Little Girl’s Cry Echoed Through the Hall—Until Her CEO Father Saw What the Stepmom Hid
Chapter 4
The basement had been locked for almost three years.
Daniel had been told it contained old electrical equipment and construction materials.
He had never cared enough to check.
Now he stood in front of the door with Marcus.
“Break it,” Daniel said.
Marcus did.
The lock snapped.
A stale smell drifted into the hallway.
The basement was larger than Daniel remembered.
Old shelves lined the walls.
Boxes were stacked to the ceiling.
A security camera blinked in one corner.
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“You knew about this?”
“No.”
“Neither did I.”
They moved deeper inside.
Then Marcus stopped.
“Mr. Carter.”
A laptop sat on a table.
It was connected to the security system.
Daniel opened it.
The files contained months of recordings.
Lily’s bedroom.
The kitchen.
The hallway.
Even Daniel’s study.
Someone had been watching them.
Daniel felt sick.
“Who installed this?”
Marcus shook his head.
“I’ll find out.”
Daniel opened another folder.
It contained documents about Lily.
School records.
Medical records.
Daily schedules.
Photographs.
And a report about Emily.
The final page made Daniel’s blood run cold.
Subject: Emily Carter
Cause of death: natural complications.
Potential concern: unexplained financial investigation before death.
There was a handwritten note beneath it.
If Daniel becomes suspicious, accelerate plan.
Daniel stepped away from the screen.
“What plan?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
A sound came from behind them.
The basement door closed.
They turned.
Victoria stood at the top of the stairs.
She was wearing a white blouse and black trousers.
No fear.
No surprise.
Just a calm expression.
“You weren’t supposed to find this yet,” she said.
Daniel stared at her.
“Yet?”
Victoria smiled faintly.
“I can explain.”
“You’ve been monitoring my daughter.”
“I was protecting her.”
“You stole eight million dollars.”
“I moved money to protect the family.”
“You installed cameras in my home.”
Victoria’s face changed.
“You don’t understand what you’re looking at.”
Daniel walked toward her.
“Then explain.”
She descended two steps.
“Your company is about to collapse.”
Daniel laughed once.
“Carter Technologies made a record profit last quarter.”
“On paper.”
Marcus moved closer.
Victoria looked at him.
“Ask your security team why three of your employees disappeared last year.”
Daniel’s smile vanished.
Victoria continued.
“You think I’m the enemy because I hid things from you.”
She looked toward Lily’s bedroom upstairs.
“But your real enemy has been watching you for years.”
Daniel said nothing.
Victoria reached into her purse.
She pulled out a photograph.
Emily was standing beside a man Daniel didn’t recognize.
On the back was a date.
Six months before Emily died.
And one sentence:
He knows about the trust.
Daniel stared at the photograph.
“Who is he?”
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“Your father.”
Daniel’s face went white.
“My father died twenty years ago.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
