Chapter 4 - THE NIGHT GRACE DISAPPEAREDNathan refused to believe Daniel.
“Your father is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then how could his voice be on that recording?”
Daniel stared at the device.
“Because that recording was made before his death.”
Nathan frowned.
“What are you saying?”
Daniel explained that Richard had recorded conversations and stored them.
Some were used for blackmail.
Others were insurance.
Victoria had access to them.
But one thing bothered Nathan.
Why would Richard warn Nathan?
Daniel didn't know.
Grace sat quietly across the room.
Nathan noticed her expression.
“You know something.”
Grace looked away.
“Grace.”
She sighed.
“There was a man.”
“What man?”
“The night I disappeared.”
Nathan waited.
Grace's voice shook.
“He tried to help me.”
“Daniel?”
“No.”
“Who?”
“Your father.”
Nathan froze.
“My father?”
Grace nodded.
“He came to me.”
Five years earlier.
Grace had been hiding in a motel.
She was eight months pregnant.
She had no money.
No phone.
No idea where to go.
Then Nathan's father arrived.
He told her Nathan was in danger.
He told her Victoria and Richard were planning something.
And he begged Grace to leave.
“He gave me the first documents,” Grace said.
Nathan listened.
“He told me to disappear until it was safe.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he made me promise.”
Nathan looked at her.
“He threatened you?”
“No.”
Grace's eyes filled.
“He begged me.”
Nathan's anger softened.
“What happened next?”
Grace looked down.
“On the way to the airport, someone tried to stop me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“He chased your car.”
Grace nodded.
“I crashed.”
Nathan's face went pale.
“I thought you died.”
“I almost did.”
She touched her shoulder.
“I woke up in a hospital.”
“And your father?”
“He was there.”
Nathan stared.
“He was alive.”
Grace nodded.
“He told me to trust nobody.”
Then her voice broke.
“The next morning, he was dead.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
The truth was finally becoming clear.
His father's death had not been random.
He had been protecting Grace.
And Lily.
Suddenly Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“Where?”
He hung up.
“What happened?” Nathan asked.
“Victoria.”
Nathan stood.
“Where is she?”
“Police found her car abandoned.”
Grace looked frightened.
“Is she alive?”
Daniel nodded.
“But there's blood inside.”
Nathan grabbed his coat.
They rushed to the location.
Victoria's car was parked beside an abandoned warehouse.
Police had already surrounded the area.
An officer approached Nathan.
“Mr. Cole, you need to stay back.”
“That's my fiancée.”
“Not anymore,” the officer said.
Nathan ignored the comment.
“What happened?”
“We found blood.”
“Victoria?”
“We don't know.”
Then a police officer brought over a phone.
“We found this in the vehicle.”
Nathan recognized it.
Victoria's phone.
There was one unread message.
FROM NATHAN.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT GRACE TO LIVE.
Nathan's blood froze.
“I didn't send this.”
Daniel took the phone.
“Someone cloned his number.”
Then Grace screamed.
Everyone turned.
A black SUV was approaching.
It stopped.
The rear door opened.
Victoria stepped out.
Her dress was torn.
Her face was bruised.
She raised both hands.
“Don't shoot.”
Nathan stared.
“Victoria.”
She looked at him.
“I'm sorry.”
Nathan couldn't believe it.
Victoria began crying.
“I was wrong.”
Grace stepped forward.
“Where were you?”
Victoria looked at her.
“He has Daniel.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Your brother.”
“My brother?”
“No.”
Victoria's voice cracked.
“Your father.”
Daniel stared.
“My father is dead.”
Victoria whispered,
“Not the father you think.”
Silence.
Victoria looked at Nathan.
“Richard Hayes didn't die three years ago.”
Nathan felt the ground disappear beneath him.
“What?”
“He staged his death.”
Grace whispered,
“Why?”
Victoria looked toward the warehouse.
“Because he knew your father had hidden something.”
Nathan's voice became cold.
“What?”
Victoria stared at Lily.
“The trust.”
Nathan's heart sank.
“Where is Richard?”
Victoria pointed toward the warehouse.
“Inside.”
Police moved immediately.
Nathan grabbed Grace's hand.
“Stay with Lily.”
Grace nodded.
Nathan entered with the officers.
They searched the warehouse.
Nothing.
Then they heard a faint sound.
Someone was crying.
Behind a locked steel door.
Nathan broke it open.
Inside was Daniel.
Bound to a chair.
Alive.
But beside him stood an older man.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
A familiar face from Nathan's childhood photographs.
Nathan stopped.
May you like
Richard Hayes smiled.
“Hello, Nathan.”
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