He Lost His Job, His Wife Left Him… Then He Found a Fortune He Forgot
Chapter 3
Daniel spent the night reading.
By sunrise, he had learned that his father’s fortune was far larger than Collins had suggested.
The holding company controlled more than fifty properties.
There were investment accounts in several states.
There were minority stakes in companies Daniel recognized from business news.
There was even a charitable foundation.
Yet none of it had ever appeared in Daniel’s life.
He had grown up believing his father was comfortable but not wealthy.
His father had driven an old truck.
He had lived in the same modest house for twenty years.
He had never worn expensive clothes.
Daniel suddenly understood.
His father had deliberately lived beneath his means.
“Why?” Daniel asked.
Collins poured coffee.
“Your father believed money was safest when nobody knew you had it.”
“Then why leave it to me?”
“Because he believed you’d eventually understand that wealth isn’t the same as security.”
Daniel looked at the inheritance documents.
“What does someone else knowing have to do with this?”
Collins hesitated.
“Your father’s former partner.”
“Who?”
“Richard Voss.”
The name sounded familiar.
Daniel remembered seeing it in old business papers.
Voss had been a developer.
He and Daniel’s father had worked together decades ago.
“They had a falling-out,” Collins said.
“Over what?”
“Your father discovered Voss was stealing from the company.”
Daniel frowned.
“How much?”
“Millions.”
“And he got away with it?”
“Your father forced him out.”
Daniel looked toward the boxes.
“Then why is he a problem now?”
“Because Voss has spent twenty years trying to find what your father hid.”
Daniel felt the room grow colder.
Collins handed him a folder.
Inside were surveillance photographs.
Daniel.
Sarah.
Emily.
His old office.
His apartment.
His car.
His face went pale.
“How long?”
“Months.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We weren’t sure who was watching.”
Daniel closed the folder.
“Does Sarah know?”
“No.”
“Emily?”
“No.”
Daniel stood.
“I need to see them.”
Collins shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“That’s my family.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You’re asking me to stay away from my daughter?”
“I’m asking you to keep her safe.”
Daniel looked at the photographs again.
Someone had been following Emily.
Someone had known about his financial problems.
Someone might have known about the inheritance before he did.
Suddenly, Daniel’s firing looked different.
He remembered the report that had supposedly been manipulated.
He hadn’t done it.
Someone had planted the evidence.
Someone wanted him out of the company.
Someone wanted him isolated.
And perhaps his wife’s decision to leave hadn’t been entirely her own.
Daniel grabbed his phone.
“I need to call Sarah.”
Collins stopped him.
“Think carefully.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because if Voss is behind your dismissal, your marriage, and the surveillance…”
Collins lowered his voice.
“Then whoever Daniel Reed trusts most may already be working for him.”
