Chapter 2 - THE MAN WHO CAME BACKNathan reached the kitchen and found Lily standing alone beside the table.
“Where's Grace?”
Lily pointed toward the hallway.
“Mommy went after the lady.”
Nathan's heart stopped.
He ran.
The hallway was empty.
The back door was open.
Cold air swept through the mansion.
“Grace!”
No answer.
Nathan grabbed his phone.
“Grace, answer me!”
Nothing.
Then he saw footprints outside.
Two sets.
One belonged to Grace.
The other was larger.
Nathan followed them.
The trail ended near the garden wall.
There was no one there.
Then a voice came from behind him.
“Looking for her?”
Nathan spun around.
A tall man stood beneath the trees.
Dark coat.
Tired face.
Sharp eyes.
Nathan immediately recognized him from the photograph.
“Daniel Hayes.”
Daniel nodded.
“You shouldn't have come here.”
Nathan stepped toward him.
“Where is Grace?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
Daniel looked past him toward the mansion.
“Inside.”
Nathan turned.
Grace appeared in the doorway.
She was pale but standing.
Lily ran into her arms.
Nathan stared at Daniel.
“You called me.”
“Yes.”
“You know who is behind this.”
Daniel's face hardened.
“I know enough.”
Nathan approached.
“Then start talking.”
Daniel looked at Grace.
She nodded.
Daniel sighed.
“Five years ago, Victoria wasn't working alone.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“Who else?”
“Your father's business partner.”
Nathan froze.
“Richard Hayes?”
Daniel nodded.
“Your father discovered that Richard had been stealing from the company.”
Nathan remembered the old stories.
His father had trusted Richard for thirty years.
Daniel continued.
“He planned to expose him.”
“And Victoria?”
“She found out.”
Nathan shook his head.
“She was protecting her father.”
“Yes.”
Grace spoke quietly.
“She threatened me because she knew I had access to Nathan.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
“Why would she think you could expose them?”
Grace swallowed.
“Because your father told me.”
Nathan frowned.
“Told you what?”
“That Richard had been moving money through offshore accounts.”
Nathan looked toward the notebook.
The pieces began fitting together.
“My father didn't die in an accident.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Silence.
Nathan felt sick.
“What happened?”
Daniel looked away.
“I don't know everything.”
Grace interrupted.
“But I know enough.”
She took the notebook.
“Your father was preparing to expose Richard. Victoria discovered the plan. Then your father died.”
Nathan stared at the pages.
“And you think Victoria arranged it?”
“I know she helped cover it up.”
Nathan's voice became cold.
“Where is Richard now?”
Daniel looked at him.
“Dead.”
Nathan froze.
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“How?”
“Heart attack.”
Nathan didn't believe it.
“Convenient.”
Daniel nodded.
“Too convenient.”
Suddenly Lily tugged Grace's sleeve.
“Mommy.”
Grace looked down.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
Lily pointed at the bracelet.
“Uncle Daniel said never take this off.”
Nathan looked at Daniel.
“What's inside it?”
Daniel's expression changed.
Grace immediately understood.
“What?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your daughter doesn't know it, but that bracelet contains a tiny memory chip.”
Nathan stared.
“What?”
Daniel nodded.
“Your father left evidence.”
Grace touched Lily's bracelet.
“You told me it was just a keepsake.”
“I needed you to stay alive long enough to use it.”
Nathan looked at the tiny silver charm.
“How do we access it?”
Daniel reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small device.
“Now.”
They returned to the study.
Daniel connected the bracelet to the device.
A folder appeared.
Three video files.
Nathan opened the first.
His father's face appeared on screen.
Nathan stopped breathing.
“Son,” his father said, “if you're watching this, I'm probably gone.”
Nathan sat down.
His father's voice continued.
“I trusted the wrong people.”
Then the screen changed.
Richard Hayes appeared.
And Victoria.
Nathan stared.
They were standing in the same room.
Richard handed Victoria a document.
Victoria said,
“What about Grace?”
Richard answered,
“She'll disappear.”
Nathan's hands clenched.
Then Victoria asked,
“And the baby?”
Richard looked at her.
“Once the mother is gone, the child can be handled.”
Grace covered her mouth.
Nathan stood.
“No.”
The video continued.
Victoria whispered,
“Nathan must never know.”
Richard nodded.
“He won't.”
The recording ended.
Nathan turned toward Daniel.
“She knew.”
Daniel nodded.
“Every step.”
Grace began crying silently.
Nathan moved toward her.
He wanted to apologize.
For five years.
For every night she had been alone.
For every birthday Lily had celebrated without him.
But before he could speak, the computer suddenly shut off.
Daniel looked alarmed.
“What happened?”
A notification appeared.
FILE DELETED.
Then another.
ACCOUNT BREACH DETECTED.
Daniel stood.
“They found us.”
Nathan grabbed Lily.
Grace looked terrified.
“Who?”
Daniel stared at the screen.
“The person who created the system.”
A message appeared.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LET VICTORIA WIN.
Then the computer exploded into darkness.
Outside, a car engine roared.
Nathan rushed to the window.
A black SUV sped away.
Grace whispered,
“Victoria.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Nathan turned.
Daniel's face had gone pale.
“That wasn't Victoria.”
“Then who?”
May you like
Daniel looked at the destroyed computer.
“The man who has been controlling her.”
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