Chapter 6: The Threat In The Dark
Clara stared at the message on her phone.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
The words were simple.
Short.
But they carried a warning that felt heavier than any weapon.
Stop digging into Evelyn Ashford’s death… or Emma will be next.
Adrian noticed the change in her face.
“What happened?”
Clara quickly locked the screen.
“Nothing.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
He had spent his entire life reading people.
And Clara Bennett was not someone who lied easily.
“Give me the phone.”
She hesitated.
“Mr. Ashford—”
“Clara.”
It was not a command from a billionaire.
It was the voice of a father.
A father who had already almost lost his daughter once.
Slowly, Clara handed him the phone.
The second Adrian read the message, something inside him changed.
The businessman disappeared.
The ruthless man disappeared.
Only a protective father remained.
“Mateo.”
His friend immediately stepped forward.
“Find who sent this.”
“Already working on it.”
Adrian looked at Clara.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her eyes dropped.
“Because every time I tell powerful people the truth, someone gets hurt.”
The answer surprised him.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she sounded experienced.
“How many times has this happened?”
Clara stayed silent.
Adrian understood.
Too many.
Before he could ask more, a loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Mateo reached for his weapon.
Adrian moved toward the door.
“Stay here.”
But Clara followed.
“I’m coming.”
“This isn’t safe.”
She looked at him.
“Neither was leaving Emma alone tonight.”
Adrian had no answer.
Together, they walked into the hallway.
The mansion lights flickered.
The security system was offline.
That was impossible.
Only three people had access to the main controls.
Adrian.
Mateo.
And Daniel Cross.
Then they saw it.
The front doors were open.
Cold rain blew across the marble floor.
And on the ground was an envelope.
Adrian picked it up.
Inside was a single photograph.
His blood ran cold.
It was Emma.
Sleeping.
Taken inside her bedroom.
Tonight.
On the back of the photograph were six words:
I was already inside your home.
Adrian looked around the mansion.
A place he had spent millions protecting.
A place he believed was untouchable.
But someone had entered.
Someone had watched his daughter sleep.
Someone had known everything.
Suddenly, Clara grabbed his arm.
“Mr. Ashford.”
Her voice was shaking.
He turned.
“What?”
She pointed toward the staircase.
At the top step stood Vanessa.
But she wasn’t alone.
Beside her was a man Adrian recognized instantly.
Daniel Cross.
His oldest friend.
The man who had supposedly helped him survive the loss of Evelyn.
Daniel smiled faintly.
“Adrian.”
A long silence followed.
May you like
Then Daniel said the words that destroyed everything.
“I think it’s time you learned what really happened to your wife.”
