Chapter 3 - THE HUSBAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Caleb disappeared before the police could question him.
His car was gone.
His phone was turned off.
His lawyer claimed he was “emotionally overwhelmed.”
I knew better.
He was running.
And he wasn't running from me.
He was running from the evidence.
By noon, Daniel had frozen every Harrison Holdings account connected to my investment.
By two, investigators had subpoenaed the company's financial records.
By four, three executives contacted us.
All of them wanted immunity.
All of them had something to say.
And all three said the same thing.
Caleb knew.
He had known for years.
That night, I sat alone in my grandfather's study.
I found another envelope inside the desk.
My name was written on it.
This time, the handwriting was different.
My father's.
I opened it.
Elena,
If you ever marry into the Harrison family, there is one person you must watch.
Not Evelyn.
Not Brooke.
Caleb.
I stopped.
The letter continued.
He is smarter than they think.
He knows exactly where the money went.
He knows what happened to the missing accountant.
And he knows why I was afraid.
I whispered:
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Daniel entered.
“You found something?”
I handed him the letter.
He read it.
Then looked at me.
“Your father was protecting you.”
“From my future husband?”
“Apparently.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then Caleb's voice.
“Elena.”
My body went still.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you can't find me.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to explain.”
“You had eight years to explain your family's crimes.”
“I didn't know everything.”
“You knew enough.”
Silence.
Then he said:
“My father didn't kill yours.”
I froze.
“What?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“I found the person who actually ordered it.”
My heart raced.
“Who?”
He hesitated.
Then:
“Your grandfather.”
I stood.
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
“Why would my grandfather kill my father?”
“He didn't.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Caleb's voice dropped.
“Someone forged the documents to make it look like your grandfather did.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Suddenly, I heard a noise behind him.
A door.
Caleb whispered:
“They found me.”
Then the line went dead.
I immediately called Thomas.
Within minutes, investigators traced the call to an abandoned warehouse.
We arrived twenty minutes later.
Caleb was gone.
But there was blood on the floor.
Not much.
Enough to terrify me.
Thomas examined the room.
“He was here.”
Daniel looked around.
“What happened?”
Thomas pointed toward a chair.
“Someone restrained him.”
My stomach tightened.
Then I saw something underneath the chair.
A wedding photograph.
Mine.
Caleb had written something across it.
ASK YOUR GRANDFATHER'S LAWYER.
I knew exactly who he meant.
My grandfather's attorney had retired fifteen years ago.
His name was Richard Vale.
We found him at midnight.
He was ninety-one.
He opened the door himself.
When he saw me, he didn't look surprised.
“You finally came.”
I stared at him.
“You knew.”
“I knew your grandfather was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
Richard looked at Daniel.
“Come inside.”
His house was filled with old books and dusty files.
He walked to a cabinet.
Then pulled out a folder.
“I was ordered never to open this unless Elena came looking for answers.”
My hands shook.
“What is it?”
Richard handed it to me.
Inside was a birth certificate.
I looked at it.
Then frowned.
The name of my father was correct.
But the name of my mother was not.
I looked up.
“My mother isn't listed.”
Richard's face softened.
“Because your mother wasn't your biological mother.”
I couldn't speak.
“What?”
“Your father adopted you.”
My entire world shifted.
“Who was my real mother?”
Richard closed his eyes.
“She was a Harrison.”
I stared at him.
“Which one?”
He whispered:
“Evelyn.”
I stepped backward.
“No.”
Richard nodded.
“You are Evelyn Harrison's biological daughter.”
The room spun.
And suddenly, every piece of the puzzle looked different.
My grandfather.
My father.
Evelyn.
Caleb.
The mansion.
The company.
May you like
And my wedding.
None of it had happened by accident.