Again.

Another missing piece.

Another person trying to erase the truth.

Suddenly, Daniel’s phone rang.

Unknown number.

He answered.

“Who is this?”

A familiar voice replied.

“Daniel.”

His blood ran cold.

Richard.

“You finally found the files.”

Daniel’s grip tightened.

“You killed Emily.”

A long silence.

Then Richard laughed.

“No.”

Daniel froze.

“What?”

Richard’s voice became calm.

“Emily was killed because she discovered the truth.”

“By you.”

“No.”

Richard paused.

“By someone who wanted her silent.”

Daniel looked around.

“Where are you?”

Richard didn’t answer.

Instead, he said:

“Ask Noah what happened that night.”

Daniel froze.

“What?”

Then Richard whispered:

“Your son saw everything.”

The call ended.

Daniel looked toward the hospital room where Noah was sleeping.

May you like

THE MAID’S DAUGHTER

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE,” HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THE MAID—THEN THE MAFIA BOSS LOOKED AT HER LITTLE GIRL“Get out of my house. And take that...

**MY HUSBAND CALLED ME A “BARREN LEECH”—HE DIDN’T KNOW MY MONEY WAS KEEP...

My husband threw his wedding ring at my feet and told security to remove the “barren leech” from the ballroom.He had no idea he wa...

MY DAUGHTER’S NOTE STOPPED MY WEDDING—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE

MY DAUGHTER SLIPPED ME A NOTE BEFORE “I DO”—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE’S PLANPART 1 — TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VOWS“Daddy, if you marry he...

And realized…

The missing memory of a six-year-old boy was the final piece of the puzzle.