Chapter 5: What My Father Really Left Me
I didn't sleep that night.
I sat in a hotel room three blocks from the courthouse, staring at the sealed pages the clerk had returned to me.
The city lights moved across the window like distant stars.
I kept thinking about my father.
About his last week.
His tired smile.
The way his hands shook when he gave me the envelope.
"Not yet, Em.""
Those had been his words.
"Not until you absolutely need it.""
I had thought he was talking about grief.
I was wrong.
There was a knock at my hotel door.
I froze.
Another knock.
Then Michael's voice.
"Emily, it's me.""
I opened the door halfway.
He stood in the hallway holding two coffees.
"You shouldn't be here.""
"I know.""
"Daniel could have someone following you.""
"He probably does.""
I stared at him.
"You knew about Lily.""
Michael lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
"For eleven years?""
"Yes.""
My hand tightened around the door.
"How could you let me believe Daniel was her father?""
"Because your father made me promise.""
"That doesn't make it right.""
"No.""
He looked at me.
"It doesn't.""
I stepped aside.
He entered.
I didn't offer him a seat.
"Tell me everything.""
Michael set the coffee down.
"Your father discovered Daniel was taking money from the company before Lily was born.""
"How much?""
"At least three million dollars that we can prove.""
I stared at him.
"Three million?""
"Probably more.""
"And the trust?""
"Your father created it because he knew Daniel would eventually try to take control.""
I pulled the letter from my handbag.
"Then why didn't Dad tell me?""
"Because Daniel was watching.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Your father believed someone inside the family was giving Daniel information.""
"Who?""
Michael hesitated.
I already knew.
"Margaret.""
He didn't answer.
"She was helping him?""
"She was afraid of him.""
"She's his mother.""
"That didn't make her brave.""
I sat down.
Michael remained standing.
"There was another problem.""
"Lily.""
He nodded.
"Your father knew Daniel wasn't Lily's biological father.""
I looked at him.
"How?""
"Because he knew about us.""
My chest tightened.
"Us?""
Michael swallowed.
"Emily, I need to tell you something you may not remember.""
He pulled out an old photograph.
It showed me sitting on the porch of my father's house.
Michael was beside me.
I was pregnant.
I stared at the picture.
"I don't remember this.""
"You were heavily medicated.""
"For what?""
"You had been attacked.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"Daniel found out you were pregnant before you knew.""
The room seemed to tilt.
Michael continued.
"He confronted you. You fell down the stairs.""
My hand flew to my mouth.
"That's impossible.""
"Your father covered it up.""
"Why?""
"Because he was afraid Daniel would hurt you again.""
I looked at the photograph.
My face was smiling.
Michael's hand was resting protectively over mine.
"What happened to my memory?""
"You suffered a concussion.""
"And Lily?""
"She survived.""
I closed my eyes.
A strange image flashed through my mind.
A hospital room.
A newborn crying.
Daniel standing beside the bed.
My father arguing with someone in the hallway.
Then a voice.
A woman's voice.
Margaret.
"I'll tell Daniel the baby is his.""
I opened my eyes.
Michael was watching me.
"I remembered something.""
He nodded.
"You may remember more.""
"Why did Margaret agree?""
"Because your father offered her a deal.""
"What deal?""
"Silence in exchange for protecting Daniel from prosecution.""
I stood.
"Why would my father protect him?""
"He wasn't.""
Michael reached for another document.
"He was protecting you.""
The document was a copy of an old trust agreement.
My name was on it.
So was Lily's.
And beneath our names was a number.
I stared.
"What's this?""
"The value of the trust.""
I read the amount twice.
Twenty-eight million dollars.
I looked at Michael.
"My father had twenty-eight million dollars?""
"No.""
He pointed at the final page.
"Your father didn't.""
I read the beneficiary clause.
The assets belonged to Carter Development.
The company Daniel had claimed he built.
The company he was trying to take from me.
My phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number appeared.
*You opened the letter.*
A second message followed.
*Now everyone knows where the money is.*
Then a third.
*If you want Lily alive, don't go back to court tomorrow.*
My blood ran cold.
Michael took the phone from my hand.
"Emily.""
I couldn't speak.
He read the messages.
Then looked toward the window.
"Call the police.""
I shook my head.
"What if they're already watching?""
Michael's face changed.
He walked to the curtains.
"Emily...""
"What?""
"There isn't just one car outside.""
He pointed down.
Two black SUVs were parked across the street.
Their engines were running.
And then my phone buzzed again.
This time, the message contained a photograph.
Lily was in it.
Standing beside a man I'd never seen before.
May you like
And beneath the picture were six words:
*Your father knew this day would come.*
