Chapter 5: The Second Secret
Nathan didn’t speak during the drive back.
Neither did I.
The silence between us was heavier than any argument.
Lily sat in the back seat, humming softly while she colored.
She had no idea the world around her had changed.
She didn’t know her grandfather was alive.
She didn’t know adults had spent years fighting over her.
She only knew that yesterday she met her father.
And today, she had a family she had always wanted.
I wished life could stay that simple.
When we arrived at the mansion, Nathan immediately went into his father’s old office.
I followed.
The room smelled like leather and old paper.
Everything about it felt like Richard.
The heavy desk.
The expensive books.
The photographs of a family that had always looked perfect from the outside.
Nathan opened drawers one by one.
“He kept everything.””
I watched him search.
“Your father planned everything.””
Nathan stopped.
“You really believe he was protecting me?””
I looked at him.
“No.””
The answer surprised him.
“I think he believed controlling everyone was the same as protecting them.””
Nathan looked down.
“That sounds like him.””
For the first time since finding out about Lily, Nathan looked tired.
Not angry.
Just exhausted.
“I missed everything.””
I stayed quiet.
“Her first steps.””
His voice cracked.
“Her first words.””
I looked toward the hallway where Lily was playing.
“You can’t change the past.””
“No.””
He swallowed.
“But I can stop losing the future.””
Before I could answer, Daniel Reeves entered the room carrying another box.
“I found something.””
Nathan turned.
“What?””
Daniel placed the box on the desk.
“This was hidden behind a false panel.””
Inside were old files.
Photographs.
Letters.
And a small black notebook.
Nathan opened it.
The first page had one sentence written in Richard’s handwriting.
If Nathan ever discovers the truth, give him this.
Nathan read silently.
Then he handed it to me.
I looked down.
The pages were filled with dates.
Names.
Payments.
The first entry was from five years ago.
Grace Bennett.
My hands went cold.
The next line made my heart stop.
Subject: Separation from Nathan Cole.
I turned the page.
Richard had documented everything.
The threats.
The lawyers.
The fake reports.
But then I saw something I never expected.
Victoria had not been acting alone.
Someone had been giving her instructions.
Someone had been paying her.
Nathan leaned over.
“Who?””
I kept reading.
The final pages were damaged.
Ink had blurred.
But one name was still visible.
Eleanor Cole.
Nathan stepped back.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Your mother?””
He shook his head.
“She died when I was twelve.””
Daniel spoke quietly.
“Maybe the records are wrong.””
But Nathan wasn’t listening.
He grabbed the notebook.
“My mother couldn’t have done this.””
A sound came from the doorway.
Victoria.
She had been standing there.
Listening.
Nathan looked at her.
“How much did you know?””
Victoria’s face was pale.
“I knew Richard was hiding something.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She stepped inside.
“I knew he wanted Grace gone.””
My chest tightened.
“And you helped him.””
Her eyes filled.
“I thought if you forgot her, you would finally see me.””
Nathan stared at her.
“How could you?””
Victoria looked at the floor.
“Because I loved you.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“You loved winning.””
The words hit her harder than a scream.
She turned toward me.
“I never wanted Lily hurt.””
I looked at her.
“But you let it happen.””
Victoria opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
Because she knew there was nothing she could say.
Suddenly, Nathan’s phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
A message.
Unknown number.
His expression changed as he read it.
“What is it?””
He handed me the phone.
The message contained only one sentence.
Stop digging, Nathan. Your mother’s secret should have stayed buried.
Below it was a photograph.
A recent photograph.
Of Lily.
Taken outside the mansion that morning.
My blood turned cold.
Someone had been watching us.
Someone close.
Nathan immediately called security.
But before anyone answered, another message appeared.
This one was shorter.
May you like
And it contained only four words.
I know where Grace sleeps.
