Chapter 13 - The Brother and Sister
Daniel spent the next hour proving that he had not signed the authorization.
The signature was genuine.
The digital certificate was genuine.
The login records showed his credentials.
But Daniel had been in London at the exact time the file was submitted.
Someone had access to everything.
His office.
The family network.
Possibly his home.
“Who can use your credentials?” Emily asked.
“No one.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“That is never the right answer in this family.”
Daniel ignored her.
He called his head of security.
A man named Owen Brooks.
Owen had worked for the Carters for twelve years.
Daniel trusted him.
That trust lasted approximately seven minutes.
Owen reviewed the access records.
Then stopped responding.
Daniel called again.
Disconnected.
Security cameras inside Carter Group headquarters suddenly went offline.
Victoria stood.
“Owen is Halcyon.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“How?”
“Because Evelyn placed him with Dad.”
Daniel stared.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“And let him stay beside me for twelve years?”
Victoria looked ashamed.
“I was trying to keep Evelyn from knowing I was pulling away.”
Daniel laughed in disbelief.
“You let a spy protect my family.”
“I was protecting you the only way I knew how.”
“No.”
Daniel pointed toward Emily.
“You invited my pregnant wife to a family lunch and humiliated her.”
Victoria flinched.
Daniel continued.
“You investigated her. You lied to me. You knew her father may have been murdered. You knew Thomas was threatened. You knew someone inside my security team could be working for Evelyn.”
His voice shook now.
“And you call that protecting me?”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“No.”
Daniel stopped.
Victoria whispered, “I call it failing you.”
The words silenced him.
Emily watched them.
For years, Victoria had treated Daniel as if he belonged to her.
Not affectionately.
Possessively.
Perhaps because guilt had twisted love into control.
Victoria wiped her face.
“I hated Emily because you trusted her.”
Emily looked at her.
Victoria continued.
“You trusted her immediately. You looked at her and saw someone good. I hadn’t felt clean in years.”
“Then why investigate me?”
“Because I wanted to find something.”
“What?”
“A reason you were wrong.”
Emily felt something in her chest loosen.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
Understanding.
Victoria looked at Daniel.
“I found Thomas instead.”
“And assumed she was dangerous.”
“I hoped she was.”
Daniel looked away.
Victoria continued.
“But Thomas’s driver told me something I never told you.”
“What?”
“He said Thomas was protecting Emily.”
Daniel turned back.
“I knew then she probably wasn’t working with him.”
Emily stared.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“And you still used that photograph today.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“I was angry.”
Emily stood.
“You made me carry plates until I could barely stand.”
“I know.”
“You let children laugh at me.”
“I know.”
“You tried to destroy my marriage because you were angry.”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“I know.”
Emily looked at her for a long time.
“You don’t get forgiveness because you finally admitted what you did.”
Victoria nodded.
“I know.”
“But you can earn a chance to help us stop Evelyn.”
Victoria looked up.
Daniel stared at Emily.
She met his eyes.
“This is bigger than us now.”
Daniel exhaled.
Then nodded.
They made a plan.
Dr. Grant had been moved to a safe location by Victoria.
Rachel would stay with Carol.
Emily would change doctors.
The delivery would take place at a private clinic outside the Aurora network.
Daniel would expose the financial records.
Victoria would provide testimony.
They would contact federal investigators through an attorney Martin trusted.
For the first time, everything seemed possible.
Then Emily felt a sharp pain.
She stopped.
Daniel saw her face.
“What?”
She breathed.
“Nothing.”
Another pain arrived.
Stronger.
Victoria stood.
“Emily?”
Emily looked at the clock.
Then at Daniel.
Her due date was still nine days away.
May you like
A third contraction hit.
Her water broke.
