Billionaire Woman Went to a Party Dressed Poor—Everyone Rejected Her Except a Kindhearted Single Dad
Chapter 8
Their marriage began changing without either of them admitting it.
Victoria started waiting for Daniel at dinner.
Daniel started noticing when she wasn’t home.
Lily began calling them “you two” instead of “you.”
The arrangement was becoming something none of them had planned.
One night, Daniel returned from a business meeting and found Victoria asleep at the kitchen table.
Documents surrounded her.
He quietly moved them aside.
She woke.
“I was working.”
“I can see that.”
“What time is it?”
“Midnight.”
She looked shocked.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He heated leftover soup.
She watched him.
“You take care of everyone.”
“No.”
“You do.”
Daniel shrugged.
“Someone has to.”
Victoria smiled.
Then she asked:
“Do you regret marrying me?”
He stopped.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Lily is happy.”
“That isn’t the only reason.”
He looked at her.
“No.”
Silence.
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“I don’t regret it either.”
Daniel smiled.
Then his phone rang.
It was the police.
A package had been found at his office.
Inside was a photograph.
Victoria.
Daniel.
Lily.
The back contained one message:
The trust won’t save you.
Daniel felt anger rise.
Victoria saw it.
“Give me the photo.”
He handed it over.
She studied it.
“This was taken today.”
“How do you know?”
“My security team wasn’t there.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“Then someone followed us.”
“Yes.”
“Enough.”
He stood.
“We’re going to the police.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“This is bigger.”
“How much bigger?”
She looked at him.
“My aunt has connections everywhere.”
Daniel understood.
“You think the police could be compromised.”
“I think we need proof before we accuse anyone.”
They contacted a private investigator.
His name was Ethan Moore.
Ethan found something unexpected.
The threat messages were linked to a dead account.
The account had been created using a former Sterling employee’s identity.
The employee had died eight years earlier.
“How is that possible?” Daniel asked.
Ethan answered:
“Someone stole the identity.”
Victoria frowned.
“Who had access to the employee records?”
Her CFO.
Her aunt.
And her father.
Victoria stared.
“My father?”
“His old security system was never completely shut down.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
Victoria didn’t know.
Then Ethan discovered an encrypted file.
It contained a list of names.
Among them:
Margaret Sterling.
Victor Reed.
And Daniel Brooks.
Daniel froze.
“Why is my name there?”
Ethan didn’t answer.
Victoria looked at him.
“You’ve been in the company records for years.”
“I’ve never met your father.”
“Maybe he knew you.”
Daniel frowned.
“How?”
They searched.
And found a surprising connection.
Daniel’s maintenance company had originally received funding from a Sterling family foundation.
Twenty years earlier.
Daniel was only sixteen.
His late father had applied for a small business grant.
It had been approved by Victoria’s father.
Daniel stared at the document.
“My father knew your father.”
Victoria nodded.
“Apparently.”
But then another file appeared.
A handwritten note.
Protect Daniel Brooks.
Victoria’s eyes widened.
Her father had known Daniel’s family for years.
The marriage that seemed accidental suddenly looked strangely familiar.
And Daniel had no idea why.
