Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE
Edward couldn't breathe.
“That's Laura.”
Daniel stared at the screen.
“She can't be alive.”
Chloe looked at the image.
The woman was unmistakably Laura.
Older.
Paler.
But alive.
Edward turned to Mrs. Whitmore.
“What have you done?”
“Nothing.”
“Where have you been hiding this woman?”
“She wasn't hiding.”
“What does that mean?”
Mrs. Whitmore looked at Chloe.
“Laura has been protecting you.”
Chloe felt dizzy.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father left evidence proving Richard's crimes.”
Edward stared.
“And Laura found it.”
Mrs. Whitmore nodded.
“But she couldn't expose Richard without putting the girls in danger.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Why didn't she contact us?”
“Because Richard controlled everyone.”
Edward's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Edward.”
He stopped breathing.
“Laura?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“Are the girls safe?”
“Yes.”
“Who is Richard?”
“Your father.”
“I know.”
“No, Edward. You don't.”
“What?”
“He isn't working alone.”
Edward closed his eyes.
“Who?”
Laura whispered:
“Your business partner.”
Edward froze.
“Thomas?”
“Yes.”
Edward stared at Daniel.
Thomas had been Edward's closest business partner for fifteen years.
Laura continued.
“Thomas helped Richard build the offshore accounts.”
Edward's hands shook.
“But why?”
“Because Richard promised him the company.”
Edward understood.
“And you?”
“I discovered everything.”
“Then why did you let me believe you were dead?”
Laura's voice broke.
“Because the night of the accident, Richard told me he would kill our daughters.”
Edward covered his face.
“I would have protected you.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I knew you would come after him.”
Edward looked at Chloe.
Laura continued.
“And that would have gotten you killed too.”
The call ended.
Edward immediately returned to the mansion.
When they arrived, the estate was silent.
The front door stood open.
Edward entered.
“Laura?”
No answer.
He found the girls in the library.
Safe.
Sophia ran into his arms.
“Daddy!”
Edward held her tightly.
Isabella hugged him.
Chloe looked around.
“Where is Laura?”
Isabella pointed toward the hallway.
“She went upstairs.”
Edward followed.
The master bedroom door was open.
Laura stood by the window.
Edward stopped.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Laura turned.
They stared at one another.
Years of grief.
Love.
Anger.
Regret.
All collided.
Edward whispered:
“You're alive.”
Laura nodded.
He walked toward her.
Then stopped.
“You let me bury you.”
“I had no choice.”
“You let our daughters think their mother was dead.”
“I was trying to keep them alive.”
Edward's eyes filled with tears.
“I hated myself every day.”
“I know.”
Suddenly a voice came from behind them.
“Touching.”
Richard Montgomery stood in the doorway.
Older.
Elegant.
Smiling.
Edward turned.
“Dad.”
Richard smiled.
“Hello, son.”
Edward stepped in front of Laura.
“You're not taking my family.”
Richard laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
“The company was never mine.”
Edward frowned.
Richard looked at Chloe.
“It belongs to her.”
Chloe froze.
“What?”
Richard smiled.
“Your father didn't just work for me.”
May you like
He pointed at Chloe.
“He owned half the empire.”
