Chapter 2 — The Fiancée Who Knew Too Much
Chapter 2 — The Fiancée Who Knew Too Much
Claire Bennett did not scream when Dominic entered her bedroom.
She did something much more dangerous.
She smiled.
It was a small, controlled smile.
The kind a woman wore when she believed she still had a card left to play.
She sat before the vanity in a silk robe, brushing her hair as though the estate had not been placed under lockdown twenty minutes earlier.
As though Mia Carter had not been found tied inside a hidden cellar.
As though Harper had not spent three days believing her mother was dead.
As though Dominic had not just discovered a photograph proving someone had been watching his family.
Claire looked at him through the mirror.
"You look angry."
Dominic closed the door behind him.
"I am."
She continued brushing her hair.
"Is this about Mia?"
"No."
Claire's hand stopped.
Dominic stepped closer.
"It's about the woman who lied to me."
Claire slowly turned.
"Then you should be more specific."
Dominic stared at her.
"Where were you three nights ago?"
"Here."
"That's not what I asked."
She smiled again.
"I was in my room."
"All night?"
"Yes."
"Who saw you?"
"My maid."
"You don't have a maid."
Claire's expression changed for half a second.
Then she recovered.
"I meant one of the housekeepers."
"Which one?"
"I don't remember."
Dominic nodded.
"Interesting."
"What is?"
"You remember exactly what wine was served at the dinner party six weeks ago, but you can't remember which employee saw you the night a woman disappeared inside my house."
Claire placed the brush on the vanity.
"Dominic, I understand you're upset."
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Talk to me like I'm one of your employees."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I was trying to calm you down."
"You don't calm me down."
Dominic moved closer.
"You tell me the truth."
Claire stood.
They were almost the same height.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then she whispered:
"You don't want the truth."
Dominic's eyes hardened.
"Try me."
Claire looked toward the door.
"Is Nathan here?"
"Why?"
"I need to speak to him."
"You won't."
"Dominic—"
"He is being questioned."
Claire's face went pale.
"By whom?"
"Me."
She swallowed.
"About what?"
"Mia."
Claire looked away.
Dominic saw it.
Fear.
Real fear.
But it wasn't fear for Mia.
It was fear of what Mia might have told him.
"You knew she was in the basement."
Claire's eyes snapped toward him.
"No."
"Yes."
"I didn't."
"Then why are you afraid?"
"I'm not."
Dominic reached into his coat.
He pulled out the small evidence bag.
The pearl button lay inside.
Claire stared at it.
Silence.
Dominic didn't need to say anything.
Her face told him enough.
"That belongs to your wedding dress."
Claire looked at him.
"I have hundreds of buttons."
"This one was found inside my office."
"What does that prove?"
"You were there."
"I wasn't."
"Your button was."
"Then someone put it there."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Dominic stepped closer.
"You're lying."
Claire's voice became colder.
"Be careful."
He smiled faintly.
"That's what you say when you have something to hide."
She folded her arms.
"You've known me for three years."
"Exactly."
"And you still think I'd hurt Mia?"
"I think you know more than you're telling me."
Claire's eyes flashed.
"She was a threat."
The room went silent.
Dominic stared.
Claire realized her mistake.
"What did you just say?"
She looked away.
"I meant she was dangerous."
"To whom?"
"To you."
"Why?"
"Because she knew things."
"What things?"
Claire didn't answer.
Dominic grabbed the back of a chair and pulled it away from the table.
"Sit."
She stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
"Sit down."
For the first time that night, Claire looked uncertain.
She sat.
Dominic remained standing.
"What did Mia know?"
Claire crossed her legs.
"Ask her."
"I did."
"And?"
"She told me enough."
Claire's expression tightened.
"What did she tell you?"
Dominic smiled.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Downstairs, Nathan Cross sat alone in the library.
He had been there for nearly an hour.
Two armed guards stood outside.
His phone had been confiscated.
His watch had been removed.
His jacket lay on the chair beside him.
Yet he looked strangely calm.
Daniel entered.
"Nathan."
Nathan looked up.
"How is Mia?"
"Alive."
Nathan exhaled.
"Good."
Daniel studied him.
"You expected her to be found."
Nathan's expression changed.
"No."
"You weren't surprised."
"I was relieved."
"You helped hide her."
Nathan said nothing.
Daniel placed a photograph on the table.
Mia.
Tied to the cellar rack.
Nathan looked at it.
His jaw tightened.
"Who took this?"
"We don't know."
"You should."
"We're working on it."
Nathan looked up.
"You think I did this?"
Daniel's voice was flat.
"I think you know who did."
Nathan stared at the photograph.
After a long silence, he said:
"Claire."
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"What about her?"
"She ordered it."
"Why?"
Nathan hesitated.
"Because Mia found the ledger."
"What ledger?"
Nathan looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
"The one Dominic's father died trying to destroy."
Daniel went still.
"What ledger?"
Nathan leaned back.
"Ask Dominic."
Upstairs, Dominic was asking exactly that question.
"What ledger?"
Claire stared at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Mia said there was a ledger."
"I don't know."
"Your reaction says otherwise."
Claire stood abruptly.
"I've had enough."
She moved toward the door.
Dominic blocked her.
"You're not leaving."
"You can't imprison me."
"This isn't prison."
"Then move."
"No."
Claire's voice became angry.
"You can't treat me like a criminal because your employee made an accusation."
"She's not my employee."
Claire blinked.
"What?"
Dominic's eyes hardened.
"Mia hasn't been my employee for a long time."
"What is she, then?"
Dominic didn't answer.
Claire laughed bitterly.
"That's what this is about."
"What?"
"You care about her."
Dominic said nothing.
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"After everything I've done for you?"
"That's not the issue."
"It is."
"You lied to me."
"I protected you."
"By kidnapping Mia?"
"I didn't kidnap her."
"Then who did?"
Claire looked away.
Dominic waited.
Finally she whispered:
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try."
"Your father."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"He's dead."
"I know."
"Then stop using his name."
Claire shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"Explain."
She looked at him.
"Someone has been using your father's identity."
Dominic froze.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"You've met him."
"No."
"You just said—"
"I said someone is using his identity."
Claire's breathing quickened.
"I never saw his face clearly."
"But Mia did."
Claire nodded.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"In the basement."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"What happened?"
Claire closed her eyes.
"He came to the estate three weeks ago."
"Why?"
"He wanted something."
"What?"
"The ledger."
Dominic's pulse quickened.
"Who gave it to him?"
"I don't know."
"Claire."
"I don't!"
Her voice cracked.
Dominic stared at her.
She was crying now.
But he couldn't tell whether the tears were real.
"How did you become involved?"
Claire wiped her face.
"He knew about me."
"How?"
"He knew things no stranger could know."
"What things?"
"My childhood."
"My family."
"Your relationship with me."
"He told me things about your father."
Dominic remained silent.
"What did he tell you?"
Claire looked directly at him.
"He said your father left something behind."
"What?"
"An heir."
Dominic frowned.
"An heir?"
"Someone who could legally destroy everything your father built."
Dominic's face hardened.
"Mia?"
Claire shook her head.
"No."
"Then who?"
Claire whispered:
"Harper."
The room seemed to freeze.
Dominic stared at her.
"Why would Harper threaten my inheritance?"
"Because she isn't who you think she is."
His voice became dangerously quiet.
"She's a four-year-old girl."
"I know."
"She's Mia's daughter."
"I know."
"Then what aren't you telling me?"
Claire's lips trembled.
"Harper is the reason Mia came to this house."
Dominic stared.
"Explain."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know the whole story."
"But you know enough."
Claire nodded.
"Yes."
"Then start talking."
Three years earlier.
Mia Carter had arrived at Vale Estate carrying one suitcase.
She had no references.
No recommendations.
No connection to the family.
Yet Dominic's father had personally approved her employment.
At the time, Dominic had been in Europe.
He had never questioned it.
His father had always hired people without explaining why.
Mia had worked quietly.
She never complained.
She never asked for money.
She never tried to move into the main house.
She simply worked.
And every night, after Harper went to sleep, Mia checked the locks.
Every morning, she checked the security cameras.
Dominic had assumed she was cautious.
He hadn't realized she was watching for someone.
Claire slowly continued.
"Three years ago, someone threatened Mia."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"What did they want?"
"Harper."
Dominic's expression hardened.
"Why?"
"Because they believed Harper carried something."
"Something?"
Claire nodded.
"Something your father had hidden."
Dominic stared.
"What?"
"DNA."
He said nothing.
Claire continued.
"Your father's final project wasn't financial."
"What was it?"
"A biological program."
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
"What kind?"
"Genetic identification."
"Why?"
"To find someone."
"Who?"
Claire looked at him.
"The last surviving member of a bloodline."
Dominic felt a strange chill.
"And Harper is that person?"
"I don't know."
"Then why did someone want her?"
"Because your father believed she was."
Dominic turned away.
The pieces were beginning to form.
Mia.
Harper.
His father.
The hidden cellar.
The ledger.
The man pretending to be his father.
And Claire.
All connected.
But one question remained.
"Why did you help them?"
Claire's face crumpled.
"I didn't know they would hurt Mia."
"That's not an answer."
"I thought they would take her away."
"Who?"
"I don't know!"
Dominic slammed his hand against the desk.
Claire flinched.
"You know something."
She stared at him.
"Yes."
"Tell me."
She whispered:
"I know where the ledger is."
Dominic went completely still.
"Where?"
Claire looked toward the wall.
"Your father's old study."
"That's impossible."
"He hid it there."
"That room has been locked for twelve years."
"Exactly."
Dominic stepped closer.
"How do you know?"
Claire swallowed.
"Because I opened it."
The old study was located at the far end of the estate.
Dominic hadn't entered it since his father's funeral.
The room smelled of dust and old wood.
His father's desk remained exactly where it had been.
Books.
Documents.
A broken clock.
A framed photograph.
Nothing had changed.
Or so Dominic thought.
Claire stood near the fireplace.
"The ledger is here."
"Where?"
She pointed toward the bookshelf.
"Behind the third row."
Dominic moved the books.
Nothing.
Claire walked closer.
"Not those."
She removed a red book.
Then another.
Then pressed her finger against the wall.
A click sounded.
The bookshelf shifted.
A narrow compartment appeared.
Dominic stared.
Inside was a black ledger.
Old.
Heavy.
Covered in dust.
He picked it up.
There was a symbol stamped on the front.
A circle.
With seventeen lines running through it.
Dominic's stomach tightened.
"What is this?"
Claire whispered:
"Your father's secret."
Dominic opened it.
The first page contained names.
Dates.
Payments.
Hospitals.
Doctors.
Children.
He turned another page.
Then another.
His breathing became shallow.
The names continued.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
At the bottom of one page was a name he recognized.
MIA CARTER.
Next to it:
STATUS: PROTECTED.
Dominic's fingers froze.
He turned the page.
HARPER CARTER.
Next to it:
STATUS: PRIMARY SUBJECT.
Dominic looked at Claire.
"You knew."
Claire nodded.
"I knew Harper was connected."
"Connected to what?"
"I don't know."
Dominic turned another page.
The final entry was dated three years ago.
The handwriting was his father's.
IF MIA RETURNS, DO NOT TRUST HER.
Dominic stared at the sentence.
Then something caught his eye beneath it.
A second line.
Written in different ink.
IF HARPER RETURNS, PROTECT HER FROM EVERYONE.
Dominic looked at Claire.
"Who wrote this?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
Dominic turned the page.
There was a photograph.
A baby.
Harper.
But the photograph had been taken immediately after her birth.
On the back was a note.
THE CHILD MUST NEVER KNOW WHO HER FATHER IS.
Dominic's heart stopped.
He looked at Claire.
"What?"
She stared at the photograph.
"I told you."
"Told me what?"
"Harper isn't just an heir."
Dominic waited.
Claire whispered:
"She's your father's granddaughter."
He frowned.
"That's impossible."
Claire shook her head.
"No."
She looked toward the door.
"What's impossible is what comes next."
"What?"
"Your father wasn't trying to protect Harper from the family."
She swallowed.
"He was trying to protect the family from Harper's father."
Dominic stared.
"Who is he?"
Claire's eyes filled with fear.
"I don't know."
"Claire."
"I swear."
Then a voice came from behind them.
"I do."
Dominic spun around.
Nathan stood in the doorway.
His face was pale.
His hands were empty.
And for the first time since Dominic had known him, Nathan looked terrified.
Dominic raised his weapon.
"You have five seconds."
Nathan stared at him.
"The man you're looking for..."
He swallowed.
"...is already inside the estate."
Dominic's finger tightened around the weapon.
"Who?"
Nathan looked at Claire.
Then at the ledger.
Then at Dominic.
"Your father's only surviving son."
Silence.
Dominic's face went blank.
"My father had one son."
Nathan shook his head.
"That's what everyone was supposed to believe."
Dominic stepped closer.
"Who is he?"
Nathan whispered:
"Mia knows."
At that exact moment, every light in the estate went out.
A gunshot echoed from upstairs.
May you like
Then Harper screamed.
Dominic ran.
