Chapter 9 - THE HUSBAND WHO RETURNED
For one brief moment, Daniel seemed not to understand what he was seeing.
The ballroom was filled with guests.
Ashley stood beneath his grandfather’s portrait wearing Emily’s earrings.
Richard held legal documents beside his wife.
And Emily wore a servant’s apron over her evening dress because Ashley had ordered her into the kitchen after deliberately dismissing half the catering staff.
Daniel’s gaze found Emily.
Everything else disappeared from his face.
He crossed the ballroom.
Emily did not move toward him.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
His expression tightened.
“My communications were compromised.”
“That is not an answer.”
“I know.”
Ashley rushed forward.
“Daniel, thank God. These messages appeared, and Emily thinks—”
“I know what Emily thinks.”
“You do?”
Daniel looked at the earrings.
“Take those off.”
Ashley’s face changed.
“What?”
“They belong to my wife.”
The surrounding guests grew silent.
Ashley touched one earring.
“You gave them to me.”
“No.”
“Daniel, we both know—”
“I purchased them for Emily on our anniversary.”
Richard stepped between them.
“This private dispute should be handled elsewhere.”
Daniel turned toward his father.
“You made it public.”
Richard lowered his voice.
“You are exhausted and confused.”
“My aircraft was diverted. My assistant was replaced. My passport was reported stolen while it was still in my possession.”
Daniel removed a sealed document from his coat.
“You expected me to remain confused.”
Emily studied him.
“Did you know who my mother was when you married me?”
Daniel looked at her.
The hesitation lasted less than a second.
It was still enough to hurt.
“No,” he said. “I learned six months ago.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to prove what happened before Richard could erase the records.”
“You should have trusted me.”
“I should have.”
Ashley gave a brittle laugh.
“This is touching, but it doesn’t explain the messages you sent me.”
“I didn’t send them.”
“They came from your account.”
Daniel looked toward Martin Vale, who stood near the security entrance.
“Martin knows how.”
Every face turned.
Martin remained calm.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Daniel held up the sealed document.
“This is a forensic report from the company managing our encrypted communications. The messages originated from the mansion’s internal server.”
Martin’s expression did not change.
Richard said, “That proves nothing.”
“It proves the messages were created here while I was in transit without network access.”
Ashley pointed at Emily.
“She planned it. She wants everyone to think I framed her.”
Emily almost admired the desperation.
Daniel opened the document.
“The same server was used to access Emily’s trust accounts.”
Emily moved closer.
“How much was taken?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Forty-eight million dollars.”
Gasps moved through the room.
Richard’s face became rigid.
Daniel continued.
“The transfers were divided among seven shell companies.”
“Owned by whom?” a guest asked.
Daniel looked toward the portrait of Edmund Blackwood.
“One is controlled by my father.”
Richard stepped forward.
“You have no right to make accusations based on incomplete records.”
“I have more than records.”
Daniel reached into his coat.
Ashley’s eyes dropped to the velvet jewelry box.
Her lips parted slightly.
Daniel removed it and placed it in Emily’s hand.
“I bought this for you,” he said.
Emily did not open it.
“Why?”
“Because I intended to tell you everything when I returned.”
“You were supposed to return next week.”
“I changed my flight after receiving a photograph from our bedroom.”
Ashley went pale.
Daniel looked at her.
“You were in the photograph.”
A reporter raised a phone.
“Are you confirming the affair?”
“No,” Daniel said. “I am confirming the fabrication.”
Emily removed the memory card from her shoe.
“I have the recording.”
Martin’s composure broke.
Only slightly.
But Daniel saw it.
He moved toward him.
Martin backed toward the kitchen corridor.
Richard called to security.
“Stop Daniel.”
No one moved.
Martin suddenly turned and ran.
Daniel followed.
Emily lifted her skirt and ran after both men.
They entered the kitchen just as Martin overturned a service cart behind him.
Dishes shattered across the floor.
He reached the back door.
Then Thomas Carter stepped through it.
Emily stopped.
Her father’s shirt was torn. Blood marked one side of his face. In his hand was an old revolver.
He pointed it directly at Martin.
“You should have stayed away from my daughter.”
Martin froze.
Emily whispered, “Dad?”
Thomas did not look at her.
Martin slowly raised his hands.
May you like
Then he said:
“You still haven’t told her who you really are.”
