Chapter 7 - THE VOICE FROM THE PAST

The hidden room was completely dark.

Daniel slammed his shoulder against the locked door.

“Lauren!”

No answer.

Only silence.

Maya stood beside him, holding her phone flashlight toward the walls covered with Emily’s research.

“She planned this,” Maya whispered.

Daniel looked at the files scattered across the floor.

“No.”

His voice was low.

“She didn’t just plan this.”

He looked at the locked door.

“She’s been planning this for years.”

The truth was becoming impossible to ignore.

Emily had known.

She had discovered something.

And someone had killed her to keep it hidden.

Daniel grabbed a metal shelf and pushed with all his strength.

After several attempts, the old lock finally broke.

They rushed out.

But Lauren was gone.

Daniel immediately searched the mansion.

“Find Lauren,” he ordered the security team.

The guards exchanged nervous looks.

“Sir…”

“What?”

“There’s another problem.”

Daniel turned.

The security manager held a tablet.

“The footage from last night has been changed again.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed.

“What changed?”

The manager swallowed.

“The man from the hallway.”

The screen showed the mysterious figure.

But now…

His face was visible.

Daniel stepped closer.

Then he froze.

Because he knew him.

“No…”

Maya looked at him.

“Who is he?”

Daniel didn’t answer.

His face had lost all emotion.

Because the man on the screen was supposed to be dead.

“Victor Hale.”

The room went silent.

The name meant something to everyone.

Victor Hale had been Daniel’s closest friend.

His business partner.

And the man whose death had happened only months before Emily’s accident.

“That’s impossible,” Marcus said.

“He died.”

Daniel stared at the screen.

“Apparently…”

He paused.

“Someone wanted us to believe that.”

That night, Daniel found Lauren in the guest house.

She wasn’t running.

She was waiting.

“You know everything now.”

Daniel stood in the doorway.

“Who is Victor?”

Lauren smiled sadly.

“Still protecting your image of the world?”

Daniel’s jaw tightened.

“You lied to me.”

“Yes.”

The answer was so easy that it shocked him.

Lauren looked at him.

“But not about everything.”

“What does that mean?”

She stepped closer.

“It means Emily wasn’t as innocent as you think.”

Daniel laughed bitterly.

“My wife was murdered.”

Lauren’s expression changed.

“Your wife was investigating things she didn’t understand.”

“Like what?”

Lauren looked away.

“Things that could destroy this family.”

Daniel stared at her.

“You mean your secrets.”

Lauren didn’t answer.

And that was enough.

Before Daniel could ask another question…

The lights outside suddenly went off.

A loud crash came from the main house.

Daniel turned.

“Noah.”

He ran.

And behind him…

Lauren smiled.

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Someone else had entered the mansion.