Chapter 2: The Message About Lily
“Because the next message is about Lily.””
Victoria said it without blinking.
That was when every instinct I had ignored for the last eighteen months finally woke up.
I stepped away from her.
“Stay where you are.””
Her expression tightened.
“Mark, you’re misunderstanding what you’re seeing.””
“I don’t think I am.””
“Give me the phone.””
“No.””
“It contains private conversations.””
“So does my daughter’s safety.””
Victoria glanced at Lily.
For one strange second, neither of them spoke.
Then Lily whispered, “Daddy, don’t give it back.””
Victoria's eyes snapped toward her.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.””
Lily flinched.
I moved between them.
“Enough.””
The music from the ballroom was still playing.
That almost made the moment surreal.
Out there, our guests were waiting for the bride and groom.
In here, my six-year-old daughter was hiding behind my arm while my future wife stood ten feet away, pale and furious.
I looked down at the phone again.
The message thread remained open.
*He doesn't know about the money.*
Under it sat a blinking cursor.
Someone was typing.
Then the new message appeared.
*If Lily talks, everything falls apart.*
My throat went dry.
I looked at Victoria.
She closed her eyes.
Just for a second.
And that tiny movement told me more than any confession could have.
“You knew about this.””
“It isn't what you think.””
“Then tell me what I think.””
She said nothing.
“Who is Daniel?””
Silence.
“Who has been messaging you?””
Still nothing.
I held up the phone.
“Why are there photographs of my house?””
Victoria took a breath.
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
I nearly laughed.
“Protect me from what?””
“You don't know what you're involved in.””
“I’m involved in my own life.””
“You're making this worse.””
“No. You made it worse when you locked my daughter in a storage room.””
“I didn't lock her in there.””
Lily's small voice came from behind me.
“You did.””
Victoria's jaw tightened.
“You need to stop lying.””
Lily's face crumpled.
I turned on Victoria.
“Don't speak to her like that.””
“She is manipulating you.””
“She is six.””
“She knows exactly how to use that.””
I felt something inside me snap.
“You've said that twice.””
Victoria swallowed.
“Because it’s true.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You've been waiting for someone to blame her.””
“That isn't fair.””
“Fair?””
I looked at the wedding dress.
At the diamond necklace.
At the flowers waiting outside.
At the woman I had planned to marry before sunset.
“Fair would have been telling me the truth.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Mark, I love you.””
I stared at her.
“That's not an answer.””
“It is the only thing that matters.””
“No.””
My voice came out colder than I expected.
“It was the only thing that mattered this morning.””
She went still.
I could see the moment she realized the wedding was over.
Not postponed.
Not delayed.
Over.
She looked toward the ballroom.
“What are you going to tell everyone?””
“The truth.””
“You can't.””
“Watch me.””
“Mark, please.””
She stepped closer.
I backed away.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
Lily's fingers wrapped tighter around mine.
Then my phone rang.
I almost ignored it.
The number was unknown.
I answered anyway.
“Hello?””
For three seconds, there was only static.
Then a man's voice said, “You found the second phone.””
I stared at Victoria.
She looked terrified.
“Who is this?””
“Doesn't matter.””
“It matters to me.””
“You need to leave that hotel with your daughter.””
“Why?””
“Because if Victoria realizes what you know, she won't have anything left to lose.””
The line went dead.
I immediately called the number back.
It was disconnected.
I turned to Victoria.
“Who was that?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Try again.””
“I said I don't know.””
I looked at the screen.
The phone in my hand had 3% battery left.
Then another message arrived.
This time, there was an attachment.
A photograph.
I opened it.
My breath caught.
It was Lily.
Sleeping.
She was in her bedroom at home.
The photo had been taken from inside the house.
I zoomed in.
The date was two nights earlier.
I looked at my daughter.
She was staring at the screen.
“Daddy?””
I locked the phone.
“Don't look.””
But I'd already seen enough.
Someone had been inside my house.
Someone had been watching my child.
And someone had been taking pictures.
Victoria whispered, “Mark…”
I turned toward her.
“Was this you?””
“No.””
“Did you know someone had been inside my house?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
She hesitated.
That was enough.
I grabbed her wrist.
“Who?””
She yanked free.
“You're hurting me.””
“Who has access to my house?””
“No one.””
I stared at her.
“Victoria.””
She looked away.
“Mark, there are things you don't understand.””
“Then explain them.””
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I tell you, you won't be safe.””
That sentence stopped me.
“What did you just say?””
Her eyes filled with tears again.
“You heard me.””
“Safe from whom?””
She didn't answer.
“Daniel?””
Silence.
“Is Daniel dangerous?””
Victoria finally looked at me.
“Yes.””
The word barely left her mouth.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Then why are you working with him?””
“I wasn't.””
“Your messages say otherwise.””
“I was trying to get away from him.””
“By marrying me?””
She closed her eyes.
“I didn't have a choice.””
I shook my head.
“You always have a choice.””
“Not when someone has your life in their hands.””
I looked at Lily.
“What does he want with my daughter?””
Victoria said nothing.
“Answer me.””
“He doesn't want Lily.””
“You're lying.””
“He wants what you have.””
“My money?””
“Not just your money.””
“What else?””
She looked toward the ballroom.
“Your name.””
I didn't understand.
Victoria lowered her voice.
“Your father left more than a house.””
My heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?””
“Your father had accounts.””
“I already settled his estate.””
“No. You settled what they wanted you to see.””
I stared at her.
“My father died seven years ago.””
“I know.””
“How would you know?””
“I've spent months trying to find the documents.””
“Documents for what?””
Victoria hesitated.
Then she said, “The trust.””
I felt the hallway tilt again.
My father had mentioned a trust once.
Years ago.
I'd been twenty-six, angry with him, convinced he cared more about business than his own family.
He told me there would be money someday.
I never cared.
When he died, the attorney told me the estate had been divided, taxes had been paid, and everything left to me was straightforward.
A house.
Investments.
Some company shares.
Nothing mysterious.
At least that's what I'd believed.
“You're saying there was another trust?””
Victoria nodded.
“Worth how much?””
“Enough to make people kill for it.””
Lily suddenly squeezed my hand.
“Daddy?””
I looked down.
She was crying again.
“Can we go home?””
I crouched beside her.
“Yes.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Don't take her home.””
I stood.
“Why?””
“Because that's the first place they'll look.””
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
“Who, Victoria?””
She looked at Lily.
“Daniel.””
I felt cold all over.
“Then you're coming with us.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
“You know something.””
“I know enough to tell you that going home is a mistake.””
“Then where do we go?””
She whispered, “The place your father trusted.””
My mind raced.
“There are dozens of properties.””
“One.””
She looked directly at me.
“The lake house.””
I hadn't been there in years.
It had been my father's favorite place.
A gray stone house surrounded by pine trees, three hours outside the city.
No neighbors.
No cameras.
No staff.
Just land.
“Why would my father trust that place?””
“Because there is something hidden there.””
“What?””
“I don't know.””
I stared at her.
“You expect me to believe you?””
“No.””
“Then why tell me?””
“Because if Daniel gets there before you do, Lily will be in danger.””
I looked down at my daughter.
Her flower-girl dress was still covered in dust.
One pink shoe was missing.
She looked exhausted.
And suddenly I couldn't think about the money.
Or the trust.
Or the wedding.
Only getting her somewhere safe.
I picked her up.
She wrapped both arms around my neck.
“Daddy?””
“I'm here.””
“Don't let Victoria come.””
I looked over Lily's shoulder.
Victoria was standing perfectly still.
For the first time since I'd met her, she looked genuinely afraid.
Not angry.
Not manipulative.
Afraid.
Then the ballroom doors at the end of the corridor burst open.
One of my groomsmen stumbled into the hallway.
“Mark!””
“What happened?””
His face was white.
“There are police downstairs.””
I frowned.
“Police?””
He nodded.
“And they're asking for you.””
“Why?””
He swallowed.
“They said your house was broken into.””
I tightened my arms around Lily.
“Did they say when?””
He looked at me.
“While you were at the hotel.””
Behind him, another man appeared.
A police officer.
And in his hand was a photograph.
My photograph.
The same one I had just seen on Victoria's phone.
The officer raised it slowly.
“Mr. Bennett,” he said, “we need to talk about what was found in your daughter's bedroom.””
Lily buried her face against my shoulder.
Victoria whispered behind me.
“It's already started.””
Then the officer added one sentence that made my blood run cold.
“Someone left a message on the wall.””
I stared at him.
“What message?””
He looked at Lily.
Then back at me.
May you like
It said:
*NEXT TIME, WE WON'T LEAVE HER ALIVE.*
