Chapter 6: The Introduction
I drove straight to Thomas’s office.
I didn’t call.
I didn’t text.
I didn’t tell anyone I was coming.
The rules had changed.
Secrets had destroyed my life.
Now I needed my own.
Thomas opened the door before I knocked.
He looked at me once.
Then immediately stepped aside.
“You met him.””
It wasn’t a question.
I walked inside.
“How did you know?””
“Because Daniel only shows people the truth when he thinks he has already won.””
I placed my phone on his desk.
“He said Rebecca introduced us.””
Thomas went quiet.
That was becoming a pattern.
“What?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“Thomas.””
He sighed.
“Emily, there are things you need to understand.””
“I’m tired of people saying that.””
He looked at me.
“So am I.””
That surprised me.
He opened a file.
Inside were photographs.
Records.
Reports.
My name appeared on several pages.
My stomach turned.
“What is this?””
“The investigation your mother hired me for.””
“You worked with her?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Six months before she died.””
I stared.
“My mother hired a financial investigator?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Because she believed someone close to you was manipulating your life.””
I looked at the papers.
“Daniel?””
“No.””
My heart dropped.
“Then who?””
Thomas didn’t answer immediately.
He opened another file.
A photograph fell onto the desk.
A younger Rebecca.
Standing beside my mother.
And beside them…
Daniel.
But this photo was different.
Because it was not before my wedding.
It was before I met him.
The date was printed below.
Seven years earlier.
I whispered:
“No.””
Thomas watched me carefully.
“Your mother discovered Daniel’s connection to the Morrow family years before your marriage.””
“Then why didn’t she tell me?””
“Because she wasn’t sure.””
“Sure about what?””
He handed me another document.
A private investigator’s report.
The first page contained a sentence highlighted in yellow.
Daniel Morrow was not pursuing Emily Carter for financial access.
I looked up.
“What?””
Thomas continued.
“The original theory was that he was targeting your inheritance.””
“But?””
“But the investigation found something different.””
I turned the page.
My eyes moved across the words.
Daniel Morrow appears to have entered Emily Carter’s life due to a personal connection unrelated to finances.
My hands shook.
“What personal connection?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Your mother.””
I stared.
“She knew him?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“She never told me.””
The room became silent.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
“Emily.””
Her voice sounded terrified.
“Where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel knows you met Thomas.””
I looked at Thomas.
“How?””
Rebecca continued.
“You need to leave.””
“Rebecca—”
“No. Listen to me.””
Her voice cracked.
“He’s not trying to steal your inheritance.””
I froze.
“Then what is he trying to do?””
Silence.
Then:
“He’s trying to expose what your mother did.””
“What did my mother do?””
Before Rebecca could answer, the call ended.
A second later, Thomas’s office alarm sounded.
Someone was outside.
Thomas looked toward the window.
His face changed.
“Emily.””
“What?””
“We need to go.””
“Why?””
He didn’t answer.
He simply pointed.
Across the street.
A black sedan was parked.
Daniel’s car.
And someone was sitting inside.
Not Daniel.
Someone else.
Someone I recognized.
My breath caught.
May you like
Because the person watching Thomas’s office was the last person I expected.
My father.
