Chapter twelve.

CHLOE'S POV

I stared at the photograph on Ethan's tablet.

Edward Rourke stood beside a younger Margaret Rourke at what appeared to be a charity event. They were smiling, surrounded by wealthy guests.

There was nothing unusual about the picture.

Except for the message Samuel had left behind.

The person who ordered Edward's murder is still close to the Rourke family.

And the photograph of Margaret had been attached deliberately.

I looked at Damian.

He hadn't moved.

"That's my grandmother," he said quietly.

"I know."

He took the tablet from Ethan and examined the photograph.

"Why would Samuel send this?"

"Perhaps he's trying to tell us something," Ethan replied.

Damian's eyes narrowed.

"Or he's trying to make us suspect the wrong person."

I looked at the photograph again.

"Could your grandmother have been involved?"

Damian turned towards me.

"Margaret raised me after my father died. She has protected this family for years."

"I didn't say she was guilty."

"I know what you're asking."

His voice was controlled, but I could see the anger beneath it.

I understood.

The possibility that someone he loved could be connected to his father's murder was painful.

"Damian, we shouldn't accuse anyone without evidence."

He looked at me for a moment before nodding.

"You're right."

He handed the tablet back to Ethan.

"Find out when and where this photograph was taken. I want the original source, not another copy from an anonymous sender."

"Understood, sir."

---

ROURKE MANSION — LATER THAT NIGHT

Margaret was in the sitting room when we entered.

She looked up from her book.

"You're both still awake?"

Damian approached her.

"Grandma, I need to ask you something."

She closed her book.

"That sounds serious."

He placed the photograph on the table.

Margaret studied it.

"Where did you get this?"

"Someone sent it with a message suggesting the person who killed Father is still close to our family."

Her expression changed.

"Who sent it?"

"Samuel Summers."

Margaret slowly removed her reading glasses.

"Samuel?"

"You know him?"

She looked towards the photograph again.

"I knew of him. Your father mentioned him several times."

"What was their relationship?"

"Business acquaintances, initially. Later, I believe Edward suspected he was involved in something dangerous."

My attention sharpened.

"What kind of danger?"

Margaret shook her head.

"Your father never explained. He only told me that Samuel had information about Isabella."

Damian leaned forward.

"Did Father ever accuse you of hiding anything?"

Margaret looked at him sharply.

"Why would you ask me that?"

"Because Samuel sent this photograph."

She stared at her grandson.

"Damian, are you suggesting I had something to do with your father's death?"

"I'm asking questions."

Margaret stood.

"I loved your father more than anything. I spent years watching you grow up without him. Don't you dare confuse an old photograph with evidence."

Her voice trembled.

For the first time since I had met her, Margaret looked genuinely hurt.

Damian lowered his gaze.

"I'm sorry, Grandma."

She turned away.

"I think we should discuss this tomorrow."

She walked out of the sitting room.

Damian remained silent.

I gently touched his arm.

"You didn't do anything wrong by asking."

He looked at me.

"I know. But I hate that someone is making me question the people I love."

I understood that feeling more than he realised.

My entire family was becoming a mystery I no longer recognised.

---

THE FOLLOWING MORNING

Victoria called before I had finished breakfast.

"Chloe, I found something."

I immediately stepped away from the dining table.

"What is it?"

"I traced the company that made the payment to your father's business after Isabella disappeared."

"Who owns it?"

"That's the interesting part. It was registered under a different name, but its original shareholders included someone connected to the Rourke family."

My heart quickened.

"Who?"

"An old business partner of Edward Rourke. His name is Victor Hale."

I frowned.

"Is he related to you?"

"No relation. Just an unfortunate coincidence."

"Does Damian know him?"

"I don't know. But the company transferred money to Richard Summers shortly after Isabella disappeared. The payment was approved by Victor Hale's office."

I looked towards the window.

"Can you send me the documents?"

"I will. But Chloe, there's something else. I found an old address associated with Samuel. He rented an apartment under a different name after leaving the country."

"Where?"

Victoria gave me the address.

"Don't go there alone. I'll send someone to verify whether he's still using it."

"All right."

After the call, I returned to the dining room.

Pearl was sitting across from me.

She looked up.

"Who was that?"

"Victoria."

"Your lawyer?"

I nodded.

Pearl smiled.

"You spend a lot of time with her."

"She's helping me with something important."

"Something about Damian?"

I placed my glass down.

"Why do you keep asking?"

She shrugged.

"Just curious."

I studied her face.

"Pearl, have you ever heard of Victor Hale?"

Her smile disappeared.

Only for a second.

Then she shook her head.

"No."

I watched her carefully.

"Are you sure?"

"Why would I know him?"

I didn't answer.

But I had noticed her reaction.

And I intended to find out why his name seemed familiar to her.

---

ROURKE GLOBAL HOLDINGS

Damian was in a meeting when I arrived.

Ethan led me into his office.

"Mr. Rourke will be here shortly."

I nodded and placed Victoria's documents on the desk.

A few minutes later, Damian entered.

"Chloe."

"I found something about the payment made to my father's company."

I handed him the papers.

He examined them.

"Victor Hale?"

"Victoria traced the payment to a company associated with him."

Damian looked up.

"Victor was my father's business partner."

"Was?"

"He left the company years ago after a disagreement with my father."

"Do you know why?"

Damian shook his head.

"Father never discussed the details with me."

I sat down.

"Could he have been involved in Isabella's disappearance?"

"It's possible."

Damian picked up his phone.

"Ethan, I need everything you can find on Victor Hale. His business dealings, personal connections and movements around the time my father died."

"Yes, sir."

Damian ended the call.

Then he looked at me.

"There's something else you should know."

"What?"

"Grandma told me she received a letter from Isabella shortly before Edward died."

I sat up.

"What did it say?"

"She couldn't remember the exact wording, but Isabella asked her to protect Edward."

"Protect him from whom?"

"She didn't say."

I frowned.

"Does your grandmother still have the letter?"

"She says it disappeared."

I thought about Samuel's photograph.

"Maybe someone took it."

Damian nodded.

"That's what I suspect."

My phone vibrated.

An email from Victoria.

She had attached an old photograph of Victor Hale.

I opened it.

My breath caught.

The man standing beside Victor was not my father.

It was James Thornton.

My former husband.

Or rather, the man who would have become my husband in my first life.

I stared at the photograph.

"Damian?"

He looked up.

"What's wrong?"

I turned the phone towards him.

"Do you know this man?"

He studied the image.

"James Thornton. Why?"

"He was connected to Victor Hale."

Damian frowned.

"Do you know something about their relationship?"

I hesitated.

In my first life, James had been involved with Pearl. He had betrayed me, stolen from me and helped destroy my life.

But I had never known about any connection to the Rourkes.

"No," I finally answered. "Not yet."

Damian noticed my hesitation.

"Chloe, what aren't you telling me?"

I looked at him.

"James has a history with my family. I don't trust him."

"Then we'll investigate him too."

---

SUMMERS ESTATE — AFTERNOON

I returned home determined to speak with Pearl.

She was in the garden, speaking on her phone.

When she noticed me, she quickly ended the call.

"Chloe. You're back."

"Who were you speaking to?"

"A friend."

"James?"

Her expression changed.

"Why would you ask that?"

I took out my phone and showed her the photograph of James standing beside Victor Hale.

She stared at it.

"Where did you get this?"

"So you know him?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then why are you asking where I got it?"

She returned my phone.

"You're always looking for reasons to accuse me of something."

I crossed my arms.

"Pearl, what is your connection to Victor Hale?"

"I don't have one."

"Then why did you look frightened when I mentioned his name this morning?"

She laughed nervously.

"You're imagining things."

I stepped closer.

"Be careful, Pearl. Whatever you're hiding, I will find out."

Her expression hardened.

"You think you're better than everyone now because you're marrying Damian Rourke?"

"No. I simply refuse to let people use me anymore."

I turned to leave.

Then Pearl spoke.

"James isn't the only person who knows about your little investigation."

I stopped.

"What does that mean?"

She smiled.

"Perhaps you should ask your fiancé what happened to the last person who tried to investigate his father's murder."

I turned around, but she had already walked away.

---

ROURKE MANSION — NIGHT

Damian was waiting in the library when I arrived.

I told him about Pearl's strange reaction and her warning.

He listened carefully.

"She's involved somehow," he said.

"That's what I'm beginning to suspect."

Before he could respond, Margaret entered.

She looked unusually serious.

"Damian, I need to speak with you."

He stood.

"What happened?"

Margaret held out a small envelope.

"I found this in Edward's old study. It was hidden behind a loose panel in his desk."

Damian took it.

His hands became still when he saw the handwriting.

"Isabella."

Margaret nodded.

"I didn't know it was there until the housekeeper found the loose panel this afternoon."

He carefully opened the envelope.

Inside was a folded letter.

He began reading silently.

Then his expression changed.

"What does it say?" I asked.

He handed it to me.

The letter was short.

Edward,

If you are reading this, then I failed to protect you. I discovered who has been arranging the payments and why your business partner wants you gone. Please don't trust Victor Hale.

There is someone inside your family helping him.

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you everything.

Isabella.

I slowly lowered the letter.

Damian looked at his grandmother.

"Who else knew about this letter?"

Margaret shook her head.

"Nobody."

Damian's jaw tightened.

"Then how did it end up hidden in Father's desk?"

Before anyone could answer, Ethan rushed into the library.

"Sir, we've identified the man from the security footage."

Damian turned.

"Who is he?"

Ethan hesitated.

"His name is Victor Hale."

The room went silent.

Then Ethan added something that made Margaret drop into the nearest chair.

"There's another development. Mr. Hale has been seen entering this mansion several times over the past month."

Damian stared at him.

"Entering my home?"

"Yes, sir."

Margaret covered her mouth.

I looked from her to Damian.

Someone had been visiting the Rourke mansion secretly.

Someone Edward's former fiancée had warned him not to trust.

And that person was now connected to the man who had threatened us.

To be continued...