Chapter 3 - THE LETTER
The man at the gate never entered the house.
He didn't have to.
Edward had already ordered security to lock down the property.
Three guards moved toward the vehicle.
The stranger raised his hands.
“I just came to talk.”
Edward walked outside.
Chloe watched through the glass.
“Who is he?” she asked.
Isabella answered before Edward could.
“Uncle Daniel.”
Chloe looked at her.
“You know him?”
“He was Mommy's brother.”
That changed everything.
Chloe had never heard the name Daniel Montgomery.
Edward had never mentioned him.
Not once.
Sophia pressed her face against the glass.
“Mommy loved Uncle Daniel.”
Edward turned sharply.
“Girls, upstairs.”
Daniel heard him through the open doors.
“Still controlling everything, Edward?”
Edward stepped forward.
“Leave.”
“You can't keep doing this.”
“This is private property.”
“And those are my nieces.”
“They're my daughters.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That's exactly what you told the police.”
Chloe's heart pounded.
Edward's face hardened.
“Don't do this here.”
“Then tell them the truth.”
The security guards moved closer.
Daniel pulled a folded envelope from his coat.
“This belonged to Laura.”
Edward's expression changed.
Laura.
The girls' mother.
Daniel held up the envelope.
“She left this for Chloe.”
Chloe froze.
“For me?”
Daniel nodded.
“Your name is written on it.”
Edward immediately said, “Don't touch it.”
Chloe stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because you don't know what it contains.”
“Neither do you.”
“I know enough.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“That's why you fired her.”
Edward said nothing.
Daniel looked at Chloe.
“You've been working here for two years, haven't you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you need to know why Laura hired you.”
Chloe's blood ran cold.
“I thought Mr. Montgomery hired me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
Edward turned toward him.
“Daniel.”
“You're going to tell her eventually.”
“Get off my property.”
Daniel placed the envelope on the stone wall.
“Read it.”
Then he returned to his SUV.
Before leaving, he looked directly at Chloe.
“Ask Edward why your employment contract was signed three days before Laura died.”
The SUV disappeared through the gates.
Chloe slowly turned toward Edward.
He didn't look at her.
“Give me the letter.”
“No.”
“Chloe.”
“You said I was in danger.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me what I'm in danger from.”
Silence.
Finally Edward said, “You.”
Chloe frowned.
“What?”
“You know too much.”
He walked inside.
Chloe followed.
The girls followed her.
Edward turned.
“I said upstairs.”
Isabella looked at him.
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“If Chloe leaves, we're leaving too.”
Edward stared at his daughter.
Something broke inside his expression.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
Edward looked at both girls.
Then at Chloe.
“I can't.”
“Why?” Isabella demanded.
“Because your mother made me promise.”
The girls went silent.
Chloe whispered, “Promise what?”
Edward rubbed his forehead.
“To protect you.”
“From whom?”
He didn't answer.
Chloe picked up the envelope.
She opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
The handwriting was unmistakably feminine.
Chloe read the first line.
Dear Chloe,
Her breath caught.
If you're reading this, Edward has finally become desperate enough to send you away.
Chloe looked at Edward.
He looked terrified.
She continued.
I need you to know something. I didn't hire you because I needed a nanny. I hired you because I needed someone my husband couldn't control.
Chloe's hands began shaking.
Edward believes the person threatening our family is outside the house. He's wrong.
She looked up.
Edward whispered, “Stop.”
But Chloe continued.
The danger has been inside our home for years.
Sophia began crying.
Isabella moved closer to Chloe.
The next sentence made Chloe's blood run cold.
If Edward tells you I died in an accident, don't believe him.
Chloe stared at Edward.
“Did Laura die in an accident?”
Edward's lips parted.
No words came.
Isabella whispered:
“Mommy said Daddy didn't hurt her.”
Edward's eyes filled with tears.
“I never hurt your mother.”
“Then what happened?”
He looked at his daughters.
May you like
And finally said:
“Your mother was murdered.”
