CHAPTER 3 (PART 2)
The words struck the room like thunder.
"Charles Blackwell did not die of a heart attack."
For several long seconds, no one moved.
Nathan stared at Vanessa as though he had never seen her before.
His voice was barely audible.
"What... did you just say?"
Vanessa looked strangely calm now.
The fear that had consumed her earlier was gone.
Almost as if telling the truth had become easier than continuing the lie.
"I said your father didn't die naturally."
Mrs. Blackwell gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself.
"You're lying."
Vanessa slowly shook her head.
"I wish I were."
The Night Charles Died
Nathan took one step closer.
"Explain."
Vanessa looked toward the rain-covered windows before speaking.
"Six years ago..."
"The night Charles died..."
"He wasn't alone."
The room became silent.
"He had arranged to meet someone inside the old boathouse."
"The meeting lasted almost an hour."
Nathan frowned.
"My father never told anyone."
"He couldn't."
Vanessa answered quietly.
"Because he was trying to protect someone."
"Who?"
She looked directly at him.
"Daniel."
Nathan's chest tightened.
His unknown brother.
Charles had still been searching for him shortly before his death.
Vanessa continued.
"Charles planned to announce everything."
"The second family."
"The second will."
"The shares."
"The inheritance."
Mrs. Blackwell whispered,
"He finally found the courage..."
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes."
"But someone else found out first."
A Murder Disguised as Nature
Nathan felt cold.
"Who?"
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"I don't know his real name."
"I only knew him as Mr. Gray."
Marcus, the security chief, immediately wrote the name down.
"Go on."
"He worked for someone connected to the company."
"He handled problems."
"What kind of problems?"
Vanessa answered softly.
"Problems that couldn't be solved legally."
Nathan felt sick.
"My father..."
"He argued with Mr. Gray that night."
"I heard them."
"You were there?"
Vanessa nodded.
"I followed Charles."
"Why?"
"Because..."
She hesitated.
"...I already knew about the second will."
Nathan's face hardened.
"You've known for years?"
She nodded once.
"I found documents while helping organize your father's office after your engagement."
"Instead of telling me..."
"I was afraid."
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"Afraid?"
"You hid everything."
Vanessa lowered her head.
"I thought if Daniel appeared..."
"...you would lose half of everything."
Nathan's voice became ice.
"So you chose money."
"No."
She whispered.
"I chose you."
The Real Villain
Marcus interrupted.
"What happened inside the boathouse?"
Vanessa answered slowly.
"I couldn't hear every word."
"But I heard Charles say..."
She swallowed.
"'You'll never touch my sons.'"
Nathan's breathing became uneven.
"Then?"
"There was shouting."
"A struggle."
"When I reached the door..."
"Mr. Gray was leaving."
"And Charles?"
"He was on the floor."
Mrs. Blackwell burst into tears.
Vanessa continued.
"He was still alive."
"He told me..."
She closed her eyes.
"'Protect Nathan.'"
Nathan's heart broke.
"My father..."
"He smiled."
"And then..."
"...he stopped breathing."
The room was silent except for Mrs. Blackwell's quiet sobs.
The Medical Report
The family attorney suddenly spoke.
"The death certificate."
"It said cardiac arrest."
Vanessa nodded.
"It wasn't completely false."
Marcus frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"He was injected."
Everyone stared.
"Injected with what?"
"A drug."
"It causes massive heart failure."
"The symptoms look almost identical to a natural heart attack."
Nathan whispered,
"So nobody investigated."
Vanessa shook her head.
"No."
Marcus immediately spoke into his radio.
"Contact state police."
"I want Charles Blackwell's original autopsy reopened."
Ben Notices Something
While the adults argued...
Ben quietly wandered toward the window.
He looked outside into the rain.
Then suddenly frowned.
"Mommy."
Emma walked over.
"What is it?"
"The black car."
"What black car?"
He pointed toward the far end of the driveway.
A black SUV sat partially hidden behind tall oak trees.
Its headlights remained off.
Someone was watching the mansion.
Emma immediately alerted Marcus.
Marcus grabbed binoculars.
His expression changed instantly.
"We've got company."
Nathan walked over.
"What do you see?"
Marcus answered quietly.
"The driver is wearing a gray coat."
Vanessa's eyes grew wide.
"No..."
Nathan looked at her.
"What?"
She whispered,
"That's him."
Marcus turned sharply.
"Mr. Gray?"
Vanessa nodded.
"Run."
"What?"
"Run!"
The Escape Attempt
Almost instantly...
The black SUV roared to life.
Its engine thundered across the estate.
Marcus shouted,
"Stop that vehicle!"
Security SUVs accelerated toward the front gate.
The mysterious driver crashed through the open entrance before anyone could block him.
Tires screamed across wet pavement.
Nathan watched through the rain.
"He knows we've found the evidence."
Marcus nodded.
"And now he knows Vanessa talked."
Vanessa suddenly looked terrified.
"He'll kill me."
Nathan looked at her.
"You helped hide the truth."
"I know."
"But I never wanted Charles to die."
Her voice cracked.
"I've been living with that guilt every day."
Nathan remained silent.
For the first time all evening...
He believed her.
She had lied.
She had concealed evidence.
But murder...
That fear in her eyes couldn't be faked.
Emma's Discovery
Emma suddenly remembered her grandmother again.
"Evelyn Foster..."
Nathan turned.
"My grandmother kept everything."
"What do you mean?"
"She never threw away letters."
"Or photographs."
"Or journals."
Mrs. Blackwell slowly stood.
"If Charles trusted Evelyn..."
"...then she may have kept copies."
Nathan's eyes lit with hope.
"The cedar chest."
Emma nodded.
"It's still in my apartment."
Marcus immediately spoke.
"I'll send officers."
Emma shook her head.
"No."
"If someone really murdered Charles..."
"They may already be watching my home."
Nathan looked toward Marcus.
"She's right."
Marcus nodded grimly.
"We all go together."
A New Clue
Just as everyone prepared to leave...
The IT technician called out from the study.
"Mr. Blackwell!"
Nathan hurried over.
"What is it?"
"I recovered one deleted email from Charles' computer."
Nathan leaned closer.
The email had never been sent.
Its subject line read:
If anything happens to me...
He opened it.
Only one sentence appeared.
Trust Evelyn. She has the final proof hidden beneath the blue cedar chest.
Emma gasped.
"My grandmother..."
Nathan looked at her.
"Looks like we're going to your apartment."
Outside...
Lightning split the night sky over Blackwell Estate.
Far beyond the gates...
The black SUV waited silently on a deserted road.
Inside...
A man in a gray coat watched the mansion through binoculars.
He smiled coldly.
"So..."
"They finally found the first clue."
He picked up his phone.
"It's time."
A second voice answered from the darkness.
"Should we eliminate them?"
The man looked toward the distant lights of the mansion.
"No."
"Let them find the chest."
"They're bringing the evidence..."
"...straight to us."
May you like
End of Chapter 3 (Part 2).
To be continued in Chapter 4...
