“Marry Me and I’ll Help Raise Your Daughters” — Billionaire to Single Dad, His Daughter Said…
Chapter 7
Sophie’s favorite toy was an old stuffed rabbit.
She carried it everywhere.
She slept with it.
Took it to school.
Kept it in her backpack.
I had never thought about where it came from.
Then I remembered.
Rachel had given it to her a week before she died.
I brought it downstairs.
Victoria sat beside me.
Sophie watched.
“Why are you touching Bunny?”
“I’m fixing something.”
“Don’t break him.”
“I won’t.”
I carefully opened the seam.
Inside was a tiny waterproof capsule.
My heart stopped.
Victoria stared.
We opened it.
A memory card.
Rachel’s final evidence.
The files contained bank records.
Audio recordings.
Photographs.
And a video.
Rachel appeared on screen.
She looked tired.
But calm.
“Daniel, if you’re watching this, then I wasn’t able to tell you everything.”
I closed my eyes.
“I love you.”
My chest tightened.
She continued.
“Please protect Emma and Sophie.”
She paused.
“Do not trust Richard.”
Victoria looked at me.
Then Rachel said something else.
“Do not trust your own father either.”
I felt sick.
The next file revealed the truth.
Jonathan had created the original hidden accounts.
But he had begun moving money out after discovering Richard’s plan.
He wanted to shut everything down.
Richard found out.
He manipulated the CFO.
Then arranged Rachel’s death.
But Jonathan discovered the truth too late.
He tried to stop Richard.
Richard threatened Victoria.
Jonathan backed down to keep his daughter safe.
Margaret had disappeared.
Rachel had hidden the evidence.
Then she died.
I looked at Victoria.
“My wife knew.”
“Yes.”
“She knew your family was involved.”
“She knew enough to be afraid.”
The final file was a list of bank transfers.
The money eventually went into one account.
Richard’s.
It was enough to destroy him.
But there was another name on the records.
The person who signed off on the original transfer.
Jonathan Sterling.
Victoria looked devastated.
“My father helped him.”
“Maybe before he changed his mind.”
She shook her head.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your father tried to stop it.”
She looked at me.
“Would that make Rachel’s death easier?”
“No.”
“But it means we know who to blame.”
We sat in silence.
Then Sophie came downstairs.
“Is Bunny okay?”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
She ran over.
“Good.”
Victoria crouched.
“Thank you for sharing him.”
Sophie smiled.
“He’s family.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
The word hit her differently.
Family.
That night, I tucked my daughters into bed.
Emma asked,
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
I smiled.
“You’re getting too good at that.”
She hugged me.
“Is Victoria staying?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
I paused.
“Why?”
“Because when she leaves, you stop smiling.”
I had no answer.
Later, I found Victoria standing in the hallway.
She had heard.
She looked at me.
“Your daughter is observant.”
“She gets it from her mother.”
Victoria nodded.
“I wish I had met Rachel.”
“She would have liked you.”
“How do you know?”
“She trusted people who helped children.”
Victoria smiled.
“Then I hope she would have.”
We stood close.
Neither moved.
Then Victoria said,
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“If this marriage ends…”
“What?”
“I don’t want to lose them.”
She looked toward the girls’ rooms.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
I took her hand.
“I don’t think I do either.”
