My Wife Told Everyone I Was ‘Just a Driver’ — Then I Found Out Her Secret Too.
Chapter 10
Daniel chose Claire.
He brought her to the bank.
Thomas Mercer met them in a private vault.
He was an old man with silver hair and sharp eyes.
“You shouldn’t have brought her.”
Daniel didn’t blink.
“She’s with me.”
Thomas looked at Claire.
“You have your father’s eyes.”
Claire answered,
“And I have his mistakes.”
Thomas almost smiled.
“Good answer.”
He opened the vault.
Inside were boxes.
Documents.
Recordings.
Photographs.
And a single file marked BROOKS FAMILY.
Daniel opened it.
The first document showed his father’s original ownership structure.
The second showed transfers.
The third revealed something devastating.
Daniel had inherited control of Harrison & Brooks the day he turned eighteen.
He had never known.
But the final document was worse.
It showed that Richard Hale had tried to seize the company by arranging Daniel’s father’s death.
Daniel looked at Claire.
“Your father killed him.”
She nodded through tears.
“I know.”
“But you didn’t know.”
“No.”
Thomas said,
“She knew enough to marry you.”
Claire turned.
“That’s not fair.”
“You were instructed to stay close.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Is that true?”
Claire stared at the floor.
“My father asked me to watch you.”
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
“At first.”
She looked up.
“I agreed.”
He swallowed.
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid of him.”
“And then?”
“Then I fell in love with you.”
She stepped closer.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You should have tried.”
“I know.”
Thomas watched them.
Finally, he said,
“Love is the one weakness men like Richard never understood.”
Daniel looked at him.
“What do we do now?”
Thomas smiled.
“Destroy him.”
The plan was simple.
Release the recordings.
Transfer control of the company.
Expose every fraudulent account.
Force the board into emergency session.
But there was one problem.
Richard still had Sophie.
Daniel’s phone rang.
Richard.
“Mr. Brooks.”
Daniel answered.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Safe.”
“Bring her home.”
“Not yet.”
Richard’s voice was calm.
“You have the files.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know what I want.”
“The company.”
“And the Blackwood Account.”
Daniel clenched his fist.
“No.”
Richard laughed.
“Then Sophie doesn’t come home.”
Daniel’s heart stopped.
Claire stepped beside him.
Richard continued.
“You have until midnight.”
The call ended.
Daniel looked at Thomas.
“What can we do?”
Thomas said nothing.
Claire whispered,
“He’s bluffing.”
Daniel stared.
“How do you know?”
“Because my father doesn’t need Sophie.”
Daniel frowned.
“He needs something else.”
“The Blackwood Account.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“He needs me.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because I’m the only person who can authorize the final transfer.”
