Millionaire Sees Twin Girls standing beside His Son’s Grave, Their Secret Leaves Him Speechless
Chapter 8
Adrian brought the girls to an abandoned lakeside house owned by the family.
Daniel arrived alone.
He entered cautiously.
Adrian stood near the fireplace.
Nora and Elise were sitting at the kitchen table.
They looked frightened but unharmed.
Daniel rushed toward them.
“Are you okay?”
They nodded.
Then he turned to Adrian.
“Explain.”
Adrian looked exhausted.
“I tried to warn Ethan.”
“About what?”
“The person behind Northstar.”
“Who?”
Adrian stared at him.
“Margaret.”
Daniel felt as if someone had struck him.
“My wife?”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“Not Margaret herself. Someone who used her name.”
Daniel said nothing.
Adrian continued.
“After Dad died, Margaret discovered the financial records. She started investigating. She believed someone in the company was continuing his operation.”
“Victor said the same thing.”
“Victor knows part of it.”
“And you?”
“I know more.”
Adrian pulled out a folder.
Inside were photographs of company executives, board meetings, financial transfers, and private properties.
One face appeared repeatedly.
Graham Vale.
Mercer Holdings’ longtime chief operating officer.
Daniel knew him well.
Graham had been his father’s closest adviser.
He had also been the person who handled the investigation into Ethan’s accident.
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Graham was watching you.”
“Then why did you break into my office?”
“To remove the evidence.”
Daniel stared.
“You could have told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
Daniel remembered.
Adrian had come to his house.
They had argued.
Daniel had accused him of wanting control of the company.
Adrian had left without explaining.
“I thought you wanted my position.”
“I wanted you alive.”
Daniel looked at the twins.
“Where is Claire?”
Adrian’s face fell.
“We don’t know.”
“Is she alive?”
“I think so.”
“You think?”
“Ethan believed she was.”
Nora suddenly spoke.
“She is.”
Both men turned.
“How do you know?”
Nora reached into her coat and removed a photograph.
It showed Claire standing in front of a small cabin.
On the back was a date.
Three weeks earlier.
Daniel stared.
“Where did you get this?”
“Mom sent it.”
“When?”
“Last month.”
Daniel’s heart raced.
“How?”
“She left it at the library.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because she said not to trust anyone.”
Daniel knelt beside the girls.
“Did she tell you where she was?”
Elise nodded.
“She said she would come back when the truth was safe.”
Daniel looked at Adrian.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian’s expression was grim.
“It means she has been collecting evidence.”
“Against Graham?”
“Against everyone involved.”
Daniel stood.
“What does Graham want?”
Adrian answered quietly.
“The trust.”
Daniel looked at the girls.
“And if he gets it?”
“He gets every record.”
The room fell silent.
Then the lights went out.
A car engine roared outside.
Adrian grabbed the girls and moved them away from the windows.
Daniel heard footsteps outside.
Someone had found them.
A gunshot cracked somewhere beyond the walls.
Daniel pulled the girls behind a stone fireplace.
Adrian whispered, “There’s a tunnel under the house.”
“Where?”
“Behind the pantry.”
They moved quickly.
As they reached the hidden passage, Daniel saw a small red light blinking on the floor.
A recording device.
Someone had planted it.
Daniel picked it up.
Then a voice came through the speaker.
Graham Vale.
“Daniel, you should have listened.”
