Chapter 5 - THE SECRET ELENA NEVER TOLD
Sadie couldn't speak.
Roman stared at the phone.
The word echoed between them.
Daddy.
“No,” Sadie whispered.
Roman looked at her.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“Elena would have told me.”
Roman's expression darkened.
“She didn't tell either of us.”
The silence was unbearable.
Roman had known Elena before he met Sadie.
She had worked for one of his companies.
He trusted her.
Respected her.
But he'd never been romantically involved with her.
At least, that was what he claimed.
Sadie stared.
“Is Sophie yours?”
Roman shook his head.
“No.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I never had a relationship with Elena.”
Sadie's eyes filled.
“Then why would Sophie call you Daddy?”
Roman looked away.
“I don't know.”
The mystery deepened.
Detective Rebecca Hale, who had been working with federal investigators, reviewed the drawing.
She explained that a child's use of the word Daddy did not establish biological parentage.
It might reflect a nickname.
A misunderstanding.
Or a role someone had encouraged the child to believe.
Sadie listened.
But her mind kept returning to Elena.
What had happened during those missing years?
What secrets had she carried?
That evening, Rebecca received a message.
An encrypted email.
From Elena.
The message contained one sentence.
DON'T TRUST THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE PHOTOGRAPH.
Sadie stared.
Roman had brought the photograph.
She looked at him.
His face had gone completely still.
Then another message arrived.
ASK HIM ABOUT THE NIGHT AT THE PENTHOUSE.
Sadie's stomach turned.
The basement.
The screaming.
The blood.
May you like
Roman closed his eyes.
For the first time, he looked like a man who had run out of places to hide.
