Chapter 5
I almost hit her.
Didn't.
Not because she deserved restraint.
Because Clara was upstairs.
And I had already lost four years.
I would not lose another minute to Victoria's need for a reaction.
“Why?”
She laughed.
“Why what?”
“Why keep Clara from me?”
Her expression hardened.
“Because Elena would've ruined everything.”
“What everything?”
“Us.”
“There was no us four years ago.”
“There could have been.”
Silence.
That was worse.
She had stolen my daughter for a future relationship that didn't even exist yet.
Victoria continued.
“Elena was always there.”
“No.”
“In your head.”
Her voice sharpened.
“She leaves and you compare every woman to her.”
“I didn't know where she was.”
“Exactly.”
She smiled.
“A ghost is impossible to beat.”
I stared.
“So you found her.”
“Yes.”
“Threatened her.”
“She needed boundaries.”
There.
That word.
Cruelty dressed up.
“What did you tell her?”
Victoria folded her arms.
“That you had moved on.”
“Lie.”
“That you didn't want a child.”
“Lie.”
“That if she came near you, Richard would take Clara.”
I went still.
Richard didn't move.
“Take her where?”
Victoria smiled.
“Somewhere safer.”
My hands curled.
“You threatened to take my daughter.”
“Elena believed it.”
“Because?”
Richard finally answered.
“Because we'd already moved Daniel.”
Silence.
Victoria turned.
He had said too much again.
I looked at Richard.
“Where?”
His face hardened.
“Daniel wasn't innocent.”
“Where?”
“He found something he shouldn't.”
“Where?”
Richard stared.
I stepped closer.
“Where is Daniel Marlowe?”
Victoria laughed.
“Does it matter?”
I turned.
“He is Mia's father.”
Her face changed.
She hadn't known.
Good.
“Mia's father?”
“Yes.”
Richard stopped breathing.
Another fracture.
Victoria stared at him.
“You told me Mia belonged to Elena.”
He said nothing.
“You knew?”
Richard looked away.
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You used me too.”
Good.
Let them break.
I looked at Richard.
“Where?”
His jaw tightened.
“Old Hale hunting lodge.”
Catherine gasped from behind me.
I turned.
She had returned.
“What?”
She stared at Richard.
“That lodge was closed.”
“No.”
He shrugged.
“Quiet.”
My blood went cold.
A private property.
Remote.
No police.
No records anyone outside the family cared about.
Perfect place to hold someone.
“For eight months?”
Richard said nothing.
I stared.
“Is Daniel alive?”
He looked at me.
Then said:
“He was the last time I saw him.”
Victoria whispered:
“You said dead.”
Richard snapped:
“Because you didn't need details.”
There.
Everyone useful until informed.
I looked at my bodyguards.
“Bring Daniel Marlowe home.”
Richard laughed.
“You think they'll find him?”
I stared.
“Why?”
His smile sharpened.
“Because you don't control everyone wearing your ring.”
Silence.
There.
The real conspiracy.
May you like
Not an Ashford secret.
A Hale betrayal.
