Chapter 14: The Price of the Truth
Daniel returned to the mansion faster than he thought possible.
The drive felt unreal.
Every second was torture.
Every red light.
Every slow car.
Every moment wasted.
Lily.
That was all he could think about.
When he arrived, Maria was standing near the entrance, crying.
“I’m sorry.””
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“No.””
His voice was firm.
“This isn’t your fault.””
But inside, he was terrified.
Because the one thing he feared most had happened.
Someone had taken his daughter.
Thomas approached with a piece of paper.
“We found this in her room.””
Daniel grabbed it.
The message was short.
*You want answers? Come get them. Alone.*
No signature.
No location.
Nothing.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone became silent.
Daniel answered.
“Where is my daughter?””
A voice replied.
“You sound like your father.””
Daniel froze.
“Who is this?””
A laugh.
“Someone your family forgot.””
The voice was distorted.
“What do you want?””
“The truth.””
Daniel looked at the note.
“Where is Lily?””
“Safe.””
“If you hurt her—”
“You still don’t understand.””
The voice became colder.
“Everyone in your family has been using children as weapons.””
Daniel clenched his fist.
“You took my daughter.””
“To make you listen.””
“Tell me where she is.””
“Not until you see what your father did.””
The call ended.
A message arrived.
Coordinates.
Daniel immediately recognized the location.
The old Oleso estate.
The abandoned property his father had closed decades ago.
The place nobody talked about.
Daniel arrived alone.
Just as instructed.
The old house looked abandoned.
Broken windows.
Overgrown plants.
A place where memories had died.
Inside, he found a room with a single light.
And there she was.
Lily.
Sitting in a chair.
But unharmed.
“Daddy!””
Daniel rushed forward.
A man stepped from the shadows.
“Stop.””
Daniel froze.
The man holding the weapon was not Adrian.
Not Ethan.
Someone else.
Someone older.
Someone Daniel had never expected.
His own father’s former lawyer.
Victor Hale.
Daniel stared.
“You?””
Victor smiled.
“Your father trusted me.””
“And you betrayed him.””
Victor’s expression changed.
“Your father betrayed everyone.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Where is my daughter?””
Victor looked at Lily.
“She is fine.””
Daniel’s voice became deadly.
“Move away from her.””
Victor smiled.
“You’re exactly like him.””
“I’m nothing like him.””
Victor laughed.
“You say that now.””
He pointed toward a table.
On it were old documents.
“Your father built an empire by destroying people.””
Daniel looked.
“What are these?””
“Proof.””
Victor continued.
“Your father knew Adrian was innocent of the biggest crime.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
“He allowed everyone to believe Adrian stole the money.””
“Why?””
“Because someone had to take the blame.””
Daniel felt sick.
“Who actually stole it?””
Victor smiled.
“Your father.””
The words hit like a weapon.
Daniel looked at Lily.
Then back at Victor.
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
Victor threw a file toward him.
Daniel opened it.
Inside were documents.
Transfers.
Accounts.
Evidence.
Everything pointed toward his father.
For a moment, Daniel questioned everything.
The stories.
The memories.
The person he thought his father was.
Victor stepped closer.
“Your father destroyed Adrian because he was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“That Adrian knew the truth.””
Daniel looked up.
“What truth?””
Victor smiled.
“The company wasn’t built by your father alone.””
Silence.
“Your grandfather started it.””
Daniel stared.
“And?””
“Your father inherited everything.””
Victor leaned closer.
“But Adrian was the rightful heir.””
Daniel looked at Lily.
He wanted to believe none of this.
But the evidence was there.
The entire family history was built on betrayal.
Then Lily spoke.
“Daddy.””
Daniel turned.
Her eyes were frightened.
“But I don’t think he’s telling the truth.””
Everyone looked at her.
Victor frowned.
“What did you say?””
Lily swallowed.
“He keeps saying he wants the truth.””
Her small voice shook.
“But bad people always say they’re telling the truth.””
Daniel’s heart broke.
Because his daughter was still thinking clearly.
Even after everything.
Victor’s expression changed.
And Daniel saw it.
The anger.
The frustration.
The mask slipping.
“You little—”
He stopped.
Because Daniel moved instantly.
He stepped between them.
“No one talks to my daughter like that.””
Victor backed away.
The moment was enough.
Daniel grabbed Lily and pulled her close.
Then the door burst open.
May you like
Police officers entered.
And behind them stood Vanessa.
