Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Took Sarah’s Photograph Claimed She Was Protecting Lily, Then I Discovered She Had Known My Wife Before Her DeathWe found Ms. Harper at the old hotel.
She stood in the lobby.
Waiting.
The building was dark.
Dust covered the floors.
The Christmas decorations had been removed years ago.
She held Sarah's photograph.
“Give it back.”
She shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“She asked me to keep it.”
“Who?”
“Sarah.”
My blood stopped.
“How?”
“She gave it to me before she died.”
I stepped closer.
“When?”
“Three months before.”
“You knew she was going to die?”
“No.”
She looked exhausted.
“She suspected something.”
“What?”
“Your company.”
I frowned.
“My company?”
“She found financial discrepancies.”
“In the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Millions.”
I stared.
“Where?”
“Insurance.”
That made no sense.
Until she handed me a file.
Insurance policies.
Life insurance.
Property insurance.
And one document.
Sarah's life insurance beneficiary had been changed.
Not to me.
To a company I didn't recognize.
Regency Hospitality Holdings.
I stared.
“Who owns this?”
She whispered:
“Someone inside your board.”
My entire body went cold.
“Who?”
“Your chief financial officer.”
I knew the name.
Daniel Cross.
He had been with me for nine years.
He had handled every financial matter since Sarah's death.
I had trusted him.
Apparently, that had been my mistake.
“Why did Sarah investigate him?”
“Because money disappeared after her diagnosis.”
I froze.
“Before she died?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Twenty million dollars.”
My head spun.
She continued.
“Sarah thought someone was preparing to use her illness.”
“For what?”
“Your death.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“Your wife believed someone planned to kill you after her death.”
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it sounded impossible.
“Why?”
She opened another folder.
Inside was a schedule.
Hotel acquisitions.
Insurance claims.
Property transfers.
My signature appeared repeatedly.
But I had never signed those documents.
Someone had been planning to take control of the company.
My death would trigger the transfer.
My daughter's inheritance would be redirected.
Lily was the key.
I remembered the missing photograph.
“Why did you take it?”
“Because Sarah asked me to hide it.”
She looked at Lily.
“She said, ‘If Ethan ever forgets to look closely, show him this.’”
I stared at the photograph.
Sarah's handwriting was on the back.
He trusts the wrong man.
I asked:
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“She never told me.”
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
“Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“We need to discuss something.”
“What?”
“The board meeting.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
I stared at Ms. Harper.
She mouthed:
“Don't go.”
I looked at the photograph.
Then the note.
I answered:
“I'll be there.”
Daniel laughed softly.
“Good.”
The call ended.
Ms. Harper whispered:
“You just lied.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to know what he thinks I don't know.”
She smiled.
“Sarah was right about you.”
“What?”
“You look innocent when you're planning something.”
I laughed.
Then I realized something else.
Lily wasn't with me.
I looked around.
The lobby was empty.
“Where's my daughter?”
Ms. Harper's face changed.
“I thought she was with you.”
We searched.
Nothing.
Then we heard a small voice from upstairs.
“Daddy!”
I ran.
And found Lily standing beside a locked room.
She was holding a red rose.
“Mommy said this is where the bad man keeps the money.”
May you like
I looked at the locked door.
The old hotel had just become more important than I realized.
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