Chapter 2 - The Man in the Photograph
Emily barely slept.
At six in the morning, she was already sitting at the kitchen table with the photograph in front of her.
She had enlarged it on her phone.
Daniel looked younger.
Confident.
Richard looked exactly as Emily remembered him from that period.
But the third man was different.
He was standing slightly behind them.
Dark hair.
Gray suit.
Expression unreadable.
Emily zoomed in.
There was something familiar about him.
She could not explain why.
At seven, Noah came downstairs.
“Mommy?”
Emily quickly turned the phone over.
“Morning, sweetheart.”
“Are we going to school?”
“Yes.”
Noah sat at the table.
Emily watched him carefully.
He looked tired.
She hated that he had seen so much of the previous night's argument.
After breakfast, she drove him to school.
Then she went straight to her father's office.
Richard owned Coleman Holdings, one of the most respected private investment companies in the city.
Emily had worked there briefly after college.
She had left after Daniel asked her to join his new company.
Richard had never forgiven her.
When Emily entered the lobby, the receptionist immediately looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Coleman isn't seeing anyone.”
“Tell him I'm here.”
“I really don't think…”
Emily walked past her.
The elevator doors opened.
Richard's assistant stood outside his office.
“Emily.”
“I need to talk to him.”
“Not today.”
She held up the photograph.
“Then he can tell me why he is in this picture.”
The assistant's expression changed.
Emily walked inside.
Richard stood behind his desk.
He looked exhausted.
“Where did you get that?”
Emily closed the door.
“That's my question.”
Richard stared at the photograph.
“That was years ago.”
“Who is he?”
Richard said nothing.
“Dad.”
“You don't know what you're asking.”
“I asked who he is.”
Richard walked toward the window.
“His name is Marcus Hale.”
Emily waited.
“And?”
“He was a business associate.”
“Of Daniel?”
Richard turned.
“Of me.”
Emily felt a chill.
“Why was Daniel there?”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“You need to stop digging into the past.”
“Someone left this photograph in Noah's room.”
Richard froze.
“What?”
“Someone entered my house.”
Richard walked toward her.
“Are you sure?”
“I know what was in my son's room.”
For the first time, her father looked genuinely frightened.
“Emily, listen to me.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You listen to me.”
Richard looked stunned.
“I spent years believing you hated Daniel because he wasn't rich enough for this family.”
Richard said nothing.
“I thought you were embarrassed that I married someone outside your circle.”
Still nothing.
“But last night you heard Daniel's name and you looked scared.”
Richard's face hardened.
“You have no idea what Daniel was involved in.”
“What was he involved in?”
Richard looked toward the door.
Then back at her.
“Go home.”
“Tell me.”
“Go home.”
“Dad…”
“Before someone else gets hurt.”
Emily stared at him.
Then she placed the photograph on his desk.
“I am not going home until I know what Daniel left behind.”
Richard picked up the photograph.
His fingers trembled.
Emily noticed.
She walked out.
But before the elevator doors closed, she saw Richard pick up his phone.
“Find Marcus Hale,” he said.
Emily stepped back.
The doors closed.
She knew then that she had been right.
May you like
Daniel had left something behind.
And her father knew exactly what it was.
