Chapter 7 - THE LAST SECRETNathan turned toward Grace.
“What did she mean?”
Grace looked devastated.
“I didn't want to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
Grace closed her eyes.
“There was a DNA test.”
Nathan's heart stopped.
“What?”
“When Lily was born, the hospital said there was a possibility…”
She couldn't finish.
Nathan's voice trembled.
“A possibility of what?”
“That she might not be yours.”
Silence.
Nathan stepped back.
“You knew?”
“I was terrified.”
“Who was the other man?”
Grace cried.
“There was no other man.”
Nathan stared.
“The test was contaminated.”
Daniel immediately understood.
“Someone tampered with it.”
Grace nodded.
“I later had another test.”
“And?”
“You're her father.”
Nathan exhaled.
The anger disappeared.
He looked at Lily.
Then back at Grace.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because by then I had already been threatened.”
Nathan pulled her into his arms.
“You should have told me.”
“I know.”
They held each other.
Then Daniel entered.
“We found Evelyn's financial records.”
Nathan looked up.
“What did you find?”
“Payments to Richard.”
“How much?”
“Millions.”
Grace stared.
“Where did she get the money?”
Daniel placed the documents down.
“From your company.”
Nathan looked stunned.
“She stole from us.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Because she wasn't just stealing.”
He pointed to another file.
“She was buying companies.”
Nathan read the names.
Several major businesses.
All connected to the same investment group.
Nathan's face hardened.
“This is bigger than my family.”
Daniel nodded.
“Much bigger.”
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then hung up.
“Richard escaped.”
Nathan froze.
“How?”
“Medical transport.”
Grace's heart sank.
“Evelyn?”
“Missing.”
Nathan immediately understood.
“They're working together.”
Daniel nodded.
Then Lily appeared.
“Daddy?”
Nathan knelt.
“What is it?”
Lily handed him a drawing.
It showed three people.
A man.
A woman.
And a little girl.
Nathan looked at the man.
“Who's this?”
Lily pointed.
“Grandpa.”
Nathan stared.
“Your grandfather?”
She nodded.
“He came to Mommy's room.”
Grace froze.
“When?”
Lily looked confused.
“Before.”
“Before what?”
“Before we moved here.”
Grace felt cold.
“Lily, what did he say?”
Lily thought.
“He said Daddy mustn't find him.”
Nathan stood.
“Did you see his face?”
Lily nodded.
“Can you draw him?”
“Yes.”
She took a crayon.
Within minutes, the drawing was finished.
Nathan stared.
The man in the picture looked like Richard.
But older.
Different hair.
Different clothes.
Daniel looked at it.
“That's not Richard.”
Nathan stared.
“Then who?”
Daniel's face became pale.
“His name is Marcus.”
“Who is Marcus?”
“Richard's older brother.”
Grace whispered,
“There's another one?”
Daniel nodded.
“And he's the person my father was actually afraid of.”
Suddenly the television turned on.
A live video appeared.
Marcus stood in a dark room.
Behind him was a wall covered with photographs.
Nathan.
Grace.
Lily.
Daniel.
Victoria.
Evelyn.
Richard.
Everyone.
Marcus smiled.
“You've been looking for me.”
Nathan stepped toward the screen.
“Where is my daughter?”
Marcus laughed.
“She is exactly where I want her.”
Grace grabbed Lily.
Marcus continued.
“Tomorrow night, bring the original trust documents to the old Cole factory.”
Nathan stared.
“And if I don't?”
Marcus smiled.
“You'll learn why your father spent his final years afraid of me.”
The screen went black.
Nathan looked at Daniel.
“We're going.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
Nathan looked at her.
“We can't let him take Lily.”
Grace held Lily tighter.
“We won't.”
Daniel nodded.
“We'll set a trap.”
But none of them knew Marcus had already anticipated it.
May you like
And he had one secret weapon left.
Victoria.
