Chapter 6 - The Bride's Choice
Victoria remained in custody.
Daniel visited her once.
Only once.
She sat behind the glass.
Without her wedding dress, without makeup, without the diamond necklace, she looked like the woman he had once loved.
Daniel picked up the phone.
Victoria did the same.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
She nodded.
“I made terrible choices.”
“You almost killed me.”
“I know.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was scared.”
“You should have trusted me.”
“I know.”
She wiped her eyes.
“My brother is alive.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“He wasn't transferred.”
She swallowed.
“Your father lied. He was hiding him.”
Daniel immediately called Reed.
They found Victoria's brother in a private facility.
He had been held illegally.
He had evidence.
More evidence.
Enough to connect Daniel's father to the foundation.
The case exploded.
Federal investigators raided the Whitmore headquarters.
Accounts were frozen.
Board members resigned.
The foundation was dismantled.
But Daniel made one decision that surprised everyone.
He refused to keep the family fortune.
He sold the company.
The money was placed into a trust for employees and victims.
The remaining funds created a new foundation.
Not a Whitmore foundation.
A Carter Foundation.
Named after Lily's father.
The first program provided medical care to families who had been exploited by the old system.
Lily became the unofficial mascot.
She hated the title.
“I don't want to be famous.”
Daniel laughed.
“You don't have to be.”
“What do I have to do?”
“Be six.”
She thought about it.
“That's easy.”
Emma smiled.
For the first time in years, she felt safe.
Victoria's brother was released.
Victoria pleaded guilty to conspiracy but testified against Daniel's father.
Her cooperation reduced her sentence.
Daniel didn't visit her again.
Not because he hated her.
Because he needed to heal.
Months later, the court delivered its verdict.
Daniel's father was convicted.
He received a life sentence.
When Daniel left the courthouse, reporters surrounded him.
“Mr. Whitmore!”
“Are you rebuilding the company?”
“Are you keeping the fortune?”
Daniel stopped.
“No.”
“What will you do?”
He smiled.
“Something my family forgot how to do.”
“What?”
“Help people without expecting something in return.”
Then he walked away.
Across the street, Emma and Lily waited.
Lily ran toward him.
“You came!”
Daniel caught her.
“I promised.”
She hugged him.
Then she touched his cheek.
“Does it still hurt?”
Daniel smiled.
“No.”
She smiled back.
“Mine doesn't either.”
He understood what she meant.
Her cheek had healed.
But the memory remained.
Daniel gently kissed the top of her head.
“Good.”
Then Emma approached.
She looked nervous.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
She smiled.
“Lily wants to ask you a question.”
The little girl stepped forward.
“Will you come to my birthday?”
Daniel laughed.
“Of course.”
Lily grinned.
“And will you wear a funny hat?”
Daniel looked at Emma.
“What kind?”
“The biggest one.”
He laughed.
“Deal.”
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For the first time in months, he felt something he thought he had lost forever.
Hope.
