Chapter 4: The Person Behind The Betrayal
The name on the screen belonged to Marcus Hale.
Lucas’s longtime business partner.
I remembered him.
A charming man.
Perfect suits.
Perfect smile.
The kind of person everyone trusted immediately.
Apparently, Lucas didn’t.
“He was stealing from the company,” Samantha explained.
“How much?””
“Enough to destroy it.””
I looked at the documents.
My father hadn’t been trying to take my house.
Not just my house.
He was trying to control everything Lucas left behind.
The company.
The money.
The future.
My daughter’s future.
That afternoon, we confronted Daniel.
He looked exhausted.
“I hoped you would never see these files.””
“Why?””
“Because Lucas wanted to handle it quietly.””
I stood up.
“Quietly?””
My voice shook.
“My father threw me onto a porch while I was in labor.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
I placed the documents on the table.
“Tell me everything.””
And he did.
Marcus had convinced Charles there was an opportunity.
Lucas was gone.
I was grieving.
I was pregnant.
They believed I would be easy to control.
They were wrong.
Two days later, Charles appeared outside the house.
This time, he knocked.
I watched him through the window.
The same man.
Different attitude.
He looked nervous.
When I opened the door, he forced a smile.
“Victoria.””
“What do you want?””
“I want to apologize.””
I almost laughed.
“For what?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“For what happened.””
“You mean dragging me out?””
His face tightened.
“You’re exaggerating.””
There it was.
The real Charles.
“I’m your father.””
“And you hurt me.””
He stepped closer.
“You need to understand. Men like Marcus are dangerous.””
I stared.
“You’re warning me about him?””
“I’m trying to help.””
“No. You’re trying to save yourself.””
His expression changed.
“Be careful.””
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
But his voice said yes.
He walked away.
That night, Samantha called.
“We filed the emergency injunction.””
“What happens now?””
“Your father and Marcus can’t access anything.””
I exhaled.
For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe.
Then Samantha went quiet.
“Victoria?””
“What?””
“There’s one problem.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“Courtney disappeared.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Before she answered, I received a text.
Unknown number.
A photo was attached.
It was Courtney.
Standing outside Lucas’s company building.
May you like
The message underneath said:
“You thought your stepmother was just a spectator?””
