Chapter 9: The Room Nobody Entered
Marcus closed the front door slowly.
Daniel stood in the center of the mansion, looking around like every wall had a memory attached to it.
That bothered Marcus.
Because Daniel looked afraid.
Not guilty.
Afraid.
“You’re going to explain everything,” Marcus said.
Daniel nodded.
“I will.””
“Now.””
Daniel looked toward Lily.
Marcus understood.
He immediately sent Lily upstairs with a trusted neighbor who had arrived after his call.
Once she was gone, Marcus returned.
The room felt heavier.
“Talk.””
Daniel took a breath.
“Your wife discovered someone was moving money from your company.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She looked away.
“I already know that.””
“No, you don’t.””
Daniel placed a folder on the table.
“She discovered the money wasn’t being stolen.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“It was being hidden.””
“By who?””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“By you.””
Marcus froze.
“What?””
Vanessa looked shocked.
Rachel stared at Daniel.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel shook his head.
“She thought the same thing.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You’re accusing me?””
“No.””
Daniel opened the folder.
“I’m saying someone wanted your wife to believe that.””
Inside were documents.
Bank records.
Emails.
Marcus looked through them.
His name appeared.
But something was wrong.
The dates.
The signatures.
The details.
“They forged this.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
Marcus noticed.
“No.””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Vanessa stood.
“You think I did this?””
Daniel looked at her.
“I think you know who did.””
Her face tightened.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Tell me.””
She remained silent.
“Vanessa.””
Finally, she whispered:
“My father.””
The room went still.
Marcus stared.
“Your father?””
“He controlled everything.””
She sat down.
“He controlled my sister. Me. Everyone around him.””
Marcus looked confused.
“But your father has been dead for years.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
She looked toward the security cameras.
“Because he didn’t work alone.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
Marcus noticed.
“You know who helped him.””
Daniel didn’t respond.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You know.””
Daniel looked down.
Then whispered:
“Your wife knew.””
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
“She knew who?””
Daniel looked at him.
“You.””
The accusation hung in the air.
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
Daniel’s voice softened.
“Your wife didn’t believe you were guilty.””
Marcus stopped.
“She believed someone was using your identity.””
Marcus looked at the papers.
“Then why didn’t she tell me?””
Daniel looked toward the pool.
“Because she found out too late.””
A silence followed.
Marcus walked toward the glass doors.
The pool reflected the sunlight.
The same pool.
The same place where everything began.
“What happened that night?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She called me.””
Marcus turned.
“Your wife?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She said she found the person behind everything.””
“Who?””
Vanessa’s voice shook.
“She said she was going to tell Marcus.””
“And then?””
Vanessa looked down.
“She never arrived.””
Marcus stared.
“But everyone said she fell.””
Daniel shook his head.
“She wasn’t alone.””
Marcus felt cold.
“Who was with her?””
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed instantly.
“What?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Daniel turned the phone around.
A message.
From an unknown number.
Only one sentence.
*Stop digging, or Lily goes into the water next.*
Marcus felt every muscle in his body tighten.
He looked upstairs.
Then toward Vanessa.
Then the pool.
Someone was not just hiding the truth.
Someone was willing to hurt his daughter to keep it buried.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“Where are you going?””
Daniel asked.
Marcus looked at him.
“To the old house.””
Vanessa stood quickly.
“No.””
Marcus stopped.
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with fear.
“Because that’s where she died.””
Marcus stared.
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
“And that’s where the person who killed her is waiting.””
