My Wife Took A Phone Call During Dinner And Forgot I Speak Spanish
Chapter 8
Daniel stared at the woman in the car.
His mother.
Alive.
His mother had supposedly died five years earlier.
Another lie.
Another secret.
The car disappeared into traffic.
Daniel couldn’t speak.
Sophia placed a hand on his shoulder.
“We need to get somewhere safe.”
“Safe?”
He laughed bitterly.
“My whole family is alive.”
“I know.”
“And all of them lied.”
“I know.”
Isabella sat quietly in the back seat.
She held Sophia’s hand.
Daniel looked at her.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“Are you really my dad?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“Why didn’t you come before?”
He had no answer.
“I didn’t know about you.”
“Mom knew?”
“Your mother knew.”
“What about Sophia?”
Daniel looked at Sophia.
“She knew.”
Isabella frowned.
“Why didn’t they tell me?”
Sophia whispered:
“Because people were trying to hurt you.”
The girl nodded slowly.
Daniel felt something break inside him.
They reached a secure house.
Victor joined them.
He brought food.
Medical supplies.
Documents.
Daniel looked at him.
“Tell me everything.”
Victor nodded.
“Twenty years ago, your father discovered Meridian.”
“Who created it?”
“Your grandfather.”
Daniel froze.
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
The company had begun as a legitimate investment firm.
But corruption grew.
Money laundering.
Fraud.
Bribery.
Your father tried to stop it.
Michael joined him.
Victor was brought in.
Sophia’s father handled the legal side.
Then your father created the trust.
He intended everything to go to you.
But he knew Michael would try to take control.
So he made Michael trustee.
“Why would he trust him?”
“He didn’t.”
Victor pulled out a second document.
Michael was supposed to protect the trust until Daniel turned forty.
But if Michael betrayed the family, control would transfer immediately.
Daniel stared.
“So Michael has already lost control.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
Daniel looked at the date.
His fortieth birthday was tomorrow.
Victor smiled.
“Exactly.”
Daniel suddenly understood.
Michael was desperate.
He needed Daniel to transfer the trust before midnight.
That was why Isabella had been taken.
That was why Sophia had been watched.
That was why the phone calls had started.
Daniel stood.
“What happens if I refuse?”
Michael loses everything.
“Then I refuse.”
Victor nodded.
“But he may kill someone.”
Daniel looked at Isabella.
He understood.
The game wasn’t about money anymore.
It was about power.
Sophia sat beside him.
“You don’t have to do this alone.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You’ve said that for six years.”
“I know.”
“And I still didn’t know the truth.”
She nodded.
“I was wrong.”
Daniel looked away.
“You should have trusted me.”
“I should have.”
“Will you ever lie to me again?”
“No.”
He studied her.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Later that night, Daniel couldn’t sleep.
Isabella was asleep in the next room.
Sophia sat beside him.
“I want to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I loved you before our wedding.”
“I know.”
“I loved you when I lied.”
Daniel looked at her.
“That doesn’t make the lies okay.”
“I know.”
He sighed.
“I don’t know what we’re going to be.”
Sophia nodded.
“I’ll accept whatever you decide.”
He took her hand.
“I don’t want to decide tonight.”
“Okay.”
He looked toward the bedroom.
“Our daughter is finally here.”
Sophia smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
Daniel whispered:
“That’s enough for tonight.”
At midnight, Daniel’s phone rang.
It was Michael.
“Happy birthday.”
Daniel said nothing.
Michael continued:
“You have one hour.”
“For what?”
“To sign the trust.”
“And if I don’t?”
A photograph arrived.
Isabella sleeping.
Taken inside the secure house.
Daniel’s face went white.
Michael whispered:
“You can’t protect everyone.”
The call ended.
Sophia looked at Daniel.
“Someone inside told him where we are.”
Daniel slowly stood.
Everyone in the house had been searched.
Everyone except one person.
He looked toward the bedroom.
His mother.
