Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN IN THE RECORDING
Back at a secure location, Elena inserted the memory card into a computer.
The video opened.
Her mother's face appeared.
Older.
Tired.
Terrified.
Elena covered her mouth.
“Mom?”
Her mother looked directly into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Elena, then I failed to keep you out of the Howard family.”
Elena began crying.
The recording continued.
“Your father didn't die when you were told he did.”
Elena froze.
Her mother explained that he had discovered Richard's identity.
He had tried to expose him.
Then he disappeared.
She had spent years believing he was dead.
Until one day, she received a letter.
It contained a photograph.
Her husband was alive.
And he was living under another name.
The photograph showed him standing beside Richard.
Elena couldn't breathe.
Her father had been alive.
And he had been involved in the investigation.
Her mother continued:
“I couldn't bring you into this because Richard would have used you against us.”
Then she revealed the most shocking truth.
Daniel's grandfather had not created the hidden trust for his family.
He had created it to protect money that had been stolen from another company.
A company partly owned by Elena's father.
The Howard fortune had been built using assets that didn't belong entirely to the Howards.
For decades, the family had hidden the origin.
Elena's mother had discovered the truth.
Her father had tried to recover it.
And now Richard wanted to erase everyone who knew.
The video ended with one final warning.
“Never trust anyone who tells you this is only about money.”
The screen went black.
Elena sat motionless.
Then someone behind her spoke.
“She was right.”
Elena turned.
Victoria stood in the doorway.
“You knew.”
Victoria nodded.
“I knew your father was alive.”
Elena stood.
“Where is he?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Closer than you think.”
“Where?”
Before Victoria could answer, a man stepped from the shadows.
Elena's breath disappeared.
He was older.
His hair was gray.
But his eyes were unmistakable.
Her father's eyes.
“Dad?”
The man nodded.
“I've waited seventeen years to say that.”
Elena couldn't move.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come for me?”
He looked devastated.
“Because every time I tried, someone got closer to you.”
Elena's voice broke.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had no choice.”
She shook her head.
“You always had a choice.”
Her father lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
Then he revealed why he had finally returned.
“Richard knows the vault exists.”
Elena looked at the pendant.
“How long?”
“Since yesterday.”
Her father looked toward the door.
“And he's coming for you tonight.”
A car engine sounded outside.
Then another.
Her father looked at Ruiz.
“We need to leave.”
Ruiz nodded.
Elena grabbed her coat.
But before they could move, her phone rang.
The caller ID displayed one name.
Daniel.
She answered.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Elena...”
“What do you want?”
“I need to warn you.”
“About what?”
Daniel took a breath.
“Richard isn't coming for the money.”
“Then what does he want?”
Silence.
May you like
Then Daniel said:
“He wants the baby.”
