Chapter 2: The Secret Lucas Left Behind
Daniel arrived eleven minutes later.
I knew it was him because his silver SUV came around the corner too fast, its tires crunching against the gravel driveway.
He jumped out before the engine had fully stopped.
"Emily!""
He ran toward me, his jacket flapping open in the wind.
When he saw me sitting beside the suitcase, his expression changed.
"Oh, my God.""
He crouched in front of me.
"What happened to your hands?""
"I fell.""
"How?""
I looked at the house.
Daniel followed my gaze.
Through the glass, Richard stood near the kitchen island with his phone pressed to his ear. Vanessa was pacing behind him.
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"He pushed you?""
I didn't answer.
I didn't have to.
Daniel stood so abruptly that his knee struck the suitcase.
"I'm going inside.""
I caught his sleeve.
"No.""
"Emily—"
"Please. I can't watch another person fight with them today.""
He looked down at me.
For a moment, his anger gave way to something softer.
"Okay," he said.
"But we're not leaving you out here for another second.""
He picked up my suitcase, opened the passenger door, and helped me into the SUV.
Before he closed the door, he crouched beside me again.
"How long since the baby moved?""
"I don't know. Maybe an hour.""
His face tightened.
"Then we're going to the hospital now.""
"But my things—"
"Forget your things.""
"Lucas's sweater is in there.""
Daniel glanced at the suitcase.
Then he took off his jacket and placed it over my shoulders.
"We'll get everything you need. I promise.""
I wanted to believe him.
As he started the engine, I looked toward the house one last time.
Vanessa had moved to the patio doors.
She was watching us leave.
She lifted her phone to her ear.
Then she said something to Richard.
He turned sharply toward the driveway.
Even from a distance, I could see the fear in his face.
Daniel noticed my silence.
"What is it?""
"That lawyer," I whispered.
"Jonathan Price. He said Lucas left a letter for Richard and another document about me and the baby.""
Daniel's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"Jonathan called?""
"You know him?""
"Yes.""
The way he answered made me turn toward him.
"How?""
Daniel looked at the road.
"Lucas introduced us to him a few years ago. Jonathan handled some of his business arrangements.""
"What business arrangements?""
"Emily, I don't know how much I should tell you while you're sitting here scared and in pain.""
"Please don't do that.""
"Do what?""
"Treat me like I'm too fragile to hear the truth.""
Daniel exhaled slowly.
Then he pulled into traffic.
"Fine. But first, we're getting you checked out. That's not negotiable.""
At the hospital, a nurse hurried me into an examination room.
A monitor was strapped around my stomach, and within minutes, the room filled with the steady, beautiful sound of my daughter's heartbeat.
I burst into tears.
"There she is," the nurse said gently.
"That's a good strong heartbeat.""
I covered my mouth.
Daniel stood beside the bed, staring at the monitor as if he had been holding his breath since he arrived.
"Thank God," he whispered.
The doctor examined my knees and hands, checked for signs of injury, and asked several questions about the fall.
When she was satisfied that the baby appeared well, she instructed me to rest and return immediately if I experienced bleeding, contractions, reduced movement, or any worsening symptoms.
After she left, Daniel pulled a chair beside my bed.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked the question that had been burning inside me.
"What did Lucas do?""
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
"I don't know everything.""
"But you know something.""
He looked at me.
"Lucas had been worried for months.""
"About what?""
"His father.""
I stared at him.
"Richard?""
Daniel nodded.
"Lucas thought someone was moving money through one of the Carter family's companies without his permission. At first, he assumed it was an accounting mistake. Then he found transactions that didn't make sense.""
"How much money?""
"I don't know the final number.""
"Was Vanessa involved?""
Daniel hesitated.
That hesitation frightened me more than a direct answer would have.
"Daniel.""
"Lucas suspected she was getting access to information she shouldn't have had. He never showed me enough to prove she was involved.""
I thought about the cream blouse, the pearl earrings, the way she had watched Richard throw me out.
"Why didn't Lucas tell me?""
"Maybe he wanted to protect you.""
"By keeping secrets from me?""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"I asked him the same thing.""
I looked toward the window.
Rain slid down the glass in thin, silver lines.
"On our last night together, he promised he'd be home before midnight," I whispered.
"He kissed my forehead. He told me to take care of myself.""
Daniel's expression softened.
"He loved you, Emily.""
"Then why do I feel like I didn't know him at all?""
He didn't have an answer.
A little later, my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
I opened the message.
*Emily, this is Jonathan Price. I understand you're with Daniel. Please do not return to the Carter residence alone. I need to speak with you privately regarding instructions Lucas left before his death.*
A second message arrived.
*Your husband specifically requested that you receive certain documents before his father. The situation is more urgent than I can explain by text.*
I read the messages twice.
Then I showed them to Daniel.
He leaned forward.
"Call him.""
I pressed the number.
Jonathan answered immediately.
"Mrs. Carter?""
Hearing my married name made something inside me ache.
"Yes.""
"My condolences. I wish we were speaking under better circumstances.""
"So do I.""
"Daniel tells me you're at the hospital. Are you and the baby safe?""
"For now.""
"Good. I'll come to you, if that's acceptable.""
"Can you tell me what Lucas left?""
There was a pause.
"Some of it. But I would prefer to explain the documents in person.""
"Is this about money?""
"Partly.""
"Did Lucas leave me anything?""
Jonathan's voice softened.
"Mrs. Carter, your husband made provisions for you and your child. But the documents are only one part of the matter.""
"What is the other part?""
"The circumstances surrounding his death.""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?""
"I am not suggesting that I have evidence of wrongdoing. I don't want to frighten you with speculation. But Lucas was concerned about something before the accident, and he left instructions that I believe are important.""
I gripped the phone.
"Was his accident really an accident?""
Jonathan didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "That is one of the questions I hope we can clarify.""
After the call ended, I stared at the wall.
Daniel stood and began pacing.
"I knew it," he muttered.
I looked at him.
"Knew what?""
"That Lucas wasn't just worried about money.""
"Daniel, tell me what you know.""
He stopped near the foot of the bed.
"The night before the accident, Lucas called me twice. The first time, he asked if I'd ever heard of a company called Northbridge Holdings.""
"Have you?""
"Yes. It was connected to one of his father's investment businesses.""
"And the second call?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"He said he thought someone had accessed his car's service records without his permission.""
A chill crept down my spine.
"Why would anyone do that?""
"He didn't say.""
"Was there something wrong with his car?""
"Not that I knew.""
I looked down at my hands.
The scrapes on my palms were beginning to sting.
"Did the police investigate the accident?""
"Of course.""
"Then why are we talking about it as if something happened?""
"Because Lucas was careful, Emily. He was the kind of man who checked the locks twice and read every contract before signing it. If he thought something was wrong, I don't want to dismiss it.""
A knock interrupted us.
Jonathan Price stood in the doorway wearing a dark suit and carrying a slim leather briefcase.
He was in his early sixties, with silver hair, a neat tie, and the calm expression of someone accustomed to delivering terrible news without letting his voice shake.
"Mrs. Carter," he said.
I nodded.
"Please come in.""
He entered and closed the door behind him.
After greeting Daniel, he placed the briefcase on the table.
"I want to begin by saying that Lucas loved you very much. Whatever else happens, please remember that.""
My eyes filled.
"Then tell me what he was so afraid of.""
Jonathan opened the briefcase and removed a thick envelope.
My name was written across the front in Lucas's handwriting.
Emily.
Just that.
No surname. No formal greeting.
I recognized the slight upward curve of the E, the way he always pressed too hard on the final stroke of my name.
My hands began to shake.
"He wrote this?""
"Yes," Jonathan replied.
"He delivered it to my office twelve days before the accident.""
"Twelve days?""
"He asked me to keep it sealed unless a specific set of circumstances occurred.""
"What circumstances?""
Jonathan looked directly at me.
"If Richard attempted to remove you from the family home, if your access to the family estate was restricted, or if someone challenged your right to represent your child in matters involving Lucas's assets.""
I stared at him.
"He knew Richard might throw me out?""
"He was concerned that you might be pressured after his death.""
The room seemed to grow smaller.
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"I can't answer that for him.""
Jonathan slid the envelope toward me.
"However, he left another set of instructions that I must follow. I am not authorized to disclose all the details until I confirm your identity and review certain documents with you.""
I reached for the envelope.
Then stopped.
"Does Richard know what's inside?""
"No.""
"Does Vanessa?""
"Not to my knowledge.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Jonathan, what about Northbridge Holdings?""
The lawyer's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I noticed.
"How do you know about that company?""
"Lucas mentioned it before the accident.""
Jonathan folded his hands.
"Northbridge was one of several entities involved in a financial review Lucas had commissioned. I cannot discuss the full details without reviewing the relevant records.""
"Was money missing?"" I asked.
"I believe there were discrepancies that require further investigation.""
"How much?""
"I don't want to give you an inaccurate figure.""
I swallowed.
"Then tell me this. Is Richard going to be able to take my daughter away from me?""
Jonathan's expression softened.
"Nothing in the documents I have seen gives him an automatic right to do that. You should speak with a family-law attorney if anyone threatens your parental rights. But I can tell you that Lucas took steps to protect your financial interests.""
He paused.
"And he made it very clear that you were not to be treated as a disposable member of his family.""
The words made my throat close.
I pressed the envelope against my chest.
"Can I read it now?""
"Of course.""
Jonathan stood.
"I'll give you some privacy. But before I leave, there is something else you should know.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Lucas instructed me to deliver a separate document to Richard Carter personally. I did so this morning.""
Daniel frowned.
"What document?""
"A formal notice requiring him to preserve certain financial records and refrain from transferring assets connected to the review.""
"How did he react?"" I asked.
Jonathan's expression grew grave.
"He asked whether Lucas had left anything specifically for you.""
My fingers tightened around the envelope.
"What did you tell him?""
"That I would be meeting with you.""
Jonathan closed his briefcase.
"Within an hour, I received three calls from Richard's office. The last one came from Vanessa.""
I stared at him.
"Vanessa called you?""
"She demanded to know whether Lucas had left a will.""
"What did you say?""
"That I could not discuss confidential matters with her.""
Jonathan moved toward the door.
"Mrs. Carter, I strongly advise you not to sign anything presented by Richard or Vanessa without independent legal advice. If either of them contacts you, keep a record of the conversation.""
Then he stopped.
"There is one final thing.""
I looked at him.
"Lucas told me that if I ever had to deliver this envelope to you, I should make sure you read the last page before you read anything else.""
He left the room.
I sat frozen, holding the envelope.
Daniel pulled his chair closer.
"Do you want me to stay?""
I nodded.
With trembling fingers, I opened the flap.
Inside were several sheets of paper and a small photograph of Lucas and me on our wedding day.
He was laughing in the picture.
I was looking at him instead of the camera.
On the back, he had written four words.
*You were always enough.*
I pressed the photograph to my lips.
Then I turned to the last page.
At the top, in bold type, was a sentence that made me forget how to breathe.
*To Emily Carter, should my father attempt to remove you from your home or deny you the rights I have secured for you and our child.*
Beneath it, Lucas had written a personal note.
Emily, if you're reading this, then the person I feared would hurt you has finally made his move.
I covered my mouth.
Daniel leaned over my shoulder.
"What does it say?""
I couldn't answer.
Because beneath Lucas's note was a single line in Jonathan's handwriting.
*The enclosed trust instrument names you as the controlling beneficiary of an asset Richard Carter has spent twenty years trying to obtain.*
I looked at Daniel.
"What asset?""
He stared at the page.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and went completely still.
"What is it?"" I asked.
Daniel didn't answer.
He turned the phone toward me.
The caller's name was Richard Carter.
May you like
And the message beneath it read:
*Tell Emily to stop reading that letter. She has no idea what Lucas was really trying to protect her from.*
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