Chapter 6 - Claire’s Recording
Daniel listened alone.
Claire’s voice filled Rebecca’s conference room.
“I found the amended trust filing.”
A second voice answered.
Margaret.
“You had no business looking.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
Claire sounded frightened but steady.
“Noah is Daniel’s son.”
“You can't prove that.”
“I won't need to. Daniel will test him himself.”
Margaret laughed softly.
“You underestimate grief.”
The recording crackled.
Then Claire asked:
“What did you do, Margaret?”
Silence.
“You created Lucas.”
Margaret’s response was quiet.
“Careful, Claire.”
“Michael never had a son.”
“You don’t know what Michael did.”
“I know the signature on that acknowledgment was dated eight months after Michael died.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Then Margaret said:
“You have a newborn baby. Think carefully about how much trouble you want.”
The recording ended.
Daniel sat motionless.
Rebecca whispered:
“Claire gave me that recording because she was scared.”
“Why wasn't this given to police after she died?”
“Because Claire’s death was medically documented. There was no evidence anyone caused it.”
Daniel understood.
Claire had suffered postpartum complications.
Her death was tragic, but doctors found nothing suspicious.
Margaret hadn't needed to hurt Claire physically.
Claire’s death had simply removed the only person investigating her.
Daniel took the flash drive.
Rebecca grabbed his arm.
“Don't confront Margaret yet.”
Daniel looked at her.
“She threatened my wife.”
“And if she forged documents worth forty-two million dollars, she has spent years protecting herself.”
Rebecca recommended a forensic accountant and an independent DNA laboratory.
Daniel agreed.
But he made one mistake.
He underestimated how closely Margaret was watching him.
Two days after his meeting with Rebecca, Margaret invited Noah to the mansion.
She claimed she wanted peace.
Daniel initially refused.
Then Margaret said:
“I owe that child an apology.”
Daniel wanted to believe even she had limits.
So he agreed to bring Noah himself.
But before Daniel arrived, his nanny received a message apparently from Daniel saying he would meet them there.
It was fake.
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Noah was delivered to Margaret alone.
And by the time Daniel discovered the message hadn't come from his phone, he was already racing toward the mansion.
