Chapter 10: The Betrayal Hidden in the Mansion
Daniel stared at the message on his phone.
*The person who stole your father’s letter was someone inside your mansion.*
For several seconds, he didn’t move.
The room around him suddenly felt unfamiliar.
The walls.
The furniture.
The family portraits.
Everything that had represented safety now felt like a place where secrets had been buried.
Someone had walked through his home.
Someone had entered his father’s old office.
Someone had taken the one piece of evidence that could reveal the truth.
And that person wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone he trusted.
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
Upstairs, Lily was sleeping.
The thought of anyone in this house being a threat to his daughter made his blood run cold.
He immediately called the investigator.
“Tell me everything.””
The investigator answered quickly.
“We checked the security footage.””
“And?””
“There was no outside entry.””
Daniel tightened his grip on the phone.
“So someone inside did it.””
“Yes.””
“Who had access to the east wing?””
A pause.
“That’s the strange part.””
“What?””
“The room was supposed to be locked. Only three people knew about the key.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Who?””
“You.””
“Maria.””
Daniel waited.
“And?””
The investigator hesitated.
“Vanessa.””
Daniel looked across the room.
Vanessa was still standing near the entrance.
She noticed his expression.
“What happened?””
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
Because for the first time, he didn’t know whether he could trust her.
But then he remembered something.
Vanessa had many reasons to lie.
Many reasons to manipulate.
But stealing that letter?
Why would she take something that could prove her own revenge was built on false information?
Unless…
Unless she wasn’t the one who stole it.
“Send me the footage,” Daniel said.
“I already did.””
The call ended.
Daniel turned toward Vanessa.
“You knew about the east wing.””
She looked confused.
“What?””
“The locked office.””
Her expression changed slightly.
“I told you. I knew your father had secrets.””
“Did you enter that room?””
Vanessa stared at him.
“No.””
Daniel watched her carefully.
She seemed offended.
But not guilty.
For the first time, he wondered if his instincts were wrong.
“Someone stole something from there.””
Vanessa went silent.
“What?””
“A letter.””
Her face changed.
“A letter from your father?””
Daniel nodded.
Vanessa looked genuinely shocked.
“Then you need to find it.””
The urgency in her voice surprised him.
“You want me to find it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Because if that letter says what I think it says…”
She swallowed.
“It changes everything.””
The next morning, the entire mansion was under quiet investigation.
Daniel didn’t accuse anyone.
Not yet.
Accusations without proof destroyed innocent people.
He had learned that lesson from watching his father’s mistakes.
Maria was the first person he spoke with.
“Did you enter my father’s office?””
The maid looked hurt.
“No.””
“I need the truth.””
“I understand.””
She looked directly at him.
“I would never betray you.””
Daniel believed her.
Not because she was loyal.
Because she had already risked everything once to protect Lily.
“Did you tell anyone about the room?””
Maria thought carefully.
“No.””
“Anyone?””
She hesitated.
Then stopped.
Daniel noticed.
“Maria.””
“There was one person.””
“Who?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Crowe.””
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“When?””
“Years ago.””
“Why?””
Maria looked down.
“She asked questions about your father.””
“What kind of questions?””
“About his old business.””
Daniel became silent.
Vanessa had been investigating long before she entered his life.
But that still didn’t explain everything.
Later that day, Daniel checked the security footage himself.
The camera outside the east wing showed nothing unusual.
No strangers.
No forced entry.
Then he noticed something.
The footage skipped.
Only seven minutes.
Seven missing minutes.
His face hardened.
Someone had deleted it.
Not someone with basic knowledge.
Someone who understood the system.
Someone who knew exactly what they were doing.
He called his security director.
“Who can access the camera system?””
The man looked nervous.
“Only authorized employees.””
“Names.””
The list appeared.
Daniel scanned it.
Security staff.
Managers.
Executives.
Then one name caught his attention.
*Thomas Reed.*
The family butler.
Daniel froze.
Thomas had worked for the Oleso family for twenty-five years.
He had served his father.
He had watched Daniel grow up.
He had attended Lily’s first birthday.
Impossible.
At least, that was what Daniel wanted to believe.
That evening, Daniel found Thomas in the library.
The old butler was arranging books.
“Thomas.””
The man turned.
“Yes, sir?””
“How long have you worked for my family?””
Thomas smiled.
“Twenty-five years.””
“Did my father trust you?””
The question made him pause.
“Yes.””
“Did you know about the east wing office?””
Thomas slowly placed the book down.
“Yes.””
Daniel studied him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because your father asked me not to.””
The answer was calm.
Too calm.
“What was inside?””
Thomas looked away.
“Things from the past.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You deleted security footage.””
The butler became still.
A long silence followed.
Then Thomas sighed.
“I knew this day would come.””
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What did you do?””
Thomas sat down.
For the first time, the old man looked tired.
“I protected your father.””
“By hiding things from me?””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked Daniel.
“Why?””
Thomas looked toward the family portrait.
“Because your father was afraid.””
“Of what?””
May you like
Thomas whispered:
“Of the truth destroying you.””
