Chapter 2 - The Memory Card Revealed a Secret Recording—and My Daughter's Name Was Whispered by Someone in the DarkThe memory card contained thirty-seven files.
Most were audio recordings.
Some were short.
Others lasted nearly an hour.
The oldest was dated four months earlier.
Vivien had been recording conversations inside the estate.
Not randomly.
Deliberately.
Every recording had a subject.
LORENZO.
VINCENT.
SOPHIA.
ISABELLA.
EMMA.
My blood ran cold when I saw my daughter's name.
“Play that one.”
Vincent selected the file.
Static filled the room.
Then Vivien's voice.
“Her mother is going to break eventually.”
Another voice answered.
Vincent.
“How?”
“You already know how.”
“You're talking about Sophia.”
“I'm talking about leverage.”
I felt sick.
The recording continued.
Vincent's voice lowered.
“She won't cooperate.”
“Then use the child.”
I looked at Vincent.
His face had gone rigid.
Vivien continued.
“Women like Sophia always give in when you threaten what matters most.”
“That's enough.”
“No.”
Her voice became colder.
“She needs to believe Isabella and Emma's medication could be connected.”
The room went silent.
I covered my mouth.
Emma was sitting beside me.
Lorenzo looked at her.
Then at the screen.
The recording continued.
“I want the bottles found in the backpack.”
Vincent's voice:
“And the cameras?”
“Eight minutes.”
“Why eight?”
“Because nobody watches eight minutes carefully.”
Lorenzo slowly turned toward Vincent.
“You knew.”
Vincent didn't answer.
I felt my world collapse.
“You were both doing this?”
Vincent finally spoke.
“No.”
Lorenzo's stare hardened.
“That's your voice.”
“I know.”
“Then explain.”
Vincent looked at me.
“I was investigating Vivien.”
Vivien laughed.
“You expect him to believe that?”
Vincent ignored her.
“I recorded those conversations myself.”
“Why?”
“Because I discovered she was moving money from one of your private accounts.”
Lorenzo froze.
“How much?”
“Five million.”
The room went silent.
Vivien stepped forward.
“You're lying.”
“I traced the transfers.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because every time I got close to the source, evidence disappeared.”
He looked toward the security terminal.
“Like the footage.”
Lorenzo looked at me.
Vincent continued.
“Sophia wasn't supposed to be hurt.”
“Then why was my daughter targeted?”
“Because Vivien needed a believable scapegoat.”
Vivien screamed.
“You're all insane.”
Lorenzo turned to her.
“Where is the money?”
She didn't answer.
“Where is it?”
She began crying.
“I needed it.”
“For what?”
“My father.”
I looked at her.
Her father had been dead for years.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
Then Vivien said something that changed everything.
“He isn't dead.”
Lorenzo stared.
May you like
“What?”
“My father is alive.”
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