Chapter 2 - The Letter Daniel Left Behind Changed Everything Cassidy Believed About the FamilyNobody touched the envelope for nearly a minute.
Cassidy looked at Evelyn.
Then Ronan.
Then back at the envelope.
“Are you sure this is for me?”
Evelyn nodded.
“He wrote your name.”
“But you said Daniel died six years ago.”
“He did.”
“Then why would he write something for me?”
Ronan stepped closer.
“Maybe he knew you'd come.”
Cassidy stared at him.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“None of this does.”
His voice was colder now.
Not toward her.
Toward the situation.
Evelyn finally sat down.
“Open it.”
Cassidy slid a finger beneath the flap.
Inside was one sheet of paper.
She unfolded it.
The handwriting was neat.
Confident.
The first line made her heart stop.
Cassidy,
If you're reading this, Grandma found you.
Cassidy looked at Evelyn.
“You knew.”
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“I knew what I was looking for.”
She continued reading.
I don't know when you'll find this.
I don't know whether Ronan will trust you.
He doesn't trust many people.
Ronan muttered, “That's an understatement.”
Cassidy almost smiled.
Then she read the next paragraph.
But if you're sitting at Thanksgiving beside Daniel's chair, then you need to know the truth.
I didn't die because of the crash.
Cassidy's fingers began shaking.
Ronan leaned over her shoulder.
“What?”
She turned the paper.
He read the line.
His face changed.
“What the hell?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
Daniel's letter continued.
The crash was staged.
Someone wanted the family to believe I was dead.
I was supposed to disappear for three days.
I never came back because I discovered who was stealing from the Reed company.
Ronan whispered:
“Someone stole from us.”
Evelyn said nothing.
Cassidy kept reading.
If I don't make it home, protect Cassidy.
Her breath caught.
“Why me?”
The next line answered.
Because she doesn't know what she carries.
Cassidy lowered the paper.
“What does that mean?”
Ronan stared at her.
“I don't know.”
Evelyn did.
Cassidy saw it immediately.
“You do.”
The older woman looked away.
Ronan's voice sharpened.
“Grandma.”
Evelyn sighed.
“Daniel discovered a financial trust.”
“What trust?”
“The Reed family reserve.”
Ronan frowned.
“The reserve was empty.”
“No.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“It wasn't.”
“How much?”
“Thirty-two million dollars.”
The room fell silent.
Ronan stared.
“And where is it?”
Evelyn looked at Cassidy.
“She has it.”
Cassidy nearly laughed.
“I have what?”
“The legal beneficiary rights.”
Cassidy shook her head.
“That isn't possible.”
Evelyn explained.
Years earlier, Daniel had created a private trust.
He had done it through a law firm outside Nebraska.
He had named a beneficiary.
Cassidy Lane.
Because Daniel had been engaged to Cassidy's sister.
Cassidy stared.
“My sister?”
Ronan looked at her.
“What was your sister's name?”
“Emily.”
His face changed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Cassidy narrowed her eyes.
“Ronan.”
He didn't answer.
Evelyn did.
“Daniel never married Emily.”
Cassidy swallowed.
“Why?”
“Because Emily died.”
Cassidy froze.
“My sister didn't die.”
Evelyn looked confused.
“What?”
Cassidy shook her head.
“Emily is alive.”
Silence.
Ronan stared at her.
“How?”
“She lives in Colorado.”
Evelyn's hands trembled.
“That can't be.”
“Why not?”
“Because Daniel told us Emily was dead.”
Cassidy stood.
“Daniel knew my sister?”
Ronan's expression hardened.
“Apparently.”
She looked at the letter.
Then at him.
“You've been lying to me.”
“I didn't know.”
“You knew her name.”
“I knew the name.”
“How?”
Ronan hesitated.
“I saw it in Daniel's records.”
Cassidy stepped away.
“Your family has been hiding things from me since I arrived.”
Ronan shook his head.
“I didn't even know who you were.”
She pointed at the letter.
“Someone did.”
Evelyn rose slowly.
“Cassidy, sit down.”
“No.”
Her voice cracked.
“I need answers.”
“You'll get them.”
“From whom?”
Evelyn looked toward the dark hallway.
“Daniel.”
Cassidy's heart stopped.
“What?”
Evelyn whispered:
“He isn't dead.”
The farmhouse went silent.
Ronan stared at his grandmother.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“For six years?”
“I had no proof.”
Cassidy's knees weakened.
She sat.
Daniel Reed.
Alive.
Somewhere.
Six years.
A man she had been told was dead had apparently been involved with her family.
And now his letter had named her.
Then the front door opened.
Everyone turned.
An older man stepped inside.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
A scar along his cheek.
Ronan stood.
“Dad?”
The man looked at him.
“No.”
He slowly removed his gloves.
“My name is Daniel Reed.”
Cassidy stopped breathing.
Ronan's face went white.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Daniel looked directly at Cassidy.
“I've been trying to get back to you.”
Cassidy stood.
“You know me?”
Daniel nodded.
“I knew your sister.”
“Where is Emily?”
Daniel's eyes filled.
“She's in danger.”
Before Cassidy could ask another question, the farmhouse lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Daniel grabbed Cassidy and pushed her to the floor.
Ronan reached for a weapon.
Another shot.
Then silence.
May you like
Someone had come for them.
And they knew Daniel was alive.
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