“Who Taught Her to Walk” — Billionaire Stunned as Her Girl Pointed to Her Single Dad Ex-SEAL Janitor
Chapter 6
Daniel immediately moved to the door.
Locked.
He examined the hinges.
“How long?”
“Until midnight,” Evelyn said.
“No.”
He looked at his watch.
“Twenty-seven minutes.”
Her mother stepped away from the window.
“There’s another exit.”
“Where?”
“Behind the organ.”
Daniel moved quickly.
He found a narrow opening.
But before they could escape, footsteps approached.
Someone entered the chapel.
Evelyn recognized the voice.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Richard.
Her father.
He stepped into the candlelight.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Alive.
Evelyn stared.
“You.”
Richard smiled.
“I was hoping we’d have more time.”
Daniel stepped between him and Emma.
Richard’s eyes hardened.
“Move.”
“No.”
“You were always loyal to Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“You ruined everything.”
Daniel shook his head.
“You ruined it yourself.”
Richard looked at Evelyn.
“Give me the trust.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand what you’re holding.”
“The company.”
“Power.”
“Control.”
“Protection.”
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“You killed my husband.”
Richard’s expression changed.
“Thomas made choices.”
“Did you kill him?”
Silence.
Daniel answered.
“Yes.”
Richard looked at him.
“You don’t know what happened.”
“I know his brakes were cut.”
“I didn’t order that.”
“Who did?”
Richard hesitated.
“Jonathan.”
Daniel stared.
“You used him.”
Richard smiled.
“Everyone was useful.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Even me?”
“You were my daughter.”
“Emma?”
“The heir.”
“And Mom?”
“An obstacle.”
Her mother closed her eyes.
Richard continued.
“I built everything.”
“I lost everything.”
“Now I want it back.”
Daniel held up the trust.
“You can’t have it.”
Richard laughed.
“You need two signatures.”
Evelyn realized.
“Mine and Emma’s legal guardian.”
Richard looked at Daniel.
“Exactly.”
“And you thought Daniel would betray us.”
“I expected him to.”
“But he didn’t.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“You still don’t understand the man your husband hired.”
Daniel said nothing.
Richard continued.
“Daniel isn’t just an ex-SEAL.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“What else?”
Richard smiled.
“Thomas gave him power of attorney over Emma’s trust.”
Evelyn stared.
“What?”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“That was temporary.”
“Thomas made him the legal protector.”
Evelyn was stunned.
“My husband trusted you more than me.”
Daniel looked at her.
“He trusted you too.”
“Then why not tell me?”
“Because he believed your father would use you.”
Richard smiled.
“You see?”
He stepped forward.
“The boy understands.”
Daniel reached into his jacket.
“Stay where you are.”
Richard stopped.
A federal agent’s badge appeared.
Daniel had been working with them.
The chapel doors opened.
Agents entered.
Richard’s expression collapsed.
“You called them.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Richard laughed.
“You think this ends here?”
“No.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“It ends tonight.”
Richard was arrested.
But before he was taken away, he looked at Emma.
“You’ll understand one day.”
Emma hid behind Evelyn.
Daniel stepped forward.
“No.”
He looked Richard directly in the eyes.
“She won’t.”
Then the agents led him away.
The chapel became quiet.
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You made contact with the government.”
“Months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because Thomas left me instructions.”
“What instructions?”
Daniel reached into his pocket.
A folded letter.
He handed it to her.
She opened it.
If Richard returns, don’t let him reach Emma.
Then:
Tell Evelyn the truth.
Evelyn looked up.
“What truth?”
Daniel answered,
“That you were never supposed to fight this alone.”
