Chapter 4 - THE SECRET ROOM
The next morning, Henry disappeared.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
He sat alone in the penthouse library for hours, staring at an old photograph.
Ethan stood across from him.
“Tell me the truth.”
Henry didn't respond.
“Dad.”
“I've protected you your entire life.”
“By lying?”
“Yes.”
The word landed like a gunshot.
Ethan stepped back.
“Why?”
“Because the truth would destroy you.”
“It already is.”
Henry finally looked at him.
“Your grandfather wasn't murdered by Daniel.”
“Then who?”
Henry looked toward me.
I was standing near the doorway.
“Someone your family trusted.”
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“Your grandfather's attorney.”
Caroline Mercer.
The same woman who had been helping us investigate the stolen money.
I felt my stomach drop.
“That can't be.”
Henry nodded.
“Caroline's father was your grandfather's lawyer.”
Ethan went silent.
“Are you saying the Mercers have been stealing from us for decades?”
“I am saying someone has.”
Before Ethan could respond, Caroline entered.
She stopped when she saw our faces.
“What happened?”
Ethan looked at her.
“How long has your family worked for the Prescotts?”
“Three generations.”
“Did your father handle my grandfather's trust?”
“Yes.”
“Did he ever tell you about Daniel?”
Caroline's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
So did Ethan.
“No.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You're lying.”
Caroline looked hurt.
“I would never betray this family.”
Henry stood.
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Open the west archive.”
Caroline went pale.
“What?”
“The archive your father sealed.”
“I don't have access.”
Henry smiled bitterly.
“Of course you do.”
The room fell silent.
Caroline looked at me.
Then Ethan.
“I need to make a call.”
She turned.
Ethan blocked the door.
“No.”
She stopped.
“I've worked for this company for seventeen years.”
“Then you can answer one question.”
“What?”
“Why were you at the bakery the morning Madison met my father?”
Caroline's face went blank.
I remembered.
There had been a woman in a gray car.
A woman watching the bakery.
I hadn't noticed her clearly.
But now…
I recognized her.
Caroline.
She slowly shook her head.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“No.”
Ethan pulled out his phone.
Security footage appeared.
Caroline standing across the street.
Watching Henry.
Watching me.
Her eyes filled with fear.
Then she whispered:
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From whom?”
Caroline looked at Henry.
“From Daniel.”
Henry stepped forward.
“You've been working with him.”
“No.”
She began crying.
“I've been working against him.”
“Then why were you watching my father?”
“Because Daniel has someone inside the company.”
“Who?”
Caroline hesitated.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot exploded somewhere below.
Everyone screamed.
Emergency lights came on.
Security rushed into the room.
Ethan grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.”
Another shot.
Glass shattered.
Then the building alarm began screaming.
Caroline looked toward the window.
“Oh God.”
“What?”
She whispered:
“He found us.”
Henry's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Caroline looked at me.
“The person who has been funding Daniel.”
“Who?”
She swallowed.
“Your aunt.”
Ethan froze.
“My aunt is dead.”
Caroline shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Henry.
“She's alive.”
May you like
And then she whispered the name.
“Margaret Prescott.”
