Chapter 4 - The InvestigationI hired investigators.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because I needed the truth.
They discovered Cassandra had researched me for almost a year before meeting me.
She had learned about Eleanor.
About Lily.
About my company.
About my father's estate.
About the charitable foundation.
Everything.
She had even joined a charity organization where she knew I would be attending.
The first meeting had been planned.
The second was planned.
The third.
All of it.
Then came the most disturbing discovery.
Cassandra had contacted one of my former executives.
His name was Marcus.
He had been fired two years earlier.
The investigators found messages between them.
Cassandra had asked him about my security systems.
My habits.
My travel schedule.
My financial structure.
Marcus had provided information.
In exchange, Cassandra promised him a position after the marriage.
The plan became obvious.
Marriage.
Control.
Inheritance.
Then Lily.
The child stood between Cassandra and everything she wanted.
So she had tried to break her.
Not physically alone.
Emotionally.
She wanted Lily afraid.
Dependent.
Silent.
That way, when I married Cassandra, Lily would become isolated.
And eventually, perhaps, sent away to boarding school.
I read the report twice.
Then I called the police.
Cassandra was already facing charges connected to child abuse.
Now the investigation expanded.
Fraud.
Corporate espionage.
Conspiracy.
Financial manipulation.
Marcus was questioned.
He confessed.
He told investigators Cassandra had promised him twenty million dollars.
I couldn't believe it.
Twenty million.
All for access to my company.
All while pretending to love me.
I went home.
Lily was drawing.
This time, the paper was full of color.
“What are you drawing?”
She smiled.
“Us.”
I looked.
Three figures.
Me.
Lily.
And a woman with wings.
“Who's she?”
“Mommy.”
My throat tightened.
“She has wings?”
Lily nodded.
“She watches us.”
I smiled.
“That's beautiful.”
Then Lily looked at me.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Can we still have pancakes?”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
She smiled.
May you like
“Good.”
And for the first time in weeks, my house sounded like a home again.
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