Chapter 10 - DANIEL’S CONFESSION
Daniel locked the nursery door behind him.
Vanessa stepped in front of Emily.
“Put down the gun.”
Daniel smiled.
“You brought her here. I knew you would eventually be useful.”
“You followed us through the tunnel?”
“No. I was already in the house.”
Emily looked toward the hidden room.
“You knew about the envelope.”
“I knew my mother had prepared something for the review. I didn’t know where she hid it.”
“Did you shoot her?”
Daniel’s smile faded.
“No.”
“Your sister’s gun was used.”
“And conveniently found outside.”
Vanessa watched him carefully.
“You struck yourself at Arthur’s cottage.”
Daniel touched the bandage on his head.
“I needed the police to see Emily as unstable.”
“You left Arthur’s blood.”
“He should not have interfered.”
“Is he alive?” Emily asked.
“For now.”
“Where is he?”
Daniel ignored her.
He pointed the gun toward the projector.
“Turn it off.”
Vanessa obeyed.
The room darkened except for the pale daylight entering through the nursery window.
Daniel looked at Emily.
“You have caused a remarkable amount of trouble.”
“You married me to silence my father’s evidence.”
“I married you because it was the simplest solution.”
“You watched me for a year.”
“I studied you.”
“You pretended to love me.”
Daniel tilted his head.
“I did love you, in my way.”
“You hit me.”
“You resisted.”
Emily felt disgust replace her fear.
Daniel continued.
“You could have had everything. A beautiful house. Financial security. Children with every advantage. All I needed was your cooperation.”
“You needed my signature.”
“At first.”
“And after the review?”
Daniel’s eyes moved toward the covered projector.
“You would have remained my wife.”
“Like Laura?”
Vanessa spoke sharply.
“Don’t answer that.”
Daniel smiled at his sister.
“You still think you can protect her.”
“What happened to Laura?” Emily demanded.
“She tried to steal from us.”
“She discovered the truth.”
“She discovered pieces of it. Enough to become dangerous.”
“Did you kill her?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Daniel’s gaze shifted to Vanessa.
Emily turned.
Vanessa’s face became rigid.
“You told me she died in a car crash,” Emily said.
“She did,” Vanessa replied.
“Were you there?”
“Yes.”
Daniel leaned against the door.
“Tell her.”
Vanessa closed her eyes briefly.
“Laura found the hidden room. Not this one, but another archive in the warehouse. She took documents and drove away during a storm.”
“You followed her.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“She lost control near the lake road.”
“Did you force her off the road?”
“No.”
“Did you help her after the crash?”
Vanessa did not answer.
Daniel laughed softly.
“She was alive when Vanessa reached the car.”
Emily stared at her.
“Is that true?”
Vanessa’s voice was barely audible.
“Yes.”
“And you left her?”
“I heard Daniel approaching. Laura told me to take the documents and run.”
“Why would she trust you?”
“Because I had helped her escape.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“My loyal sister.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“I was tired of watching you become Father.”
“You were always weak.”
“I protected you from prison.”
“You protected yourself.”
Emily saw the truth in both their faces.
Vanessa had been accomplice, rescuer, manipulator, and victim. She had helped Daniel create the trap, but she had also tried to break parts of it when the consequences became real.
Daniel lifted the gun.
“Give me the original deed.”
Vanessa remained still.
“Give it to me, or I shoot Emily.”
Emily reached into the hidden room and picked up a box.
“The deed is in here.”
Daniel aimed at her chest.
“Bring it slowly.”
She stepped forward.
Vanessa whispered, “Emily, don’t.”
Daniel glanced at his sister.
That was the opening Emily needed.
She threw the box toward the window.
Daniel turned instinctively.
Vanessa lunged for the gun.
A shot exploded.
The bullet struck the ceiling.
Emily grabbed Daniel’s wrist.
They crashed into the wooden cradle, splintering one side.
Daniel struck Emily across the face and threw her toward the wall.
Vanessa bit his hand.
The gun fell.
Emily kicked it beneath the wardrobe.
Daniel shoved Vanessa into the hidden room and slammed the panel shut.
Then he seized Emily by the throat.
“You think this house belongs to you?” he hissed. “It belongs to whoever survives long enough to claim it.”
The nursery door burst open.
Arthur stood there holding an iron bar.
Blood covered one side of his shirt.
He swung once.
Daniel collapsed.
Emily fell to her knees, gasping.
Arthur closed the door behind him.
“We have less than five minutes,” he said.
May you like
“Before what?”
“Before the trust review begins.”
