Chapter 5 — The Diary That Could Destroy Everything
The east wing of Ashford Estate had been closed for years.
Nobody entered.
Not even family members.
It contained old documents, personal belongings, and memories from before the Ashford empire became what it was today.
That was why Alex knew immediately.
This wasn't a random break-in.
Someone came here looking for something.
And they found it.
Security officers searched every hallway.
The guests were gone.
The mansion was locked down.
But Victoria Hale remained.
She sat in the library wrapped in a blanket, her expensive dress torn from running through the abandoned hallway.
For the first time, she didn't look powerful.
She looked afraid.
Alex stood across from her.
"Where is Daniel?"
Victoria shook her head.
"I don't know."
"Then why were you with him?"
Her eyes widened.
"I wasn't."
Alex's expression hardened.
"Don't lie."
Victoria swallowed.
"Three weeks ago, he contacted me."
Claire looked surprised.
"Why?"
Victoria looked at her.
"Because he knew who you were."
The room became silent.
"He told me you weren't a simple maid."
Claire's face tightened.
"What did he want?"
Victoria hesitated.
"To expose you."
Alex stepped closer.
"Why?"
Victoria looked down.
"Because he said you destroyed his life."
Claire shook her head.
"I didn't."
Victoria looked at her.
"That's not what he believes."
Then she reached into her purse.
And pulled out something wrapped in cloth.
Everyone froze.
"What is that?" Alex asked.
Victoria slowly placed it on the table.
Claire recognized it immediately.
Her breathing stopped.
The old leather cover.
The faded initials.
C.M.
Her diary.
The diary she wrote when she was twenty-two.
The diary she thought disappeared forever.
Alex looked at his wife.
"You wrote this?"
Claire nodded.
"Yes."
Richard stepped closer.
"Open it."
"No."
Everyone looked at Claire.
Her voice was quiet.
"Don't."
Alex studied her face.
Not anger.
Not suspicion.
Fear.
Real fear.
"What is inside?"
Claire didn't answer.
Because she knew.
Inside that diary was the truth about the night Daniel Cross disappeared.
The truth about why Claire changed her identity.
And the truth about Alex's mother.
Richard looked at Claire.
"You have to tell him."
Claire looked at him.
"After fifteen years, you finally want the truth?"
Richard lowered his eyes.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Richard's voice became heavy.
"Because Daniel didn't disappear because of you."
A pause.
"He disappeared because of me."
Everyone froze.
Alex stared at his father.
"What?"
Richard looked at the diary.
"Your mother discovered what Daniel was doing."
He swallowed.
"And she was the last person who saw him alive."
The room went silent.
Then Claire whispered:
"No..."
Richard looked at her.
"Claire, your diary wasn't the only thing Daniel stole."
He reached into his pocket.
And placed another object on the table.
A small silver necklace.
Claire immediately recognized it.
Her hands began shaking.
Because she had buried that necklace with Daniel fifteen years ago.
Impossible.
Unless...
Someone had been lying.
Someone had been alive.
Someone had been watching them all along.
Richard whispered:
"Daniel Cross never died."
And behind the locked library door...
May you like
A shadow moved.
Someone was listening.
