Chapter 2: The Call That Came Too Soon
Marcus got Lily out of the ballroom and into a private car before anyone noticed they were gone.
She fell asleep against his shoulder before they reached the highway.
He didn't move.
Didn't make a call.
Just sat in the dark with the folded note in his fist and let her breathe.
Back at the house, he put her to bed, closed her door, and stood in the hallway for a long moment.
Then he went to his study and opened the floor safe.
The file was still there.
Exactly where he'd left it seven years ago.
He sat down and stared at it without opening it.
His phone buzzed.
Not the unknown number this time.
His business partner.
Daniel.
Marcus picked up.
"I heard there was an incident at the gala," Daniel said.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Is Lily alright?"
Marcus didn't answer right away.
"How did you know about that?" he said quietly.
"I didn't tell anyone."
Silence on the line.
Then Daniel said, "Word travels fast at these things, Marcus.
You know that."
But Marcus did know that.
He also knew Daniel had left the gala early — before the lights went out.
He looked down at the file in his hands.
"Daniel," he said slowly.
"Where exactly did you go tonight?"
The silence that followed was three seconds too long.
---
May you like
What Daniel said next made Marcus's bl00d run cold — and it changed everything he thought he knew about the past seven years.
Click the link below to read the full story.
