Chapter 3 - The Money That Bought Her Silence
The amount stolen from Lily's trust was staggering.
$8.7 million.
Daniel stared at the spreadsheet.
Margaret remained silent.
Lily stood near the window.
She looked smaller than she had in the foyer.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Did you ever have enough food?”
Lily looked confused.
“Yes.”
“Did you ever have your own room?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever go to a real school?”
She hesitated.
“Sometimes.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Margaret had spent millions of dollars.
Yet Lily had been treated like unpaid help.
The investigators uncovered more.
Lily had been homeschooled using outdated materials.
She had no social security records connected to her true identity.
Her medical records had been altered.
Her legal name had been changed.
Margaret had effectively erased her.
But why?
The answer appeared in a bank transfer.
A payment to an offshore account.
Daniel recognized the name attached to it.
Richard Hale.
His former business partner.
Richard had been responsible for the financial collapse that nearly destroyed Daniel fifteen years earlier.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“You worked with him.”
She said nothing.
“You told me Lily died because you needed access to my company.”
Margaret finally spoke.
“You weren't supposed to come back.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard wanted your shares.”
Daniel stared at her.
Margaret had believed that if Daniel died or disappeared permanently, Lily would inherit everything.
Margaret planned to control Lily until she turned eighteen.
Then she would control the trust.
Daniel felt sick.
His daughter had never been the problem.
She had been the prize.
A knock came at the door.
A police detective entered.
“We found Richard Hale.”
Daniel stood.
“Where?”
“He's been living under another name.”
“Where?”
“Two states away.”
Daniel nodded.
“Bring him here.”
The detective hesitated.
“He asked to speak with you first.”
Richard was brought to the mansion that evening.
He looked older.
Thin.
Tired.
He sat across from Daniel.
“I never wanted the girl hurt.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You destroyed her life.”
Richard looked down.
“Margaret was supposed to keep her hidden.”
“She did.”
“She also stole the money.”
Richard looked surprised.
“I didn't know.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“What were you planning?”
Richard hesitated.
“Control the company.”
“And Lily?”
Richard finally looked at him.
“She was leverage.”
Daniel's hands tightened.
“You used my daughter as leverage.”
Richard didn't answer.
Lily stood outside the room listening.
Daniel didn't know she was there.
Richard continued.
“There was another reason.”
“What?”
“Your wife knew.”
Daniel froze.
“My wife?”
“She discovered the financial fraud before she died.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“She wasn't killed by an accident.”
The room went silent.
“What are you saying?”
May you like
Richard looked terrified.
“She was poisoned.”
