Chapter 3 - The Secret Hidden Inside Her Mother's Necklace
The investigation changed everything.
Victor gave Emma access to the files.
At first, she thought it was another test.
But he didn't interfere.
They worked side by side in the library.
Old reports covered the table.
Photographs.
Bank transfers.
Phone records.
Police statements.
Emma discovered something strange.
Her father had paid a man named Marcus Vale repeatedly in the months before Isabel's death.
"Who is he?" she asked.
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Marcus was one of my father's former security contractors."
"Was?"
"He disappeared six years ago."
Emma frowned.
"Maybe he didn't."
They continued digging.
Then Emma found another name.
Arthur Kane.
A lawyer who had represented both the Carters and several Blackwood subsidiaries.
Victor went still.
"Kane."
"You know him?"
"He handled Isabel's estate."
Emma studied him.
"Why didn't you investigate him?"
"I did."
"And?"
"He vanished."
Emma stared at the documents.
There was a pattern.
Every time Victor got close to someone connected to Isabel's death, they disappeared.
Then Emma remembered something her mother had said years ago.
"Isabel gave my mother something."
Victor looked up.
"What?"
"A necklace."
"Where is it?"
Emma touched her throat.
"She gave it back to me after Isabel died."
Victor stood immediately.
"Where is it?"
"In my room."
They hurried upstairs.
Emma opened her suitcase.
She pulled out a small velvet box.
Inside was an antique gold necklace with a tiny blue stone.
Victor stared at it.
His expression changed.
"I've seen this."
"Where?"
"Isabel wore it the night before she died."
Emma opened her eyes wide.
"How did my mother get it?"
Victor didn't answer.
He picked it up carefully.
There was a hidden compartment behind the clasp.
Inside was a tiny rolled piece of paper.
Emma's hands trembled.
Victor unfolded it.
Three words were written.
"Trust no Carter."
Emma stared.
"What does that mean?"
Victor looked at her.
"I'm not sure."
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
A security officer spoke rapidly.
Victor's face turned cold.
"What?"
He ended the call.
"What happened?" Emma asked.
"The house was breached."
Emma froze.
"Again?"
Victor looked directly at her.
"Someone entered through your bedroom window."
She felt the blood drain from her face.
"Did they take the necklace?"
"No."
Victor's eyes hardened.
"They left something."
A black envelope sat on her pillow.
Inside was a photograph.
Emma looked at it.
Her mother.
Standing beside Isabel.
And behind them was a third woman.
Emma knew her.
Her heart stopped.
It was Eleanor.
She looked at Victor.
"She knew Isabel."
Victor's face became unreadable.
Then Eleanor entered.
The moment she saw the photograph, she went pale.
Emma stepped toward her.
"You were there."
Eleanor's voice shook.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Victor couldn't know."
Victor stared at her.
"What did you know?"
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Everything."
Silence filled the room.
Victor's hands tightened into fists.
"Start talking."
Eleanor did.
She had worked for Victor's family for decades.
Before Isabel's death, Isabel discovered that several Blackwood properties were being used to move illegal money.
Not by Victor.
By his uncle, Richard Blackwood.
Richard had secretly partnered with Arthur Kane.
Isabel intended to expose them.
But she needed evidence.
She went to Emma's mother.
That was where the necklace came in.
"The necklace contained a recording," Eleanor said.
Victor froze.
"Where?"
Eleanor pointed to the stone.
Victor examined it.
There was a tiny opening.
He found a microchip.
Emma covered her mouth.
Victor inserted it into a secure device.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Isabel.
"If you're hearing this, something happened to me."
Victor closed his eyes.
Her voice was unmistakable.
"Richard knows. Arthur knows. Marcus knows. They believe the Carters are helping me."
A pause.
"They aren't."
Victor looked at Emma.
Then Isabel continued.
"One Carter is helping me. But he isn't who you think."
The recording ended.
Emma stared at Victor.
"One Carter."
They looked at each other.
"My father?"
"Maybe."
"But he lied."
"Perhaps to protect someone."
Emma shook her head.
"Who?"
Before Victor could answer, the estate lights went out.
Then came a gunshot.
Victor grabbed Emma and pulled her behind the wall.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Emma."
"I won't hide."
He looked at her.
For a second, fear appeared in his eyes.
Not for himself.
For her.
The security team rushed in.
Another gunshot echoed.
Then silence.
They found one intruder unconscious.
Marcus Vale.
The man everyone thought had disappeared.
Victor knelt beside him.
"Who sent you?"
Marcus laughed weakly.
"You're too late."
Victor's voice dropped.
"Where is Richard?"
Marcus smiled.
"You never understood."
Then he looked at Emma.
"The girl isn't the target."
Emma stiffened.
"Then who is?"
Marcus's eyes closed.
"The daughter."
Victor frowned.
Emma stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
Marcus whispered one final sentence.
"Ask your mother who your real father is."
Then he lost consciousness.
May you like
Emma felt the world tilt.
Her entire life had just become a lie.
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