Chapter 4 - The Secret Hidden Beneath My Father's MansionGabrielle returned home.
Not because she trusted her father.
Because she wanted answers.
Ethan came with her.
Her father's estate was heavily guarded.
But when they entered, nobody stopped them.
That frightened Gabrielle more than if someone had tried.
Her father was waiting in the study.
He looked exhausted.
“Gabrielle.”
She stood across from him.
“Is Victor alive?”
Her father closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
The word broke something inside her.
“You lied to me.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“From him.”
“By marrying me to Ethan?”
Her father looked at Ethan.
“You don't understand.”
Ethan's voice was cold.
“Then explain.”
Her father finally did.
Victor had stolen billions.
He had arranged Ethan's father's death.
He had manipulated both families.
And he had been planning to use Gabrielle's marriage to gain control of the Hayes trust.
But there was one final secret.
Gabrielle's mother had known.
She had tried to expose Victor.
And she had died in what everyone had believed was a car accident.
Gabrielle collapsed into a chair.
“No.”
Her father knelt beside her.
“I tried to protect you.”
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Everyone is always afraid.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“Where is Victor?”
Her father looked at him.
“I don't know.”
Gabrielle wiped her tears.
“I do.”
She remembered something.
A place her mother had mentioned when she was a child.
A lake house.
They drove there that night.
Inside the old house, Gabrielle found a hidden compartment beneath the floorboards.
Inside were documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And a letter addressed to her.
She opened it.
Her mother's handwriting.
Gabrielle, if you are reading this, then I failed to protect you.
She began crying.
The letter revealed everything.
Victor had murdered Ethan's father.
He had framed Ethan.
He had threatened Gabrielle's father.
And he had arranged the original marriage between Gabrielle and Ethan because he wanted access to a trust worth nearly four billion dollars.
But there was one final line.
Trust the man who was blamed for the crime. He knows the truth.
Gabrielle looked at Ethan.
He was staring at the letter.
“I never knew your mother knew.”
“She did.”
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she was trying to protect you.”
They looked at each other.
Then headlights appeared outside.
Several vehicles.
Victor's men.
Ethan grabbed Gabrielle.
“Run.”
They escaped through the back door.
But Victor was waiting.
He stood beneath the trees.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Smiling.
“Hello, Gabrielle.”
She froze.
“Uncle Victor.”
May you like
He smiled.
“You finally know.”
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