Chapter 9 - THE LAKE HOUSE
Daniel drove like a man possessed.
Grace sat beside him, crying silently.
Marcus followed.
The lake house appeared through the trees.
Dark.
Silent.
Daniel stopped.
“Stay here.”
Grace shook her head.
“My daughter is inside.”
“It's dangerous.”
“I don't care.”
Daniel looked at her.
He understood.
They entered together.
The house smelled like smoke.
A child's toy lay on the floor.
“Lily!”
No answer.
Then a voice came from upstairs.
“Daniel.”
Samuel.
Daniel climbed the stairs.
Samuel stood at the end of the hallway.
Lily was beside him.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
Grace screamed.
“Lily!”
Samuel held up a hand.
“Come closer and she dies.”
Daniel stopped.
“What do you want?”
“The trust.”
“You have it.”
“No.”
Daniel held up the documents.
Samuel smiled.
“That's a copy.”
Daniel's heart dropped.
“The original?”
“Where?”
Samuel pointed toward Grace.
“She knows.”
Grace shook her head.
“I don't.”
Samuel laughed.
“Your father told you everything.”
“He didn't.”
“He trusted you.”
“He trusted his daughter.”
Samuel's expression changed.
“You are his daughter.”
Grace froze.
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
Samuel smiled.
“Thomas Parker wasn't your father.”
Grace stared.
“No.”
“Your real father was Daniel's father.”
Silence.
Daniel felt as though the floor disappeared.
Grace's face went white.
“What are you saying?”
Samuel continued.
“Your mother had an affair with him.”
Daniel looked at Grace.
“That can't be true.”
Samuel smiled.
“That's why the trust is in her name.”
Grace began shaking.
“No.”
Daniel stepped toward her.
“Grace.”
She backed away.
“I don't understand.”
Samuel's voice became colder.
“Your father raised you because he loved you.”
Grace covered her mouth.
“Why didn't he tell me?”
“Because he wanted to protect you.”
Daniel looked at Samuel.
“You're lying.”
Samuel laughed.
“Ask your father's DNA records.”
Daniel remembered something.
His father had kept medical records in a private clinic.
The same clinic Samuel ran.
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“You manipulated the records.”
Samuel smiled.
“Finally.”
A gunshot came from outside.
Samuel turned.
Marcus entered.
Samuel grabbed Lily.
Grace screamed.
“Let her go!”
Samuel pulled Lily toward the balcony.
Daniel lunged.
They struggled.
Lily fell.
Daniel caught her.
Samuel ran.
Marcus chased him.
Grace grabbed Lily.
Daniel stood.
He heard a car engine outside.
Samuel escaped.
But something remained on the floor.
A medical folder.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a DNA test.
His father's name.
And Grace's.
The result was conclusive.
Grace was Daniel's half-sister.
Daniel looked at her.
Neither spoke.
Then Grace whispered,
“So that's why your father protected me.”
Daniel nodded.
“And why Vanessa wanted me near you.”
Grace looked confused.
Daniel understood before she did.
Vanessa had never simply wanted to marry him.
She wanted to control the woman who could legally control the trust.
Grace.
And now they knew the real target.
May you like
Grace wasn't an employee.
She was an heir.
