Chapter 7 - Lily Disappeared From the Hotel While Security Was Watching, and the Kidnapper Left Behind One of Sarah’s Red RosesThe hotel went into lockdown.
I searched every camera.
At 2:17 p.m., Lily entered the children's lounge.
At 2:18, the camera froze.
At 2:20, a maintenance worker appeared.
At 2:21, Lily was gone.
The maintenance worker was an impostor.
He knew the hotel.
He knew security.
He knew me.
I found a rose on the floor.
Red.
Like the ones I carried for Sarah.
A note was attached.
Bring the truth.
The address led to the old property.
I went.
Alone.
Lupita begged me not to.
I refused.
Inside, I found Lily.
She wasn't hurt.
But Daniel's former partner stood behind her.
He had a gun.
“Where is Emily?”
I stared.
He knew.
“How?”
“Daniel knew Sarah had another daughter.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
My blood froze.
He had planned everything.
He wanted both girls.
Not just for money.
For the inheritance.
Sarah's family trust had been divided between them.
Together, they controlled the hotels.
Separate, they were easier to manipulate.
The man demanded the trust documents.
I gave him copies.
He laughed.
“Fake.”
Then the lights went on.
Police.
Federal agents.
Lupita had tracked me.
The man was arrested.
Lily ran into my arms.
“Daddy.”
I held her tightly.
“You're safe.”
“Mommy helped.”
I froze.
“What?”
She pointed at the red rose.
“She told me to look for the flower.”
I looked.
There was a tiny mark carved beneath the stem.
A star.
Sarah's symbol.
May you like
She had prepared everything.
Even Lily.
Related Stories
