Millionaire’s Wife Humiliated the Waitress — Her Response Left the Entire Room Speechless!
Chapter 8
Elena stepped backward.
“No.”
Daniel stared at the photograph.
“I knew Harris was loyal to my father.”
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“But he’s working with Victoria?”
“Apparently.”
Elena’s mind raced.
The restaurant.
The complaints.
The messages.
The photograph of Lily.
Harris had access to Elena’s schedule.
He knew when she worked.
He knew when she left.
He knew where she lived.
Daniel looked at the documents.
“There’s more.”
He opened another file.
It contained financial transfers.
One of them was labeled:
BELLMONT HOUSE — STAFF INFORMATION
Elena felt sick.
“They were paying him for information.”
Daniel nodded.
“About you?”
“About everyone.”
Elena stared at the screen.
Harris hadn’t just been protecting wealthy customers.
He had been collecting information.
“Why me?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Because you were never supposed to be involved.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your proposal.”
Elena remembered.
“My financial platform.”
“Yes.”
Daniel opened another file.
It contained a report analyzing her business model.
At the bottom was a note:
If approved, disclosure requirements could expose Sterling-related entities. Prevent funding.
Elena stared.
“So they weren’t afraid of me personally.”
“No.”
“They were afraid of my idea.”
Daniel nodded.
For the first time, Elena understood.
She hadn’t accidentally walked into a conspiracy.
Her work had threatened it.
Daniel looked at her.
“I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“I thought I could protect everyone around me by keeping them out of my problems.”
Elena gave him a tired smile.
“That strategy seems to be going badly.”
He almost laughed.
Then the lights went out.
Both froze.
The house fell completely silent.
Daniel stood.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Elena.”
“You’ve said that before.”
A sound came from downstairs.
Glass breaking.
Daniel reached for his phone.
No signal.
“Someone’s inside.”
Elena grabbed the flash drive.
“What do we do?”
Daniel looked toward a hallway.
“There’s a panic room.”
They moved quickly.
Footsteps echoed below.
Then a man’s voice.
“Daniel!”
Daniel froze.
It was his father.
“Richard?”
They stepped into the hallway.
Richard appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
His hands were raised.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Why are you here?”
“Because you’re in danger.”
“From who?”
Richard looked at Elena.
“From Victoria.”
Elena stared.
“Where is she?”
“Not here.”
Richard walked closer.
“I made mistakes.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“That’s an understatement.”
Richard stopped.
“I thought I could control her.”
“You couldn’t?”
“No.”
Richard looked toward Elena.
“She’s been manipulating everyone.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“Then why were you in the photograph?”
“Because she forced me into the arrangement.”
“How?”
Richard hesitated.
“She had evidence.”
“Of what?”
Richard’s voice dropped.
“Things I did years ago.”
Daniel stared.
“What things?”
“Illegal financial transfers.”
Silence.
Richard continued.
“I thought I could contain it.”
“You helped her.”
“I tried to stop her.”
“When?”
“After I realized she intended to destroy you.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You should have told me.”
“I was ashamed.”
Elena stepped forward.
“Where is Victoria now?”
Richard looked at her.
“At the Bellmont House.”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
“My daughter.”
Richard’s face changed.
“Where is Lily?”
Elena grabbed her phone.
No signal.
Daniel tried his.
Nothing.
Then a message finally appeared.
You should have listened.
Elena’s heart stopped.
Another message followed.
Your daughter is with someone who knows how much you love her.
She nearly collapsed.
Daniel caught her arm.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“Lily is gone.”
Richard whispered:
“Victoria has her.”
