Chapter 6 - Sophie Finally Told Adrian the Truth About Emma’s FatherSophie told Adrian everything.
Daniel Carter.
Twenty-nine when they met.
Kind.
Quiet.
Worked in accounting.
Loved Emma before she was born.
Then disappeared.
Sophie had never understood why.
One day, he simply stopped coming home.
His phone was disconnected.
His apartment was empty.
No note.
No goodbye.
Three years later, Sophie still wondered whether he had abandoned them or been forced away.
Adrian listened.
“You should have told me.”
“I didn't know who to trust.”
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the portrait of Caroline.
“I've lived fifteen years believing someone I trusted was innocent.”
Sophie looked at him.
“So we're both wrong about people.”
He smiled faintly.
“Apparently.”
Thomas entered.
“We found Daniel.”
Sophie stood.
“Where?”
“Alive.”
Her knees nearly gave out.
“Where?”
“An old farmhouse outside Rockford.”
Adrian looked at the file.
“He's been there for two years.”
“Why?”
“He was hiding.”
“From Victor?”
“Yes.”
Sophie whispered:
“Take me to him.”
Adrian nodded.
They drove through the night.
Emma slept in the back seat.
Sophie watched her through the mirror.
Adrian drove.
For several miles, neither spoke.
Then Sophie said:
“Why did you save us?”
Adrian answered without looking at her.
“I don't know how to explain it.”
“Try.”
He thought.
“Because when I woke up and she was sleeping on me, I remembered what I thought I'd lost.”
“Your sister.”
“Yes.”
“But Emma isn't Caroline.”
“No.”
He looked at Sophie.
“She's her own person.”
Sophie smiled.
“That was the right answer.”
At the farmhouse, Daniel opened the door.
Sophie froze.
He looked older.
Thinner.
But his eyes were the same.
“Daniel.”
He whispered her name.
Then saw Emma.
Tears filled his eyes.
“Is that my daughter?”
Sophie couldn't speak.
Emma woke.
She stared at him.
“Mommy?”
Sophie knelt.
“This is Daniel.”
Emma looked at him.
“Daddy?”
The word shattered everyone in the room.
Daniel fell to his knees.
He couldn't stop crying.
“I wanted to come back.”
Sophie whispered:
“Why didn't you?”
“Because Victor found me.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
She looked at him.
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“I needed you.”
“I know.”
Sophie cried.
Then Daniel looked at Adrian.
“Caroline would have trusted you.”
Adrian stopped.
“How do you know?”
“She told me.”
“She knew you?”
“Yes.”
Daniel explained.
He had worked at Briarstone Accounting.
He discovered Victor's financial network.
Caroline found him.
Together, they copied evidence.
Then Victor discovered them.
Daniel helped Caroline hide the baby.
He stayed hidden.
Caroline died.
Daniel was blamed for abandoning Sophie.
He survived in secret.
Victor assumed he had the ledger.
But he didn't.
The ledger was divided.
One part in the cookbook.
One part in the rabbit.
And one final piece.
Inside Emma's bracelet.
Adrian stared.
“The number.”
Daniel nodded.
“It's not a date.”
“What is it?”
“A locker.”
“Where?”
“St. Vincent's.”
The hospital.
They returned to Chicago before dawn.
The locker still existed in an old storage basement.
Inside was a metal case.
Adrian opened it.
Documents.
Recordings.
Photographs.
Everything.
Including proof Victor had ordered Caroline's death.
And evidence showing the entire money trail.
Sophie cried.
“It ends here.”
Adrian nodded.
“Yes.”
Then Daniel looked at him.
“There is one more thing.”
“What?”
“Victor doesn't know about the second copy.”
“Where?”
Daniel looked at Emma.
“With her.”
Sophie stared.
“The child?”
Daniel nodded.
“Caroline told me that if the first evidence was ever discovered, the final key would be passed through the family.”
Adrian looked at Emma.
The little girl slept against the window.
For the first time, he understood why Caroline had trusted a child.
Children didn't know the value of secrets.
They only knew love.
But before they could act, Victor called.
“You found it.”
Adrian looked at the phone.
“Yes.”
“Bring it.”
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“Then I will come to you.”
The line went dead.
Adrian looked at Sophie.
“It's over.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
May you like
She smiled through tears.
“It's beginning.”
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