Chapter 5 - The Secret Account That Proved Sophia Was Never Married by AccidentJulian called at 3:06 a.m.
“Sophia.”
She sat upright.
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
“How bad?”
“I need you to see it in person.”
She drove to Hastings Holdings.
Julian was waiting in the cybersecurity room.
Screens filled the walls.
He pulled up a digital ledger.
“Northstar isn't just moving money.”
“I know.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You don't.”
He highlighted a series of transfers.
“They connect Grant Development, Isabella, Marcus Vale, and—”
He paused.
“Hastings Holdings.”
Sophia went still.
“How?”
“Someone created a shell structure twelve years ago.”
“Who?”
Julian pulled up the incorporation records.
The original signer was:
William Hastings.
Sophia's grandfather.
“No.”
Julian nodded.
“I thought you'd say that.”
“Grandpa wouldn't.”
“He says he didn't.”
Sophia stared.
“Then someone used his identity.”
“Exactly.”
“Who?”
Julian clicked another file.
A name appeared.
Victor Grant.
Sophia stared.
“That can't be.”
“He wasn't the final beneficiary.”
“Then who?”
Julian hesitated.
“Your mother.”
Sophia stopped breathing.
Her mother had died when Sophia was seventeen.
At least, that was what the family believed.
There had been no public funeral.
Only a private service.
Sophia had never questioned it.
Now she wondered why.
She called William.
He answered immediately.
“What's wrong?”
“Tell me the truth about Mom.”
Silence.
“Who told you?”
“Julian found something.”
William exhaled.
“She didn't die.”
Sophia's knees weakened.
“What?”
“She disappeared.”
“Why?”
“She was involved in something dangerous.”
“With Victor?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
William paused.
“Your mother was investigating someone.”
“Who?”
“Edward Grant.”
Victor's father.
Sophia sat down.
“The Grant family.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because they were stealing from us.”
Everything shifted.
Her mother had been investigating the Grant family.
Victor had grown up inside that world.
Sophia had met him years later.
Was their marriage truly an accident?
She asked:
“Did Victor know?”
“I don't know.”
That answer wasn't enough.
Sophia flew to an old property in Oregon that belonged to her mother's estate.
She found a locked study.
Her mother's fingerprints were still visible on the old desk.
A hidden drawer contained letters.
The first was dated fifteen years earlier.
William, I believe Edward Grant is building something much larger than a corporate empire.
Another:
If Sophia ever meets Victor, stop them from getting close.
Sophia's hands shook.
The final letter changed everything.
If they do marry, it means someone has reached her.
Sophia sat in silence.
Victor might not have chosen her because he loved her.
He might have chosen her because of Hastings.
She drove back to Seattle.
Victor was waiting.
“We need to talk.”
She looked at him.
“Did you know who I was when we met?”
He froze.
“What?”
“Did you know I was Sophia Hastings?”
“No.”
“Don't lie.”
“I didn't.”
“Did your father know?”
He looked away.
That was enough.
Sophia stepped closer.
“Victor.”
“My father knew your family.”
“How much?”
“Everything.”
“You married me knowing that?”
“No.”
“Then when did you find out?”
“After we were married.”
Sophia studied him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Losing you.”
For the first time, she believed him.
But belief was no longer enough.
She whispered:
“Who is Marcus Vale?”
Victor looked at her.
“How do you know that name?”
“Answer me.”
“He was my father's partner.”
“In what?”
Victor hesitated.
“Money laundering.”
Sophia's stomach tightened.
“And Isabella?”
Victor closed his eyes.
“She owes him.”
“How much?”
“Eight million.”
“That's why you paid her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought I could save her.”
Sophia almost laughed.
“Save her?”
“She threatened to expose my father's crimes.”
“So you kept her quiet.”
“Yes.”
“And married me anyway.”
Victor looked shattered.
“I loved you.”
Sophia stared.
“That is the problem.”
“What?”
“You may have loved me.”
She swallowed.
“But you never trusted me enough to tell me the truth.”
Victor stepped toward her.
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“When?”
He had no answer.
Sophia turned away.
“Get out.”
“Sophia.”
“Leave.”
He didn't move.
She looked at him.
“For the first time, I'm asking you to do something for me.”
He quietly left.
Sophia locked the door.
Then she called Daniel.
“I need you to find my mother.”
Daniel's voice became serious.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“And if she's alive?”
Sophia looked toward the rain.
“Then I need to ask her why she warned me about Victor.”
Three days later, Daniel returned.
“I found her.”
Sophia's heart pounded.
“Where?”
“California.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“What name?”
“Evelyn Hart.”
Sophia closed her eyes.
Her mother had been alive for twelve years.
And somehow, she had known Sophia was in danger.
The next morning, Sophia flew south.
Before leaving, she checked her email.
One message.
From Isabella.
You think you've won. You haven't.
May you like
Sophia replied:
I haven't started.
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