Chapter 9: The Woman Behind Them
Sarah took the photograph from my hand.
Her fingers trembled.
“I saw her at the hospital.””
“When?””
“After the accident.””
I stared at her.
“Who is she?””
Sarah shook her head.
“I don't know her name.””
Margaret looked at the photograph.
The color drained from her face.
“You do.””
She stared at Margaret.
“No.””
“You've seen her.””
Margaret whispered, “Her name is Vivian.””
Rebecca suddenly turned away.
I noticed.
“Rebecca.””
She stopped.
“You know Vivian?””
“No.””
Sarah looked at her.
“Then why did you just react like that?””
Rebecca didn't answer.
I walked toward her.
“Who is Vivian?””
She finally said, “She was your father's assistant.””
I frowned.
“My father didn't have an assistant.””
“He did.””
“Why didn't I know?””
“Because your father kept his business separate from the family.””
Sarah looked back at the photograph.
“Vivian was there the night of the crash.””
Rebecca's eyes widened.
“What?””
Sarah pointed to the image.
“She was standing beside Ethan.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“You're remembering wrong.””
“I remember her face.””
“You had a head injury.””
Sarah stepped closer.
“I remember enough.””
Lily rolled into the hallway.
“Mommy?””
Sarah immediately softened.
“I'm here.””
Lily looked at the photograph.
“That lady came to our house.””
I turned.
“When?””
“Before Daddy married Rebecca.””
Rebecca went completely still.
“What did she say?””
Lily frowned, thinking.
“She asked where Mommy kept her special papers.””
Sarah's face went white.
“When?””
“Before the wedding.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“You knew Vivian was looking for Sarah's files.””
“No.””
“You let her into the house.””
“I didn't know what she wanted.””
“Why are you lying?””
Rebecca's voice broke.
“Because I was scared!””
“Of Vivian?””
She nodded.
“She's the one who controlled Ethan.””
Sarah stared at her.
“And you.””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Margaret sat down heavily.
I felt as though the walls were moving.
“Why would Vivian want Sarah dead?””
Rebecca whispered, “Because Sarah discovered the real company.””
I frowned.
“What real company?””
“Your father's.””
Sarah looked at the documents.
“These aren't just financial records.””
She spread them across the desk.
“There are property transfers.””
I leaned over.
Hundreds of acres.
Shell companies.
Offshore accounts.
And one recurring name.
*Carter Foundation Holdings.*
My father's foundation.
Sarah traced a line with her finger.
“These transfers began before your father died.””
I looked at her.
“Then my father was alive when this started.””
“Yes.””
“And Vivian worked for him.””
“Yes.””
“So why kill Sarah?””
Sarah looked at me.
“Because I found the missing account.””
“What account?””
She pointed to the bottom of the page.
One line had been blacked out.
Underneath it, barely visible, was a handwritten note.
*Beneficiary: Daniel Carter.*
My chest tightened.
“I was the beneficiary?””
“Apparently.””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“That money wasn't meant for you.””
I turned.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“Your father left instructions.””
“What instructions?””
“He said if anything happened to him, everything would go to you.””
Sarah stared at her.
“And Vivian?””
“She wanted control of it.””
“Through Daniel?””
Rebecca nodded.
“She needed someone close to him.””
I understood.
The marriage.
The insurance claim.
The forged accounts.
Everything had been built around me.
I wasn't the target.
I was the key.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
Calm.
Almost gentle.
“Daniel, you've found the files.””
I stood completely still.
Sarah's face changed.
“Who is this?””
The woman laughed softly.
“You don't remember me, do you?””
I looked at the photograph.
Vivian.
“Where are you?””
“Where I always am.””
“Tell me where Lily is.””
“She is safe.””
“You have five seconds before I call the police.””
“You still don't understand.””
“What?””
Her voice became colder.
“Your father didn't die seven years ago.””
I couldn't breathe.
Sarah grabbed my arm.
The woman continued.
“He's been alive this entire time.””
Then the call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Margaret whispered,
“That's impossible.””
Sarah looked at me.
“Daniel…”
A notification appeared on my screen.
A photograph.
My father was sitting in a chair.
Older.
Alive.
May you like
And beside him stood Vivian.
The timestamp was from *that morning*.
