Chapter 7 - THE SECRET BEHIND FILE 17
We did not go to Sebastian’s house.
His security team did.
The intruder was gone.
Nothing obvious had been stolen.
But a framed photograph had been removed from the study wall.
Behind it was an empty recess.
File 17 had been there.
Gone.
Sebastian stood at the hotel window.
I had never seen him look helpless.
It lasted maybe two seconds.
Then the mask returned.
Evelyn said, “Lucia knew.”
Sebastian turned.
“How?”
“Your father trusted the wrong person.”
“Who?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“Your sister.”
The room changed.
Sebastian’s face emptied.
“My sister died.”
“Yes.”
“Eight years ago.”
“Yes.”
“So choose your next sentence carefully.”
Evelyn sat.
“Your sister, Caroline, was involved with Daniel’s older brother.”
Sebastian stared.
“I didn’t know he had a brother.”
“Most people didn’t.”
“What are you saying?”
“She discovered what the Vega-Hale family had done to the first child.”
I looked at Lily.
“What happened to Caroline?”
Evelyn’s voice lowered.
“She threatened to expose them.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened.
“She died in a car accident.”
Evelyn did not answer.
He stepped toward her.
“Say it.”
“I never believed it was an accident.”
For the first time, Sebastian lost control.
He struck the table with his palm.
Lily startled.
He immediately stepped back.
“Sorry.”
The apology was to her.
Not us.
Evelyn continued.
“Your father began recording everything after Caroline died.”
“That’s why the office was forbidden.”
“Yes.”
“He thought someone inside the company was feeding information to the family.”
“Who?”
“We never proved it.”
My phone rang.
My attorney.
The emergency custody hearing had been scheduled for nine the next morning.
Daniel wanted temporary physical custody.
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because I was too tired to cry.
Evelyn looked at me.
“Who is representing you?”
“A legal aid attorney I called tonight.”
Sebastian picked up his phone.
“No.”
I glared at him.
“Do not billionaire this.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Do not throw money at me and turn my life into one of your acquisitions.”
Evelyn hid a smile.
Sebastian looked annoyed.
Then he nodded.
“Fair.”
He put the phone down.
“What do you need?”
The question surprised me.
I looked at Lily.
“A witness.”
“I’ll testify.”
“A copy of the footage.”
“You’ll have it.”
“And I need you not to take over.”
His mouth tightened.
“That will be difficult.”
“Practice.”
At 8:17 the next morning, I walked into family court carrying my daughter.
Daniel was already there.
So was Lucia.
I recognized the red-brown eyes immediately.
She smiled at Lily.
Then at me.
May you like
Like she had already won.
