Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Daniel locked every door in the house.
He ordered Marcus to double security.
Grace wanted to leave.
Daniel refused.
“Until we know where Caleb is, you're staying here.”
“I can't stay.”
“You can.”
“I have a daughter.”
“I know.”
“If something happens to me, Lily has nobody.”
Daniel softened.
“I'll protect both of you.”
Grace looked at him.
“You can't promise that.”
Daniel understood.
He couldn't.
Not anymore.
That afternoon, Daniel flew to his father's old warehouse.
The building had been rebuilt years ago, but the basement remained untouched.
His father had always refused to renovate it.
Daniel never understood why.
Marcus forced open the old metal door.
Inside were boxes.
Hundreds.
Daniel searched until he found one marked:
T.P. — PERSONAL
Thomas Parker.
Inside was a notebook.
Daniel opened it.
The first page contained a date.
Seven years earlier.
The final entry read:
Richard knows. Vanessa knows. If Daniel finds this, tell him I tried.
Daniel's hands trembled.
“Sir.”
Marcus pointed.
A second note had been hidden beneath the notebook.
Daniel unfolded it.
The person you trust most is the person you should fear.
Then the lights went out.
Marcus drew his weapon.
Daniel froze.
Footsteps echoed through the basement.
One.
Two.
Three.
Someone was coming.
Marcus whispered,
“Stay behind me.”
A figure appeared at the end of the corridor.
Daniel's heart stopped.
The man stepped into the emergency light.
Older.
Thinner.
Scar across his cheek.
Caleb Parker.
Grace's ex-husband.
He smiled.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Marcus raised his weapon.
“Don't.”
Caleb laughed.
“If I wanted him dead, you wouldn't have heard me coming.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You're supposed to be dead.”
“I was.”
“What does that mean?”
Caleb's smile disappeared.
“It means your uncle tried to kill me.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Because I knew where the money went.”
“What money?”
“The twenty-three million.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Where?”
Caleb pointed at the notebook.
“Your father found it.”
“Who stole it?”
“Richard.”
“Who helped him?”
Caleb looked directly at Daniel.
“Vanessa.”
Daniel felt as though someone had punched him.
“No.”
“She met Richard years before she met you.”
“That's impossible.”
“Check her old records.”
Daniel stared.
“She changed her name.”
“Why?”
“Because she had to.”
Caleb stepped closer.
“She was never Vanessa Cole.”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Then who is she?”
Caleb whispered,
“Victoria Cross.”
Daniel recognized the name.
Dr. Samuel Cross.
The physician Vanessa had visited.
“She's related to him?”
Caleb nodded.
“His daughter.”
Daniel's stomach turned.
“Why would she want to marry me?”
Caleb's answer was simple.
“Your company.”
Daniel stared.
“That's all?”
“No.”
Caleb's eyes hardened.
“Your father's estate.”
Daniel froze.
“My father's estate was settled.”
“Not completely.”
“What are you talking about?”
Caleb pulled out a document.
“Your father created a private trust.”
Daniel read it.
His name was there.
So was Vanessa's.
Daniel looked up.
“Why is her name on this?”
“Because your father knew she would eventually find you.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“What does the trust say?”
Caleb smiled.
“If you marry Vanessa, she gains access to everything.”
Daniel stared at the document.
“How?”
“Because your father placed one condition.”
“What condition?”
“You must remain married to her for ninety days.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That makes no sense.”
Caleb shook his head.
“Read the last page.”
Daniel did.
The final clause made his blood freeze.
If Daniel Whitfield dies within ninety days of the marriage, the trust transfers in full to Vanessa Cross.
Daniel slowly looked up.
Caleb whispered,
“Now you understand why she's planning your wedding.”
Suddenly, Marcus shouted.
“Down!”
A gunshot exploded.
The bullet struck the wall beside Daniel's head.
Caleb grabbed Daniel and pulled him behind a concrete pillar.
More shots echoed.
Then silence.
Marcus looked down the corridor.
“Shooter's gone.”
Daniel's hands were shaking.
Caleb stared at him.
“They know we found the trust.”
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
A second later, his phone buzzed.
A message from Vanessa.
Where are you, darling?
Daniel stared at it.
Then another message arrived.
We need to discuss our wedding.
May you like
And Daniel realized something terrifying.
Vanessa already knew.
