Chapter 5 - Lydia Finally Woke Up—And Her First Words Destroyed Gideon’s World
Lydia woke at 6:12 in the morning.
Norah was asleep beside her hospital bed.
Gideon stood by the window.
A nurse shouted.
Gideon turned.
Lydia's eyes were open.
He approached slowly.
“Lydia?”
Her eyes focused on him.
Fear appeared instantly.
“Where's Norah?”
“Safe.”
She exhaled.
“Thank God.”
“Who attacked you?”
She closed her eyes.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I found your daughter.”
“I know.”
“She told me about Juniper.”
Lydia's breathing changed.
Gideon leaned closer.
“Tell me the truth.”
Lydia stared at him.
“I tried.”
“What happened three years ago?”
“Your daughter wasn't supposed to die.”
Gideon's heart shattered again.
“Who killed her?”
Lydia cried.
“I don't know.”
“But you know something.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
She looked toward Norah.
“I was there that night.”
“You were.”
“I saw Michael Vale.”
Gideon's jaw tightened.
“My brother?”
“Yes.”
“What was he doing?”
“He was arguing with your father.”
“My father was dead already.”
Lydia shook her head.
“No.”
Gideon froze.
“What?”
“Your father wasn't dead.”
Silence.
Lydia whispered,
“He died six months after Juniper.”
Gideon couldn't breathe.
His father had supposedly died eighteen months before.
A heart attack.
The family had held the funeral.
The company had been transferred.
Everything was settled.
Lydia continued.
“There were two deaths.”
“One was a lie.”
“Why?”
“Because your father discovered the foundation was being used to move money.”
“By whom?”
“Your brother.”
Gideon's voice went cold.
“Michael.”
“He wasn't alone.”
“Who?”
“Evelyn.”
Gideon stared.
His CFO.
Again.
Lydia's hand trembled.
“They used the foundation to pay people to silence witnesses.”
“Why would they target Juniper?”
“Because your daughter saw something.”
“What?”
“A man.”
“Who?”
“Adrian Vale.”
Gideon stopped.
His father's name.
He looked at Lydia.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Alive.”
“Then.”
“What happened?”
“Your father tried to expose Michael.”
Lydia swallowed.
“Michael found out.”
“He arranged the accident.”
Gideon's blood ran cold.
“Juniper.”
Lydia nodded.
“She was collateral.”
“No.”
The word came out like a growl.
“She was a child.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I tried.”
“Michael threatened Norah.”
Gideon looked at Norah.
“She was only four years old.”
“He threatened to kill her.”
“So you stayed silent.”
“Yes.”
“Until now.”
“Until I knew someone strong enough to protect her.”
Gideon looked at the little girl asleep beside the bed.
“She trusted me.”
Lydia nodded.
“Because Juniper trusted you too.”
His eyes filled.
“What does that mean?”
“Juniper talked about you.”
“What?”
“She adored you.”
“She told me her daddy always protected everyone.”
Gideon turned away.
For three years, he had believed he failed his daughter.
Now someone was telling him she had never doubted him.
A doctor entered.
“Ms. Miller needs rest.”
Lydia grabbed Gideon's hand.
“There's one thing.”
“What?”
“Michael didn't die naturally.”
Gideon froze.
Lydia whispered,
“He was killed.”
“By whom?”
“Evelyn.”
Gideon stared.
“Why?”
“Because Michael wanted out.”
The pieces connected.
Michael had turned against the organization.
Evelyn had killed him.
Lydia had found evidence.
Then Lydia was attacked.
The man behind it all was still free.
Evelyn.
But Gideon had no time to process the truth.
An alarm sounded.
Security rushed into the hallway.
A nurse screamed.
Norah was gone.
Gideon spun around.
The chair beside Lydia's bed was empty.
The stuffed rabbit remained.
Lydia cried out.
“Gideon!”
He grabbed the rabbit.
A note was attached.
Bring the original ledger to the old Bright Star Center.
Come alone.
You have one hour.
Or the girl dies.
Gideon's face went blank.
Lydia whispered,
“Don't go.”
He looked at her.
“I have to.”
“No.”
“They'll kill her.”
Lydia grabbed his sleeve.
“They want you to bring the ledger.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't know what it contains.”
Gideon looked at the note again.
“What?”
May you like
Lydia whispered,
“It proves your father knew.”
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