PART 5: THE PERSON WATCHING THEM
PART 5: THE PERSON WATCHING THEM
Marcus stared at the message.
His fingers went cold.
The photo showed his house.
His front door.
Taken recently.
Someone had been there.
Watching.
Waiting.
And they knew about Lily.
“Sophie.”
His voice changed.
Everyone noticed.
She immediately understood something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Marcus turned the phone around.
The moment Daniel saw the image…
His face changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
That scared Marcus more than anything.
“You know who this is.”
It wasn’t a question.
Daniel looked away.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who?”
Daniel stayed silent.
Then Lily tugged on his shirt.
“Daddy?”
Daniel looked down.
And the anger disappeared from his face.
Only fear remained.
“Everyone needs to leave.”
The police officer stepped forward.
“We’re already handling this.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
His eyes moved to the windows.
“They don’t care about the police.”
“They’re not trying to scare us.”
“They’re trying to control us.”
Marcus tightened his jaw.
“Who are they?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then said:
“The people who wanted Lily before anyone knew she existed.”
The room went quiet.
Sophie looked confused.
“More people?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Mom and Dad weren’t the top.”
Everyone froze.
Richard, who had been silent, suddenly looked terrified.
Evelyn’s confidence disappeared.
Marcus noticed.
They weren’t just afraid of being arrested.
They were afraid of someone else.
Someone worse.
The police quickly searched the mansion.
But nothing was found.
No weapons.
No intruders.
No evidence.
Just the message.
And the photo.
The officer looked frustrated.
“We need more information.”
Daniel gave a bitter smile.
“You won’t find them.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re experts at disappearing.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You’ve known about them all this time?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?”
Daniel looked at Lily.
“Because every person I trusted was connected.”
The answer hurt.
Because Marcus understood.
This wasn’t just betrayal.
It was a family built on fear.
A family where everyone was hiding something.
Hours later, the mansion was cleared.
The party was over.
The guests were gone.
The police took Richard and Evelyn for questioning.
But Marcus refused to leave Lily alone.
He sat in the guest room.
The little girl asleep beside him.
Daniel sat across from him.
For a while, neither spoke.
Finally Marcus said:
“You owe me the truth.”
Daniel nodded.
“I know.”
“No more secrets.”
“I promise.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Start with who is after her.”
Daniel took a deep breath.
“My grandfather had a partner.”
Marcus frowned.
“Partner?”
“Yes.”
“Someone who helped build the family fortune.”
“But they had a disagreement.”
“And my grandfather cut him out.”
“His name?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Victor Blackwood.”
The name meant nothing to Marcus.
But Daniel’s expression told him everything.
“He’s dangerous.”
“How dangerous?”
Daniel was quiet.
Then:
“Dangerous enough to make people believe he doesn’t exist.”
Marcus leaned back.
“And what does he want?”
Daniel looked at Lily.
“The trust.”
“The inheritance.”
“But the money isn’t the real reason.”
Marcus frowned.
“What else?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“He wants control over the family.”
“Over everyone.”
Before Marcus could respond…
A sound came from downstairs.
A door opening.
Both men froze.
Daniel immediately stood.
“Stay here.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Lily.
“I’m not letting anyone near her.”
They moved carefully into the hallway.
The house was dark.
Too quiet.
Then they saw it.
A figure standing near the entrance.
A woman.
Holding something.
Daniel stopped.
“No.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Who is it?”
The woman stepped into the light.
And Marcus recognized her.
Sophie’s aunt.
A woman who had attended every family event.
A woman who had hugged Lily earlier.
A woman who acted like she cared.
But now…
She held a folder.
And a weapon.
Daniel whispered:
“Maria.”
The woman smiled sadly.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
Maria looked at Lily’s room.
Then answered:
“What everyone wants.”
“The child.”
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“You’re not taking her.”
Maria smiled.
“You still don’t understand.”
She lifted the folder.
“This isn’t about taking her.”
“It’s about proving she was never supposed to belong to you.”
Daniel froze.
“What did you do?”
Maria opened the folder.
Inside were old documents.
Birth records.
Medical files.
And one name circled in red.
Lily’s.
Marcus looked confused.
“What is that?”
Maria looked at Daniel.
And said:
“The truth.”
“Lily isn’t the heir.”
Silence.
Daniel stared.
“What?”
Maria smiled.
“She never was.”
Then she revealed the final page.
A DNA report.
And one sentence.
May you like
THE CHILD IS NOT A CARTER.
Everyone froze.
