Chapter 9 - Daniel’s Second Betrayal
Daniel had found my mother.
Six months before filing for divorce.
Suddenly I understood why everything accelerated.
He had been searching for Halcyon.
Instead, Laura found him.
She approached Daniel outside a hotel in Boston.
She knew who he was.
Knew he married me.
Knew Eleanor recruited him.
Daniel expected her to threaten him.
Instead she said:
“If you ever loved Emily, divorce her.”
I stared at him.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I didn't understand either.”
Laura explained that my marriage gave Halcyon indirect proximity to the trust.
But divorce at thirty-five would activate Laura’s archive in my name while simultaneously terminating Daniel’s legitimate spousal access.
She wanted Daniel out before the archive opened.
“So you divorced me to protect me?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Not entirely.”
There it was.
He also wanted the archive.
He thought he could access it during the transition.
He planned to sell part of the information to eliminate his debts and disappear with Vanessa.
“You used both of us.”
“Yes.”
At least he stopped lying.
“Did Mom know about Vanessa?”
“Yes.”
“Why send her the photo?”
“I didn't.”
Someone stole a copy.
Probably Eleanor.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Where is my mother?”
Daniel looked at Dad.
“I don't know anymore.”
He met Laura twice.
The second time she gave him one instruction.
Keep Emily away from Aurum House until Richard sees the necklace.
That made no sense.
The necklace had appeared because someone deliberately sent it tonight.
Laura?
Eleanor?
Someone else?
Then Dad inspected the jewelry delivery record.
Sender:
L. Hayes.
My pulse jumped.
Mom had sent it.
Tonight was not Daniel’s trap alone.
It was hers.
She knew Daniel would attempt the vault.
She knew Dad would react.
She wanted us together when the necklace appeared.
Why?
Dad stared at the encrypted ledger.
“Because she wanted Eleanor to know we opened it.”
I looked at him.
“That puts us in danger.”
“Yes.”
“Why would Mom do that?”
“Because she isn't hiding anymore.”
Twenty-one years after disappearing, Laura had intentionally announced herself.
Then Aurum House staff brought us another item.
A sealed envelope had been scheduled for delivery only after compartment 998214 was successfully opened.
Addressed to:
Emily.
I opened it.
One sentence.
If Richard told you I died, forgive him. I made him believe it.
Dad looked destroyed.
The second line:
If Daniel tells you he found me in Boston, believe him.
Daniel exhaled.
Then:
But do not believe him when he says he met me twice.
I slowly raised my eyes.
Daniel had gone white.
I continued reading.
May you like
He met me three times.
On the third meeting, he brought Eleanor.
