Chapter 8: The Woman Behind the Missing Page
"Your mother.""
Richard's answer landed like a stone.
I stared at him.
"My mother died when I was six.""
"I know.""
"Then how could my father appoint her?""
Richard looked toward Dr. Bennett.
She shook her head.
"Emily, I think you should sit down.""
"I don't want to sit down. I want the truth.""
Michael Reed carefully closed the blue folder.
"Your mother didn't die when you were six.""
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him.
Then I laughed.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
It was the kind that escaped when reality became too absurd to accept.
"Don't.""
Michael met my eyes.
"I'm not lying.""
"My father told me she died in a car accident.""
"Your father told you what he believed would keep you safe.""
I looked at Richard.
He nodded slowly.
"Your mother, Catherine Bennett, disappeared shortly after you were born. Your father reported her missing. Several years later, he received evidence that she was alive, but he never found her.""
I shook my head.
"No. I remember her funeral.""
Richard's expression softened.
"Emily, you were six. The funeral was for a woman your father identified as your mother's sister. He didn't want you to know your mother had abandoned the family.""
The room seemed to grow smaller.
I remembered a woman with dark hair.
A perfume that smelled like roses.
A lullaby she used to sing when I was little.
I had spent years believing those memories belonged to someone who was gone.
"Why would she leave?""
Michael answered.
"Because she discovered what Daniel's father was doing with your grandfather's investments.""
I turned toward him.
"Daniel's father?""
"Before Daniel built Harrington Global, his father, Victor Harrington, was involved in several financial partnerships with your family. Your mother discovered that money was being diverted through shell companies.""
Richard added, "Your father confronted Victor. The dispute destroyed their business relationship.""
I stared at the two men.
"And Daniel knew?""
"Eventually," Michael said.
I felt sick.
My entire marriage had been built on a foundation of secrets I had never been allowed to see.
The metal door rattled again.
"Emily!"" Daniel shouted.
"I know you're in there!""
Mr. Collins looked toward the investigators.
"We need to move. Now.""
But I wasn't finished.
"Where is my mother?""
Dr. Bennett took a small envelope from her handbag.
"Your father gave this to me shortly before his death. He asked me to deliver it if you ever discovered the truth about the trust.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A woman stood outside a small house near the ocean.
Her dark hair was streaked with gray.
She was holding a newspaper.
On the back, my father had written:
Catherine. Maine. If Emily ever needs to know, she deserves to hear it from her mother.
Beneath the photograph was an address.
My hands trembled.
"She's alive?""
Dr. Bennett nodded.
"I believe so.""
"Why did you keep this from me?""
"Because your father asked me to wait until the trust was threatened. He believed Daniel would eventually search for the documents.""
I looked at Richard.
"Did you know where she was?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
The betrayal hurt in a different way.
Not because Richard had lied to me once.
Because he had apparently spent years deciding which pieces of my life I was allowed to have.
I slipped the photograph into my clutch.
"Give me the rest of the truth.""
Richard hesitated.
"Your mother was the original beneficiary of a family investment trust. When she disappeared, your father transferred the controlling interest to you. He wanted to make sure you would never depend on someone else's permission to access your inheritance.""
"And Daniel found out?""
"Yes. He believed the trust controlled several properties and investment accounts worth considerably more than the company.""
I looked at Michael.
"How much?""
He answered reluctantly.
"At the last valuation, approximately eighty-six million dollars.""
I felt my knees weaken.
Eighty-six million.
My father had left me more than I could have imagined.
And Daniel had spent years trying to take it.
A loud crash interrupted us.
The storage door began rising.
Daniel had found a way to override the security lock.
Mr. Collins shouted, "Everyone back!""
Two investigators moved toward the entrance.
Daniel appeared beneath the rising metal door.
His suit jacket was gone. His tie hung loose around his neck.
He looked nothing like the polished businessman who had stood on stage the previous evening.
He looked desperate.
"Emily, we need to talk.""
I stepped behind Mr. Collins.
"You've had enough opportunities.""
Daniel looked at the folder.
"Give me the documents.""
"No.""
"They don't belong to you.""
I almost smiled.
"That's an interesting thing to say.""
He took another step.
One investigator blocked him.
"Sir, you need to leave.""
Daniel ignored him.
"Emily, listen to me. Your father made mistakes. Your mother made mistakes.
I made mistakes. But none of this changes what we had.""
I stared at him.
"What we had?""
"We built a life together.""
"You destroyed it.""
"I was trying to protect our future.""
"By damaging my brakes?""
His expression changed.
For one terrible second, I thought he might admit everything.
Instead, he said, "You don't understand what happened.""
I looked at him.
"Then tell me.""
He glanced toward Michael.
"Ask him.""
Everyone turned.
Michael went rigid.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Ask Michael what he did the night your father died.""
The room fell silent.
I looked at Michael.
His face had become almost gray.
"What is he talking about?""
Michael swallowed.
Then he said something that made Richard step backward.
"Your father's death wasn't natural.""
I gripped the edge of the desk.
"Explain.""
Michael looked at Daniel.
"I have proof that Victor Harrington arranged the meeting with your father that night. But the person who drove him home was...""
He stopped.
Daniel finished the sentence.
"Me.""
I couldn't breathe.
May you like
Daniel's eyes met mine.
"And your father knew exactly what I had done before he died.""
