Chapter 5 - The Man Behind EverythingThe wedding reception ended early.
Guests were sent home.
The cake remained untouched.
The flowers were still beautiful.
But nobody cared anymore.
The next morning, we met with federal investigators.
Gerald Price had been moving money through trusts for years.
He had access to family accounts.
He knew about Lily.
And he knew that if Lily's existence became public, his financial scheme would collapse.
The investigators discovered transfers.
Forged signatures.
Fake adoption records.
Offshore accounts.
And one particularly disturbing document.
A contract offering $500,000 for information about Lily's whereabouts.
I looked at Daphne.
“You were being watched.”
She nodded.
“I realized it two months ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Gerald threatened you.”
I closed my eyes.
She had made everything worse.
But she hadn't been completely wrong.
Gerald had power.
He had access to our family.
He knew where we lived.
He knew our schedules.
And he had spent years controlling information.
Brandon looked at me.
“We need to move Lily somewhere safe.”
I nodded.
“Agreed.”
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice said:
“You should have let the past stay buried.”
I froze.
“Who is this?”
“You know exactly who.”
The call ended.
I looked at everyone.
“Gerald.”
My father immediately called the police.
But Gerald was already gone.
His office had been emptied.
His house was vacant.
His phone was disconnected.
Then Evelyn found something.
A hidden file in the adoption records.
Inside was a photograph.
Gerald standing beside Daphne.
The date was two weeks before my wedding.
Daphne looked terrified.
Gerald looked calm.
And behind them was a document.
A transfer agreement.
Daphne had signed away her parental rights.
Again.
But this time, the document had one condition.
Lily would be transferred permanently if Daphne accepted $1 million.
I looked at my sister.
“Did you sign this?”
She began crying.
“Yes.”
My blood ran cold.
“Why?”
“Because Gerald told me Lily would be safe.”
“And you believed him?”
“I wanted to.”
I shook my head.
“You can't keep making decisions based on what you want to believe.”
“I know.”
Then Lily walked into the room.
She looked at Daphne.
“Mommy?”
Daphne knelt.
“I’m here.”
Lily hugged her.
And for the first time, Daphne didn't look like my selfish little sister.
She looked like a mother.
A terrified one.
But a mother.
I watched them.
Then I made a decision.
“We're getting Lily back.”
Daphne looked at me.
May you like
“Why?”
“Because she's family.”
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