Millionaire’s Wife Humiliated the Waitress — Her Response Left the Entire Room Speechless!
Chapter 5
Elena left Sterling Capital that morning with no investment agreement.
But she didn’t leave defeated.
She left with something more valuable.
Certainty.
Daniel had promised to review the proposal personally.
He had also told her that Victoria’s behavior would not influence his decision.
Still, Elena couldn’t shake the feeling that something larger was happening.
That evening, she returned to the Bellmont House.
Victoria wasn’t there.
For the first time in months, Table 18 looked ordinary.
Just wood.
Silverware.
A small candle.
Nothing magical.
Nothing frightening.
Nothing wealthy.
At 7:15, Elena received a message.
Unknown Number: You should be careful who you trust.
She stared at it.
A second message appeared.
You have no idea what you’ve stepped into.
Her stomach tightened.
She showed Marcus.
“Could be spam.”
“Maybe.”
“But why mention trust?”
Marcus shrugged.
“Someone messing with you.”
Elena wanted to believe him.
Then Daniel walked in.
Alone.
He spotted her and approached.
“Can we talk?”
“Of course.”
They stepped into a quiet corner.
Daniel looked exhausted.
“Someone accessed your proposal.”
Elena’s face changed.
“What?”
“Only two people had the full document.”
“You and me?”
“And my father.”
Elena’s stomach dropped.
Daniel continued.
“I checked the access logs.”
“Who accessed it?”
“Someone using my father’s credentials.”
Elena stared at him.
“Do you think your father sent those messages?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel paused.
“But there’s something else.”
He handed her a folder.
Inside were financial reports.
“What am I looking at?”
“Sterling Capital’s charitable foundation.”
Elena studied the documents.
Several payments had been made to a company called Harbor Bridge Consulting.
The amounts were enormous.
“What’s this?”
“A company my father says he doesn’t know.”
“But the money came from his foundation.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked at the dates.
“These payments started six months ago.”
“Exactly when I began challenging him on corporate governance.”
Elena looked up.
“What does this have to do with me?”
Daniel’s expression was grim.
“I think your platform accidentally uncovered something.”
“How?”
“Your proposal requires employers to disclose certain payroll and financial practices.”
Elena understood.
“You think some of your companies are hiding money.”
“Not some.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“I think someone is using shell companies to move millions.”
Elena stared at him.
“Your father?”
“I don’t know.”
“And Victoria?”
Daniel looked away.
“I don’t know that either.”
Silence settled between them.
Then Elena asked:
“Why tell me?”
Daniel met her eyes.
“Because you’re already involved.”
She looked at the folder.
“That’s not an answer.”
Daniel sighed.
“My father believes people are divided into two groups.”
“Which are?”
“People who have power.”
“And?”
“People who need it.”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“And you?”
“I used to believe I was different.”
“Used to?”
Daniel looked toward the dining room.
“Until I married Victoria.”
Elena said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“She understands exactly how my father thinks.”
“So why did you marry her?”
His eyes lowered.
“Because when I was younger, I thought being loved by the right person would make me feel powerful.”
Elena shook her head.
“Did it?”
“No.”
Before Elena could respond, Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His face went pale.
“What?”
He showed her.
A photograph.
Elena’s apartment building.
Taken from across the street.
Below it was one sentence:
Stop asking questions.
Elena felt cold.
Daniel stood.
“I’m taking you home.”
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“I can take care of myself.”
“This isn’t about pride.”
“I know.”
She looked directly at him.
“This is about someone thinking they can scare me.”
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Then we need to find out who.”
Neither of them noticed the man standing outside the restaurant.
He had been watching through the window.
And he was holding another photograph.
One of Lily.
