CHAPTER 5 The Daughter Nobody Knew Existed
The police took over Harrington Manor before midnight.
Nobody was allowed to leave.
The most powerful family in the city was now trapped inside their own home.
Daniel sat in his father's study.
The same room where Richard had spent thousands of nights making decisions that changed people's lives.
But tonight...
It felt different.
Like the walls were hiding secrets.
Emma stood near the bookshelf.
She noticed Daniel watching her.
"What?"
He looked away.
"I don't know whether to trust you."
Emma nodded.
"That's fair."
"You understand your situation, right?"
She looked at him.
"I destroyed your father's coffin."
"And your fingerprints were found in his car."
"I know."
"And someone just killed his lawyer."
Emma looked at him.
"You think I did it?"
Daniel stayed silent.
That answer hurt more than words.
Emma turned away.
"Then why haven't you arrested me?"
Daniel looked at her.
"Because my father trusted you."
The sentence surprised both of them.
Daniel walked toward the desk.
He opened a drawer.
Inside was a photograph.
A picture of Richard standing beside a young woman.
Emma froze.
"Who is she?"
Daniel looked at the photo.
"My sister."
Emma stared.
"No."
"What?"
"That's impossible."
Daniel frowned.
"Why?"
Emma stepped closer.
"Because your father told me your sister died."
Daniel's face changed.
"She did."
Emma pointed at the photograph.
"Then why is she wearing the necklace?"
Daniel looked down.
The necklace.
The same silver necklace Emma had found.
The one his father gave her.
Daniel's hands trembled.
"My sister died ten years ago."
Emma whispered:
"Then someone has been pretending to be dead."
Suddenly...
The study door opened.
Victoria Harrington stood there.
Her face was calm.
Too calm.
"You finally found out."
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Found out what?"
Victoria entered slowly.
"The truth about your sister."
Emma stepped back.
Victoria looked at her.
"And the reason your father was killed."
Daniel's voice became cold.
"Start talking."
Victoria smiled sadly.
"You think Richard was protecting you."
She looked at Emma.
"He wasn't."
A pause.
"He was protecting himself."
Daniel stared.
"What are you saying?"
Victoria walked toward the desk.
She placed an old envelope down.
Inside was a birth certificate.
Daniel picked it up.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
His face changed.
Because the name written there was not his.
It belonged to someone else.
Victoria whispered:
May you like
"Daniel..."
"You were never Richard Harrington's only son."
