Chapter 4 - THE UNCLE IN THE LOBBY
The man standing in the lobby looked directly at me.
I had never seen him before.
Yet something about his face felt familiar.
My father walked toward the elevator.
“Emily, stay here.”
“No.”
I followed him.
The man watched us approach.
When my father stepped into the lobby, the stranger smiled.
“Arthur.”
My father's expression hardened.
“You should be dead.”
The man laughed.
“So that's the greeting I get?”
I stopped.
My father looked at him.
“Thomas.”
The man nodded.
“Your brother.”
I stared.
My father's brother.
The man connected to the account that had received millions before Carter Technologies collapsed.
Thomas looked at me.
“You look exactly like your mother.”
My stomach tightened.
“How do you know my mother?”
He sighed.
“Because I knew your biological father.”
I froze.
“My father?”
Thomas nodded.
“Thomas Carter.”
The name sent a chill through me.
“You knew him?”
“I worked with him.”
My father stepped between us.
“You betrayed him.”
Thomas's smile disappeared.
“You don't know the whole story.”
“Then tell it.”
Thomas looked at me.
“Your biological father didn't die naturally.”
Silence.
I stared.
“What?”
“He was poisoned.”
My heart stopped.
“Who?”
“Your grandmother's people.”
My father clenched his fists.
“Why?”
“Because Thomas Carter planned to expose the trust.”
I looked at the company logo on the wall.
Carter Technologies.
My company.
My inheritance.
Built by a man who had been murdered because he wanted to protect it.
Thomas continued.
“He knew there was a daughter.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't he find me?”
“Because he was dead before he could.”
I felt tears forming.
My father looked away.
“I didn't know.”
Thomas nodded.
“I believe you.”
“Then why did you receive the money?”
Thomas sighed.
“I didn't keep it.”
“Where did it go?”
He looked at me.
“Your grandmother.”
My stomach tightened.
“She used my uncle as a middleman.”
Thomas nodded.
“She created accounts in my name.”
“Why?”
“To make it look as though I had stolen from Carter Technologies.”
I stared at him.
“So you were framed too.”
“Yes.”
“Then who caused the collapse?”
Thomas looked at my father.
“Your grandmother.”
My father closed his eyes.
The truth was becoming uglier with every answer.
Then Thomas handed me a flash drive.
“This contains the original records.”
I took it.
“What records?”
“The day your father died.”
I looked at my father.
Thomas continued.
“And something else.”
“What?”
“The name of the person who ordered your husband to marry you.”
I froze.
“Who?”
Thomas looked toward the elevators.
“Your husband wasn't working alone.”
“Who was behind him?”
Thomas whispered:
“Your father-in-law.”
I stared.
Daniel's father had supposedly died before I met Daniel.
But Thomas shook his head.
“He didn't die.”
My blood ran cold.
“He's alive.”
That night, Rachel opened the flash drive.
There were dozens of encrypted files.
One video.
One audio recording.
And hundreds of financial documents.
The video showed Daniel meeting an older man.
Daniel looked nervous.
The older man handed him an envelope.
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
My photograph.
The man pointed to it.
“Marry her.”
Daniel nodded.
“What if she refuses?”
“She won't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she believes you love her.”
My heart broke.
I had believed every word.
The recording continued.
“Once you're married, gain access to the trust.”
Daniel asked:
“And if she discovers the truth?”
The older man smiled.
“Then make sure nobody believes her.”
I covered my mouth.
My father stood behind me.
His fists were clenched.
The recording ended.
Rachel looked at me.
“We have enough evidence to destroy him.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
She frowned.
“I want to know why.”
My father looked at me.
“Why what?”
“Why did Daniel hate me so much?”
Rachel opened another file.
There was an email.
From Daniel.
To his father.
She is starting to ask questions.
The reply came immediately.
Then give her a reason to leave.
The next email:
Madison is ready.
I stared at the screen.
The mistress.
She had never been an accident.
She had been part of the plan.
Then another message appeared.
Once Emily is out, the shares will be transferred.
I whispered:
“They wanted me out of my own life.”
My father put his hand on my shoulder.
“They failed.”
I looked at the screen.
“No.”
I closed the laptop.
“They haven't failed yet.”
May you like
“Why?”
“Because Daniel's father is still out there.”
