Chapter 10 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Margaret Carter wasn't dead.
She was living under another name in a small coastal town three hours away.
Elena found her before anyone else could.
The old woman opened the door.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Margaret whispered:
“You have your father's eyes.”
Elena stared at her.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I was trying to stay alive.”
“Because of Victor?”
Margaret shook her head.
“Because of Evelyn.”
Elena froze.
Margaret invited her inside.
She explained that Elena's father had discovered money being moved through Carter Meridian.
But he had also discovered something worse.
Evelyn had not started the theft.
She had inherited it.
Margaret had been the original administrator of the hidden accounts.
Years earlier, she had made a terrible decision.
She had allowed Victor to move money to protect the family from a lawsuit.
Then the system grew beyond her control.
When Elena's father discovered it, he threatened to expose everyone.
Margaret believed Evelyn panicked.
“She didn't order his death,” Margaret said.
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“Then who did?”
Margaret looked toward the window.
“Victor.”
Elena exhaled.
“But the person who helped him was someone you have already met.”
“Who?”
Margaret handed Elena another photograph.
It showed Victor beside a younger man.
Elena recognized him immediately.
Daniel.
Her attorney.
Elena's blood ran cold.
Margaret whispered:
“Your father suspected Daniel's father first. But Daniel was only a child then.”
Elena looked at the photograph again.
The young man beside Victor wasn't Daniel.
It was Daniel's older brother, Thomas.
Thomas had died years ago.
Margaret continued.
“Thomas built the system. Victor maintained it. Your mother inherited it. Sarah accidentally became part of it.”
Elena's fear turned into something colder.
Daniel had never been part of the crime.
But someone in his family had.
And Thomas's old company still existed.
Its current director was—
Victor Hale.
Elena realized the truth.
Victor hadn't been running from them.
He had been waiting.
May you like
And now Elena had finally walked into the one place he needed her to be.
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