Chapter 3 - The Photograph
The photograph changed the entire investigation.
Detective Reed took it as evidence.
Ethan refused to leave Noah's side.
Vanessa was taken to the police station for questioning.
Grace remained at the villa because she had nowhere else to go.
At three in the morning, she finally called her younger sister, Lily.
“I need you.”
Lily heard the exhaustion in her voice.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
Grace began crying.
Lily listened.
When Grace finished, Lily said,
“You saved that baby.”
“I know.”
“Then don't let them turn you into the villain.”
Grace wiped her eyes.
“I keep thinking about that camera.”
“What about it?”
“If it hadn't recorded everything…”
“You'd be in jail.”
Grace swallowed.
“Yes.”
Morning arrived without anyone sleeping.
At seven, Ethan came to the staff quarters.
Grace stood immediately.
“Mr. Whitmore?”
He looked exhausted.
“I owe you an apology.”
Grace said nothing.
“I believed the accusation before I asked for proof.”
“You were scared.”
“That doesn't excuse it.”
She looked down.
“I understand.”
“No,” Ethan said. “You don't.”
He stepped closer.
“My son is alive because of you.”
Grace's eyes filled.
“He's a beautiful baby.”
Ethan smiled faintly.
“He likes you.”
Grace looked toward the nursery.
Noah was sleeping.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He listened.
“Are you sure?”
He hung up.
“What happened?” Grace asked.
“The photograph was printed yesterday.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“Before the stroller incident.”
Ethan nodded.
“That means whoever planned this knew Noah would be at the pool.”
Grace felt cold.
“Then someone inside the house knew.”
That was the beginning of a house-wide investigation.
Employees were questioned.
Schedules were examined.
Access logs were reviewed.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Carter Blake.
Ethan's personal assistant.
He had access to almost everything.
But Carter denied involvement.
Then the investigators found something in his office.
A copy of Noah's medical records.
Including his blood type.
Ethan stared at the file.
“Why would Carter have this?”
Nobody knew.
Until Marcus found an old corporate document.
Carter had once worked for Ethan's father.
And so had Lucas.
The connection went deeper.
Ethan's father had left behind a company worth hundreds of millions.
After his death, Ethan inherited control.
Lucas received a smaller share.
For years, the brothers had fought.
But Ethan had never believed Lucas would hurt Noah.
Until now.
That afternoon, Lucas finally appeared.
He walked into the police station voluntarily.
Marcus questioned him.
Lucas denied everything.
“I didn't push the stroller.”
“We have footage showing you speaking with Vanessa.”
“I was trying to stop her.”
“From doing what?”
Lucas looked down.
“She told me she was going to take Noah.”
Ethan stood behind the glass.
His face hardened.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Lucas looked at him.
“Because you wouldn't have believed me.”
Marcus asked,
“Where were you when the stroller entered the pool?”
Lucas hesitated.
“Behind the garden.”
“Why?”
“I was meeting someone.”
“Who?”
Lucas said nothing.
Marcus leaned forward.
“Your silence isn't helping you.”
Finally, Lucas whispered,
“Carter.”
Ethan's face changed.
Marcus looked at him.
“Your assistant?”
Lucas nodded.
“Carter paid me to get Noah's medical records.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
But Marcus didn't believe him.
And neither did Ethan.
Because that night, someone broke into the security office.
The backup recording was nearly destroyed.
Nearly.
May you like
One file remained.
And in that file, Carter was seen entering the garden minutes before Vanessa.
