Chapter 7 - THE SECRET BENEATH BLACKRIDGE
The anonymous message became the center of the investigation.
Rebecca shared it with the authorities.
Financial investigators began reviewing Blackridge's records.
They found irregular payments.
False invoices.
And transfers connected to Caleb Mercer's identity.
But the most disturbing discovery involved land.
Thousands of acres of protected forest had been transferred through shell companies.
The paperwork listed legal timber operations.
But satellite imagery suggested unauthorized clearing.
I stared at the documents.
“That's environmental crime.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Potentially.”
Nathaniel looked grim.
“Caleb was right.”
Then investigators discovered something else.
Several payments had been made to a company connected to Daniel Reeves.
My stomach dropped.
“Daniel?”
Rebecca nodded.
“He may have been involved in the transactions.”
I stared.
The man who brought me coffee.
Who kissed me beneath the fire escape.
Who remembered my birthday.
He had known.
Maybe all along.
Rebecca continued.
“We don't yet know the extent of his involvement.”
I nodded.
But my heart already knew something had been terribly wrong.
That evening, Daniel called.
I answered.
“Emma.”
His voice sounded exhausted.
“Please don't hang up.”
I said nothing.
He continued.
“I need to tell you something.”
I waited.
“The gala wasn't supposed to happen that way.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Which part?”
He swallowed.
“Madeline.”
I closed my eyes.
“Don't.”
Daniel continued.
“Grant arranged it.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He told me I had to choose her.”
“Why?”
“Because the Cross family controls land Blackridge needs.”
I felt sick.
“And what was I?”
Silence.
“Daniel.”
He whispered:
“You were never supposed to get involved.”
I stared at the wall.
“What does that mean?”
He took a shaky breath.
“Grant told me to get close to you.”
The room went silent.
I whispered:
“What?”
Daniel began crying.
“He wanted to know what you'd found in payroll.”
I couldn't breathe.
Eleven months.
Coffee.
Messages.
Kisses.
Promises.
All of it.
I whispered:
“You were spying on me.”
Daniel said nothing.
I ended the call.
Then I sat on the floor and cried until my chest hurt.
May you like
Not because Daniel had chosen Madeline.
But because the relationship I'd been grieving had never been what I thought it was.
