“Who Taught Her to Walk” — Billionaire Stunned as Her Girl Pointed to Her Single Dad Ex-SEAL Janitor
Chapter 2
Evelyn had Daniel escorted to a private consultation room.
She didn’t know whether to be furious or terrified.
“Start talking.”
Daniel remained standing.
He looked uncomfortable under the bright fluorescent lights.
“I can’t tell you everything.”
“You just told me my dead husband hired an ex-SEAL to protect our daughter.”
“Yes.”
“And now you’re working as a janitor.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked toward Emma, who was sitting on a chair playing with a stuffed rabbit.
“Because nobody looks twice at a janitor.”
Evelyn folded her arms.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to check.”
She stared at him.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old photograph.
It showed Thomas Sterling holding a newborn baby.
Emma.
Beside him stood Daniel in a military uniform.
Evelyn’s breath caught.
“When was this taken?”
“The night Emma was born.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Thomas called me.”
“What did he say?”
Daniel hesitated.
“He said someone was trying to kill your daughter.”
Evelyn’s face went pale.
“Who?”
“I didn’t know.”
“But you stayed?”
“For eleven days.”
“Eleven?”
“Your daughter was in neonatal care.”
Evelyn stared.
“She was sick.”
“She wasn’t the only one.”
Evelyn frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Your husband was investigating a financial conspiracy.”
She stiffened.
“Thomas told me he was expanding the company.”
“He was.”
“Then what?”
“He discovered someone inside the company was siphoning money through private accounts.”
Evelyn had heard something about irregularities after Thomas died.
But she had assumed the board was handling them.
“How much?”
“At least two hundred million.”
She felt dizzy.
“Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he believed you were being watched.”
“By whom?”
Daniel didn’t answer.
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Why did you disappear?”
“Because Thomas died.”
“And you left.”
“I was ordered to.”
“By whom?”
“Thomas.”
She stared at him.
“Dead men don’t give orders.”
Daniel’s expression tightened.
“He gave me one before he died.”
“What?”
“Protect Emma.”
He looked at the little girl.
“I did.”
“How?”
“From a distance.”
Evelyn didn’t understand.
Daniel explained.
After Thomas’s death, an unknown threat remained active.
Daniel monitored the people around Emma.
He tracked hospital staff.
Security.
Drivers.
Contractors.
He never approached her.
Until now.
“So why does she know you?”
Daniel looked down.
“Because she saw me more than once.”
“Where?”
“The hospital.”
“I never saw you.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
Evelyn’s anger returned.
“You watched my daughter without my knowledge.”
“I protected her without your knowledge.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
“No.”
He paused.
“But when she got sick last winter, I was the one who found the medication error.”
Evelyn froze.
“What?”
“The dosage on her prescription was wrong.”
She remembered.
The doctor had told her the pharmacy had corrected a computer mistake.
She had never known how.
“You?”
Daniel nodded.
“I fixed it.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“How long have you been watching us?”
“Three years.”
Her voice softened.
“Three years?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“Because someone wanted your daughter.”
“And now?”
“Now they know I’ve been here.”
Evelyn’s blood ran cold.
“What do you mean?”
Daniel looked at the door.
“We need to leave.”
“Why?”
He stood.
“Because five minutes ago, someone entered the hospital using a security badge that belongs to your chief of staff.”
Evelyn reached for her phone.
Daniel stopped her.
“Don’t call security.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know which side they’re on.”
