Chapter 11 - THE BRIDE'S SECRET
The wedding morning arrived.
Charlotte woke beneath a gray sky.
Daniel stood before the mirror.
His suit was perfect.
His expression was not.
Grace entered.
“You don't have to do this.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes, I do.”
She handed him an envelope.
“What is it?”
“My father's final letter.”
Daniel opened it.
One sentence was underlined.
Never trust a person who makes you feel guilty for asking questions.
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Your father was wise.”
Grace nodded.
Then Lily ran into the room.
“Uncle Daniel!”
Daniel smiled.
She handed him a drawing.
It showed three people holding hands.
Daniel.
Grace.
Lily.
And a fourth person behind them.
A man with no face.
Daniel stared.
“Who's that?”
Lily shrugged.
“He's the bad man.”
Grace frowned.
“Did you see him?”
Lily nodded.
“At the lake house.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Lily, what did he look like?”
“He had a silver watch.”
Daniel froze.
Samuel wore a silver watch.
But so did Richard.
And his father had owned one.
Daniel suddenly understood.
The person behind everything wasn't Samuel.
It wasn't Richard.
It was someone they both feared.
Someone they had been protecting.
Someone who had been controlling Vanessa.
Daniel turned toward Grace.
“Where's Caleb?”
“He was supposed to meet Marcus.”
Daniel called.
No answer.
Then his phone buzzed.
A video.
Caleb tied to a chair.
Blood on his face.
Samuel appeared behind him.
“Cancel the wedding.”
Daniel stared.
“Or he dies.”
Grace covered her mouth.
Daniel watched the video again.
Then paused it.
There was a reflection in a mirror behind Samuel.
A woman.
Red coat.
Daniel's heart stopped.
Vanessa.
But she was standing beside another man.
Daniel zoomed in.
The man turned.
Daniel recognized him.
His father.
Impossible.
The photograph was old.
The video wasn't.
Daniel realized the image had been digitally manipulated.
Someone wanted him to believe his father was alive.
But why?
To make him doubt everything.
Then the screen changed.
A message appeared.
THE TRUTH IS UNDER THE FLOOR WHERE YOUR FATHER DIED.
Daniel grabbed his coat.
“Grace, stay here.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Please.”
“I'm done hiding.”
They drove to the lake house.
Beneath the old fireplace, Daniel found a hidden compartment.
Inside was a recorder.
He pressed play.
His father's voice filled the room.
“Daniel, if you're hearing this, I failed.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
His father continued.
“Vanessa was never sent to destroy you.”
Daniel looked at Grace.
“She was sent to protect you.”
Silence.
Then:
“Samuel forced her.”
Daniel stared.
The recording continued.
“He threatened her mother. He threatened everyone she loved.”
Daniel's breathing stopped.
“Vanessa made terrible choices. But she wasn't the architect.”
A second voice appeared.
Richard.
“I'll take care of the boy.”
Daniel froze.
His uncle had planned to kill him.
His father responded:
“No. You will not touch my son.”
The recording ended.
Daniel sat in silence.
Grace whispered,
“Vanessa was trapped.”
Daniel nodded.
“But she still tried to kill me.”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at the fireplace.
Then his phone rang.
Vanessa.
“Daniel.”
Her voice was shaking.
“I need you to listen.”
“Where are you?”
“At the church.”
“What happened?”
“I know who Samuel is working for.”
Daniel's heart pounded.
“Who?”
Vanessa whispered,
“Your mother.”
Daniel froze.
His mother had been dead for twenty years.
May you like
Then Vanessa said,
“She's alive.”
