Chapter Seven

Ryan looked stunned.

For just an instant, Damian’s expression softened.

Then Emily noticed it.

Ryan wasn’t looking at Damian anymore.

He gazed on the tracker thatDamian was holding in his right hand.

His face was pale.

Emily saw it.

“So you recognize that?”

Ryan’s eyes snapped to hers.

“No.”

“You reacted.”

“I did nott.”

“I know you did.”

Ryan took a step back.

“Emily, you need to leave this place.”

“Why?”

“Because it is no longer safe.”

“It seems you know a lot.”

Ryan shot him a glare.

“This doesn’t involve you.”

Damian’s voice was no longer loud.

“Tell me why I should go.”

Ryan opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

His phone rang, it rang loud enough for other hear it was ringing. So he took a quick glance at it to check who it was. It was MARGARET.

He rejected the call.

It rang again immediately.

He declined once more.

A message appeared.

Ryan read it.

He became furious.

Emily stared.

“What did the message say?”

“It said nothing.”

“Let me see.”

“No.”

Damian moved forward.

“Ryan.”

Ryan brought his face up.

“Show me what your mother sent you”

Ryan stayed silent.

Emily reached for the phone.

Ryan pulled it away.

“Emily, do not.”

That was what she needed.

She immediately figured out that what was on that screen was linked to everything going on now.

“Let me have the phone.”

“No.”

“Ryan.”

His voice was no croaky.

“You will not understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

They looked at each other for a while.

Eventually, he said softly:

“Your parents didn’t die in an accident.”

Emily froze.

“What?”

Ryan glanced at Damian.

Damian stood completely still.

“You heard me.”

Emily disagreed.

“No.”

Ryan swallowed.

“Your parents were investigating Carter Holdings before their death.”

Damian’s gaze sharpened.

“And you knew all along?”

Ryan paid him no mind.

Emily’s voice was unsteady.

“How long?”

“Emily—”

“How long have you been aware of this?”

Ryan turned the other side.

“Since before we got married.”

Emily looked at him in disappointment.

“You kept this secret?”

“I didn’t know the whole story.”

“You knew their deaths weren’t an accident?”

“I suspected.”

“You married me knowing that?”

Ryan closed his eyes.

“I loved you, you know.”

Emily giggled.

“You loved me?”

“I did.”

“Then why did you take money from my inheritance?”

Ryan looked at her.

Emily’s heart stopped.

She didn't mean to say it.

Hadn’t even realized it was true.

But Ryan’s reaction confirmed it.

Damian looked between them.

“What inheritance?”

Ryan said nothing.

Emily could no longer bear the silence and she stepped closer.

“What did you do with my parents’ money?”

Ryan opened his mouth.

Before he uttered a word, the doors of the ballroom flung open.

Everyone turned around.

A woman in a black suit walked in.

Margaret Carter.

Her expression was calm.

Very calm if you ask me.

She walked straight toward them.

“Ryan.”

He was shocked.

“Mom.”

She ignored him.

Her eyes settled on Emily.

Then shifted to Damian.

A faint smile touched her lips.

She looked at Emily.

“You’ve eventually met with the Knight boy.”

Damian’s expression changed.

“Don’t call me that.”

Margaret smiled.

“You have your father’s eyes.”

Damian stepped forward.

“You knew my Dad.”

“I knew him so well.”

Emily felt like every was crumbling on her.

Margaret turned to her.

“Your parents should have stayed out of Carter affairs.”

Emily’s blood turned cold.

“Can you repeat what you said?” The smile on Margaret's face was gone.

“You have no idea what they uncovered before they died.”

Damian’s voice is now louder than before.

“Margaret.”

She looked at him.

“You have wasted all your years looking for a way to pull down the Carters.”

“No.”

Her eyes moved back to Emily.

"Contrary to what you believe, I have spent all my years protecting what is left.”

Damian squeezed his face.

“From who?”

Margaret didn’t answer.

Instead, she fixed her gaze on Emily.

“Your parents were not the only ones who knew.”

Emily’s heart beat fast.

“Who else?”

Margaret smiled.

“Ask Victor Knight.”

Damian went rigid.

“My uncle?”

Margaret turned toward the door.

“Ask him why your father really died.”

She took three steps.

And then she paused.

Without turning, she added:

“And ask him who ordered the accident that killed Emily’s parents.”

There was heavy silence.

Then Margaret walked away.

Emily stood motionless.

Damian reached for her hand.

She let him take it.

His cellphone beeped and a message came in from an unknown number.

YOU'RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE, DAMIAN.

A second message arrived.

ASK EMILY ABOUT HER FATHER AND WHAT HE HAD LEFT BEHIND.

Damian slowly raised his eyes to hers.

She stared back.

“What?”

He didn’t reply.

His cellphone beeped yet again.

This time, an attachment.

A photo.

Damian opened it.

Emily moved closer.

“What is it?”

He turned the screen toward her.

She looked.

And shouted.

It was a picture of her parents.

Alive.

Standing beside Victor Knight.

Beneath it, a date:

THREE DAYS BEFORE THEIR DEATHS