My Wife Told Everyone I Was ‘Just a Driver’ — Then I Found Out Her Secret Too.
Chapter 7
Room 1807 had been empty for six years.
Daniel and Claire entered with security.
The room looked untouched.
There was a table.
A lamp.
A locked cabinet.
And a child’s backpack on the bed.
Daniel rushed toward it.
Sophie’s.
Inside was her favorite stuffed rabbit.
His heart broke.
“She’s been here.”
Claire examined the room.
“Not recently.”
Daniel found a note.
You’re getting closer.
Then the bathroom door opened.
Mark stepped out.
Daniel stepped back.
“Where’s Sophie?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“You’re not going to like the answer.”
Daniel’s face tightened.
Mark raised his hands.
“I didn’t kidnap her.”
“Then who did?”
“Her mother.”
Daniel froze.
“Claire?”
Claire stared at him.
“I didn’t.”
Mark looked between them.
“Not Claire.”
“Then who?”
Mark pulled out a photograph.
Sophie’s biological mother.
Daniel’s former wife.
But she was supposed to be dead.
Daniel’s breathing stopped.
“What?”
Mark nodded.
“She’s alive.”
Claire looked shocked.
“That’s impossible.”
“Her death certificate was forged.”
Daniel stared at the photograph.
His divorce had been finalized three years earlier.
He had been told his former wife died in a plane accident shortly after.
But now she was alive.
And apparently had his daughter.
Daniel’s phone rang.
He answered.
A woman’s voice said,
“Daniel.”
He couldn’t speak.
It was her.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Our daughter.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“Why?”
“Because you were never told the truth.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Bring her back.”
“I will.”
“Where?”
“After you learn what Claire did.”
Daniel looked at his wife.
The woman continued.
“Ask Claire why she married you.”
The line ended.
Daniel turned.
Claire looked terrified.
“What did you do?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing to hurt you.”
“Then tell me.”
Claire sat down.
“Your wife wasn’t supposed to die.”
“What?”
“She disappeared.”
“Why?”
“Because she was involved in the same investigation as your father.”
Daniel stared.
“You’re saying she knew him too?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she leave?”
“She believed someone was targeting Sophie.”
“And you knew?”
“I knew she was alive.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“You knew my wife was alive and never told me?”
“She asked me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because she thought if you knew, you’d go looking for her.”
“And you agreed?”
Claire began to cry.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You always say that.”
She looked at him.
“I loved you.”
“Maybe.”
He walked away.
Mark said quietly,
“Daniel, listen.”
“No.”
“You need to hear the rest.”
Daniel turned.
“What?”
“Your ex-wife isn’t the enemy.”
“Then who is?”
Mark looked at Claire.
“Her father.”
Daniel stared.
Richard Hale.
The chairman.
The man who had supposedly been protecting them.
Mark continued.
“Richard built Blackwood to hide money.”
“Whose money?”
“Yours.”
Daniel felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because your father was one of the only people who could expose Richard’s real partners.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
Mark looked at her.
“Your father isn’t just protecting the company.”
“He is the company.”
And then Claire finally understood.
Her own father had been using everyone.
Including her.
Including Daniel.
And possibly…
including Sophie.
