Chapter 2 - FORTY-SEVEN SECONDS“WHERE IS SHE?”
Vanessa’s smile remained perfectly calm, but Daniel heard the threat underneath those three words.
He slipped the dead phone into his jacket pocket.
“Where is who?”
Vanessa walked toward him, her ivory wedding gown sweeping silently across the marble floor.
“Lily.”
Daniel forced himself not to react.
“You told everyone she was with her grandmother.”
“She was.”
“Was?”
Vanessa stopped several feet away.
For the first time, her smile disappeared.
“Children sometimes create stories when they feel abandoned.”
Daniel studied her.
“That sounds like an explanation you prepared before I asked the question.”
Her eyes hardened.
Then the music downstairs changed.
The ceremony was about to begin.
Vanessa glanced toward the staircase.
“Michael has waited a long time to be happy again. Don’t ruin tonight because a frightened little girl misunderstood something.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“What did she misunderstand?”
Vanessa said nothing.
That silence told him more than an answer could have.
Daniel walked past her.
He needed a charger.
More importantly, he needed to find Lily before Vanessa did.
Behind him, Vanessa called his name.
He didn’t stop.
Daniel entered the groom’s private suite and locked the door. His hands shook as he searched drawers, cabinets, and luggage until he finally found a charging cable beside Michael’s suitcase.
He connected Lily’s phone.
One percent.
Two percent.
The screen illuminated.
Daniel opened the video.
The recording was dark and unstable, apparently filmed through a partially opened door.
Vanessa’s voice came first.
“Once we’re married, the trust changes.”
Then a man answered.
“And the daughter?”
Daniel leaned closer.
Vanessa replied quietly.
“She’ll be dealt with.”
His blood ran cold.
The man stepped briefly into view.
Daniel froze the image.
He knew him.
Richard Hale.
Michael’s private financial adviser.
A man who had managed the Mercer family trust for twelve years.
The recording continued.
Richard lowered his voice.
“The boat leaves Tuesday night. After that, nobody will question an accident.”
Daniel’s pulse thundered.
Then Vanessa said:
“And when Michael is gone, Lily cannot be allowed to challenge the inheritance.”
The video suddenly jerked.
A small gasp was heard behind the camera.
Vanessa turned toward the doorway.
“Who’s there?”
The recording ended.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Now he understood why Lily had been terrified.
She hadn’t overheard an argument.
She had recorded a plan.
A plan involving Michael’s money.
Michael’s death.
And possibly Lily’s disappearance.
Daniel immediately called his brother.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
He rushed toward the ballroom.
But when he reached the staircase, hundreds of guests were already standing.
The ceremony had begun.
Michael stood beneath the flowers.
Vanessa was walking down the aisle.
Beautiful.
Calm.
Smiling.
Daniel pushed through the crowd.
“MICHAEL!”
Every head turned.
The music stopped.
Vanessa froze halfway down the aisle.
Michael stared at his brother.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Daniel raised the phone.
“You cannot marry her.”
Gasps swept through the ballroom.
Vanessa’s face changed for only half a second.
But Daniel saw it.
Fear.
Then Michael stepped forward.
“Daniel, stop.”
“Watch this video.”
Michael’s jaw tightened.
“Not now.”
“Especially now.”
Daniel pressed play.
Nothing happened.
The screen displayed a message.
FILE DELETED.
Daniel stared at it.
Impossible.
He had just watched it.
Someone had remotely erased the recording.
Vanessa slowly smiled again.
Then Michael spoke.
“Security.”
Two guards approached Daniel.
And from somewhere above the ballroom came a child’s scream.
“DADDY!”
Everyone looked up.
Lily stood on the second-floor balcony.
May you like
Beside her was Richard Hale.
His hand was gripping her shoulder.
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