Chapter 9: The One Person He Never Expected to Face
Daniel reached Lily's school before the police arrived.
He parked directly outside the main entrance and hurried toward reception.
“I'm here for my daughter. Lily Collins.””
The receptionist recognized him.
“Mr. Collins, she's safe. She's in the headteacher's office.””
Daniel exhaled.
“Has anyone tried to collect her?””
The receptionist nodded.
“A man came about twenty minutes ago. He said he was a family friend.””
Daniel's face tightened.
“Did you let him take her?””
“No. We followed the school's collection procedure. His name wasn't on the authorized list.””
Daniel looked toward the office.
“Can I see her?””
“Of course.””
He walked inside.
Lily was sitting on a sofa with her stuffed rabbit.
When she saw him, she immediately ran into his arms.
“Daddy!””
Daniel lifted her.
“Hey, princess. Are you okay?””
She nodded against his shoulder.
“A man asked me if I wanted to see Mommy.””
Daniel held her a little tighter.
“What did you tell him?””
“I said I wanted you.””
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
“Good girl.””
The headteacher approached.
“We've preserved the visitor information and security footage.””
“Thank you.””
“The man said he knew your family. He became uncomfortable when we asked him for identification.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Did he give you a name?””
“Marcus.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
He thanked the headteacher and carried Lily outside.
Rebecca was waiting beside his car.
“Are you okay?””
Daniel nodded.
“She's safe.””
Rebecca looked at Lily.
“Come on, sweetheart. Aunt Rebecca brought you something.””
She showed her a small stuffed toy.
Lily smiled faintly.
Daniel placed her in the back seat and checked the locks twice.
Then he called Richard.
“Marcus tried to approach Lily at school.””
Richard's voice immediately hardened.
“Did he get near her?””
“No. The school stopped him.””
“I'm contacting the authorities.””
“Good.””
Daniel looked through the rearview mirror.
Lily was hugging her rabbit.
“Richard, I need you to understand something. I don't care about the money right now. I don't care about the company. If Marcus comes near my daughter again, this becomes something entirely different.””
“I understand,” Richard replied.
When Daniel arrived home, Rebecca took Lily upstairs to play.
He went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
His phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered.
“Where is Lily?””
“She is safe.””
“I heard what happened.””
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
“How?””
“Dad told me.””
“Then you know Marcus tried to approach her.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I'm so sorry.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Vanessa, I don't need another apology.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
She was quiet.
Then she said, “I need to tell you something. Marcus contacted me before he went to the school.””
Daniel straightened.
“What did he say?””
“He told me he wanted me to meet him. He said if I refused, he would expose something about you.””
“What something?””
“He wouldn't tell me.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Why didn't you tell Richard?””
“I was frightened.””
“Vanessa, our daughter could have been taken from school.””
“I know!””
Her voice broke.
“I know, Daniel. I've been making terrible decisions. I thought Marcus loved me. I thought he wanted a life with me.””
Daniel stared at the wall.
“And what did you think I wanted?””
She couldn't answer.
He continued.
“I wanted a wife who stood beside me. I wanted a mother who put her daughter first. I wanted a home where Lily didn't have to wonder why her parents were hurting each other.””
Vanessa whispered, “I want to come home.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You don't get to decide that anymore.””
“Please.””
“Not tonight.””
He ended the call.
Across town, Marcus sat inside the old warehouse.
A laptop rested on a metal table.
Beside it were several folders containing copies of the original documents.
He checked his phone.
Vanessa hadn't replied.
He dialed her number.
No answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then the warehouse door opened.
Marcus looked up.
Steven Miller walked inside.
“You said Daniel would come.””
“He will.””
Steven placed a folder on the table.
“You'd better be right.””
Marcus smiled.
“Daniel wants answers.””
Steven looked at the papers.
“And if he brings Richard?””
“Then we'll have a different conversation.””
Steven shook his head.
“You promised me this deal was finished months ago.””
“It will be.””
“You said that before.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Do you want your money or not?””
Steven said nothing.
Marcus opened the laptop.
A photograph of Daniel's signature appeared on the screen.
“Once he signs the final release, nobody can challenge the transfer.””
Steven looked at him.
“What if he refuses?””
Marcus's smile disappeared.
“Then Vanessa becomes the person who approved everything.””
Steven frowned.
“You're going to blame her?””
“She gave me access. Her credentials were used. Her name is on the paperwork.””
“But she didn't know what you were doing.””
Marcus shrugged.
“That's not my problem.””
Steven stared at him.
“You're unbelievable.””
Marcus closed the laptop.
“Don't pretend you're innocent. You wanted the company just as badly as I did.””
Before Steven could respond, headlights swept across the warehouse wall.
A car had arrived.
Marcus smiled.
“Right on time.””
The door opened.
Daniel walked inside.
He wasn't alone.
Richard followed him, accompanied by a lawyer carrying a briefcase.
Marcus stood.
“Daniel. Glad you came.””
Daniel didn't shake his hand.
“Where is the original document?””
Marcus gestured toward the table.
“Everything is here.””
Daniel looked at Steven.
“You too?””
Steven looked away.
Marcus laughed.
“Let's not make this emotional. We all know business can get complicated.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You went to my daughter's school.””
Marcus's smile faded.
“I was only trying to speak with her.””
“You had no right.””
“I wanted to talk to Vanessa. She wasn't answering.””
“So you went after my child?””
Marcus raised both hands.
“Don't exaggerate.””
Richard stepped forward.
“The school has preserved its security footage. The matter has already been reported.””
Marcus looked at him.
“You're making a mistake.””
Richard placed a folder on the table.
“No. I believe that mistake was made three years ago.””
The lawyer opened his briefcase.
“Mr. Marcus, we have copies of the forged authorization, the altered ownership agreement, and the recorded conversations.””
Marcus's expression changed.
For the first time, he looked uncertain.
Then he laughed.
“Recordings? You think that's enough?””
Daniel stared at him.
“Tell me something. Did you ever love Vanessa?””
Marcus looked surprised.
Then he shrugged.
“She was useful.””
Richard's face tightened.
Daniel slowly nodded.
“That's what I thought.””
Marcus leaned against the table.
“You're acting like you were some perfect husband. Vanessa was unhappy. She wanted something different.””
Daniel didn't raise his voice.
“Maybe she was unhappy. That doesn't give you the right to use her.””
Marcus smiled.
“And she chose me anyway.””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“Yes. She did.””
He paused.
“And she will have to live with that choice.””
The lawyer placed another document on the table.
“We have one more issue to discuss.””
Marcus glanced down.
It was a printed copy of the original recording.
But this version included additional footage.
A few seconds after Daniel had left the office three years earlier, Marcus returned to the desk.
He opened the filing cabinet.
Removed the original authorization.
And replaced it with the altered version.
Steven was standing beside him.
The video clearly showed both men.
Steven stepped forward.
“Marcus, don't.””
Marcus turned toward him.
“Shut up.””
But Steven was already speaking.
“I didn't know he was going to use Daniel's identity. He told me the documents had been approved.””
Richard looked at him.
“Are you prepared to make that statement officially?””
Steven nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus's face darkened.
“You ungrateful idiot.””
Steven took a step backward.
“You told me Daniel had signed everything.””
Marcus pointed at him.
“You were part of it!””
Steven looked at Daniel.
“I know. And I'll answer for that.””
Daniel remained silent.
The lawyer closed the folder.
“Mr. Marcus, I strongly advise you not to leave before the authorities arrive.””
Marcus looked toward the warehouse door.
Then back at the table.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Finally, he laughed bitterly.
“You really think this ends here?””
Daniel stepped closer.
“No.””
Marcus looked at him.
Daniel's voice was quiet.
“It ends when my daughter can go to school without wondering whether someone is coming to take her.””
A moment later, police officers entered the warehouse.
Marcus was ordered to step away from the table.
He looked at Daniel one last time.
“You lost your wife, you know that?””
Daniel didn't answer.
Marcus continued.
“And she still chose me.””
Daniel looked at him calmly.
“Then you can keep her choice.””
The officers escorted Marcus outside.
Richard turned toward Daniel.
“You did the right thing.””
Daniel picked up the folder.
“I hope so.””
His phone vibrated.
A message from Rebecca.
*Rebecca:* Lily is asking for her mother again.
Daniel stared at the screen.
He looked toward the warehouse door through which Marcus had disappeared.
The business scandal was finally coming into focus.
But his daughter's broken heart was another matter.
He called Rebecca.
“Tell her I'll be home soon.””
Then he added something quietly.
“And ask her if she wants to speak to Mommy.””
Richard looked at him.
“Daniel, are you sure?””
Daniel nodded.
“She deserves to have her own feelings. Whatever happened between Vanessa and me, Lily shouldn't have to carry our anger.””
He walked toward the exit.
But before he reached the car, his phone rang again.
This time, it was Vanessa.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“What's wrong?””
“I'm at the hospital.””
Daniel stopped.
“What happened?””
Vanessa began sobbing.
“Dad collapsed after he got home. The doctors are running tests.””
Daniel looked toward Richard, who was still standing beside the warehouse entrance.
“Is he conscious?””
“No.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then Vanessa said something else.
“There's something you need to know. Before Dad collapsed, he gave me an envelope.””
“What envelope?””
She took a shaky breath.
“It has Lily's name on it.””
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
“What does it say?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“It's about the inheritance. And apparently, Dad made a decision before any of this happened.””
Daniel looked at Richard.
The older man's face had gone pale.
May you like
Because he knew exactly which envelope Vanessa was talking about.
And he knew what was written inside.
