Chapter 10 - The Woman Who Never Wanted the BabyThe old mill stood outside the city.
Abandoned.
Dark.
Surrounded by dead trees.
Daniel arrived alone.
The front door was open.
“Ivy!”
His voice echoed.
Nothing.
Then a light turned on upstairs.
Margaret appeared at the railing.
“Put the ledger down.”
Daniel slowly placed it on the floor.
“Where is my daughter?”
“She’s here.”
“Bring her down.”
“You still don’t understand.”
“I understand plenty.”
Margaret smiled.
“No. You understand what Claire wants you to understand.”
Daniel looked around.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because everything is falling apart.”
“Your plan.”
“My family.”
She stepped down the stairs.
“I built everything.”
“You destroyed it.”
“I protected it.”
“You tried to get my wife blamed for hurting Ivy.”
“She was convenient.”
Daniel stared.
Margaret nodded.
“People believe what they already fear.”
“You planted doubts.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire found the account.”
“What account?”
Margaret stopped.
“The account that proves who owns the Voss family fortune.”
Daniel frowned.
“You said the trust belonged to the children.”
“It does.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
Margaret looked at him.
“Losing control.”
She took a breath.
“When your father died, I was left with debts.”
Daniel said nothing.
“I made investments.”
“You stole.”
“I borrowed.”
“Four million dollars?”
“More.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“And Elena found out.”
“Yes.”
“What did she threaten to do?”
“Tell Daniel the truth.”
“So you killed her?”
Margaret looked stunned.
“I did not kill Elena.”
Daniel stared.
“Then who did?”
Margaret’s voice dropped.
“Your father.”
Daniel recoiled.
“He died years before.”
“I know.”
“Then how?”
“He arranged the accident before he died.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“He discovered Elena planned to expose the trust.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if you understand the family.”
Margaret approached him.
“Your father believed our family’s name mattered more than anyone.”
She pulled out a folder.
Inside was a letter.
His father’s handwriting.
“I found this after he died.”
Daniel took it.
It was addressed to Margaret.
If Elena speaks, everything collapses.
Then:
Do whatever is necessary.
Daniel’s hands trembled.
“Where is Ivy?”
Margaret pointed upstairs.
“Room four.”
Daniel started toward the stairs.
“Not yet.”
He turned.
“What?”
“You have to understand the final condition.”
“What condition?”
Margaret smiled.
“Claire has to leave Daniel.”
Daniel stared.
“You want her to leave me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust becomes vulnerable if she remains.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You can’t control us.”
Margaret’s smile disappeared.
“You think this is about control?”
She pointed at the ledger.
“You found the payments.”
“Yes.”
“You think that’s the secret.”
“It isn’t?”
“No.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“I paid Victor to protect someone else.”
Daniel froze.
“Who?”
Margaret whispered:
“Elena.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Elena wasn’t killed that night.”
Daniel’s face went blank.
Margaret continued.
“She survived the crash.”
Daniel stared.
“Then where is she?”
Margaret pointed toward the far hallway.
“The same place she’s been for eighteen years.”
Daniel’s heart slammed against his ribs.
“No.”
“She was too afraid to return.”
“You’re lying.”
Margaret smiled.
Then a voice came from the darkness behind Daniel.
“You should have asked me yourself.”
Daniel turned.
A woman stepped into the light.
Older.
Paler.
But unmistakable.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Claire had never seen her.
But she knew immediately.
Because Ivy’s eyes looked exactly like hers.
The woman whispered:
“Daniel.”
May you like
He staggered backward.
“Elena?”
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