Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN IN THE VIDEO
Cynthia ran.
Madeline followed her through the hallway.
“Stop!”
Cynthia slammed the door behind her.
Madeline tried the handle.
Locked.
Rachel arrived seconds later.
“Move.”
Rachel opened it with a hairpin.
Inside, Cynthia was standing beside the window.
“Stay away from me.”
Madeline closed the door.
“Who is Austin's father?”
Cynthia shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“You'll get yourself killed.”
Rachel stepped forward.
“That's a serious statement.”
Cynthia looked at her.
“I'm not talking to an attorney.”
“You are now.”
Cynthia began crying.
It was the first time Madeline had ever seen her look afraid.
“I never wanted this.”
“Then what did you want?”
“I wanted Jeffrey.”
Madeline almost laughed.
“You got him.”
“No.”
Cynthia wiped her face.
“I thought I got him.”
She looked toward the door.
“Noelle controlled everything.”
“How?”
“She knew about the trust.”
“Who told her?”
“Your father.”
Madeline froze.
“My father?”
Cynthia nodded.
“Years ago.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“Your father and Noelle were business partners.”
Madeline stared.
She had never heard that.
Cynthia continued.
“They had a company together before you married Jeffrey.”
“What company?”
“Carter Holdings.”
Madeline shook her head.
“My father owned Carter Holdings.”
“No.”
Cynthia's voice trembled.
“He only appeared to.”
Rachel stepped closer.
“Where are the documents?”
Cynthia pointed toward the wall.
“Behind the painting.”
Rachel removed it.
There was a safe.
Inside were old contracts.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And a letter.
Madeline recognized her father's handwriting.
She opened it.
Noelle,
If anything happens to me, Liam's trust must remain protected from Jeffrey. He has become increasingly reckless. If Madeline ever leaves the marriage, make sure my grandson's inheritance remains untouched.
Madeline read it twice.
Her father had known.
He had feared Jeffrey.
But another document was attached.
A DNA report.
Austin's name was on it.
Madeline's hands went cold.
The report showed Austin was not Jeffrey's biological son.
Cynthia began sobbing.
“I told you.”
“Who is his father?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Then why were you protecting him?”
“Because he was innocent.”
Madeline looked at her.
“You helped destroy my son.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
Cynthia's eyes filled with tears.
“Because Noelle threatened me.”
“With what?”
“My baby.”
Madeline went still.
“Austin is not her grandson.”
“No.”
“Then whose baby is he?”
Cynthia whispered,
“He belongs to someone Noelle was trying to destroy.”
Before Madeline could ask more, the house alarm went off.
Rachel looked at her phone.
“Someone entered through the back gate.”
Madeline grabbed Liam.
They rushed upstairs.
A black SUV sat outside.
Two men got out.
Jeffrey appeared behind them.
“Madeline, take Liam and lock yourselves in the bedroom.”
“Who are they?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
He looked terrified.
Then one of the men raised a weapon.
Rachel pulled Madeline down.
Glass shattered.
Madeline screamed.
Liam buried his face in her chest.
Jeffrey shouted,
“Get down!”
The men fled seconds later.
Police arrived.
But something was missing.
The safe.
The documents.
Everything was gone.
Except one piece of paper.
Madeline picked it up.
On it was a single sentence.
YOUR FATHER DIDN'T DIE NATURALLY.
May you like
She looked at Jeffrey.
He couldn't meet her eyes.
