Chapter 4 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Maria had always believed Elena was hiding something.
She had never imagined Elena was hiding an entire second life.
That afternoon, Maria found a locked phone inside Elena's bedroom drawer.
She did not touch it.
Instead, she told Arthur.
Arthur called Daniel.
Daniel examined the device.
"It has no normal password system."
"Can you open it?"
"Eventually."
Before he could continue, Elena entered.
She stopped when she saw the phone.
"You went through my things?"
Arthur stepped forward.
"Who is Victor Hale?"
Elena closed her eyes.
"I told you. Someone from my past."
"That isn't enough."
She looked at Maria.
"Get out."
Maria remained still.
Arthur shook his head.
"She stays."
Elena's expression hardened.
"You trust a servant more than your wife?"
"I trust the person who hasn't lied to me."
Elena looked wounded.
But Arthur did not move.
Daniel finally unlocked the phone.
Thousands of messages appeared.
Most were deleted.
One thread remained.
The contact was saved under a single letter.
V.
Arthur read the newest message.
You have forty-eight hours.
Another followed.
If Arthur discovers the second account, everything ends.
Arthur looked at Daniel.
"Second account?"
Daniel searched the messages.
A location appeared.
A private storage facility on the edge of town.
Arthur wanted to leave immediately.
Daniel stopped him.
"We need the police."
Arthur nodded.
They contacted an investigator they trusted.
But before they could reach the storage facility, someone called Arthur from an unknown number.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
"You are looking in the wrong place."
"Victor?"
A quiet laugh.
"Victor is only one piece."
"Who are you?"
"Ask your wife what happened the night your father died."
The call ended.
Arthur turned toward Elena.
She had heard every word.
Her face was pale.
"My father died of a heart attack."
Elena whispered, "That's what everyone believed."
Arthur felt the room spin.
"What are you saying?"
"I wasn't there."
"Then where were you?"
Elena looked at Daniel.
Daniel lowered his head.
"I know."
Arthur stared at him.
"You know what happened?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Your father met Victor the night he died."
Arthur's voice became dangerously quiet.
"And Elena?"
"She was supposed to meet them."
"Did she?"
"No."
Elena finally spoke.
"I changed my mind."
"Why?"
"Because I realized your father knew everything."
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"What did he know?"
Elena began to cry.
"He knew I was pregnant."
Silence.
Arthur could barely speak.
"Pregnant with whose child?"
Elena looked directly at him.
"Yours."
Arthur's heart stopped.
Then she added:
"But Victor claimed the baby wasn't yours."
The entire room went silent.
And suddenly the trust fund was no longer just about money.
May you like
It was about blood.
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