Chapter 2 - THE KEY TO THE EMPIRE
Daniel stared at the photograph.
His fingers trembled.
The man standing beside his father was younger in the picture, but there was no mistaking him.
The same sharp jaw.
The same silver eyes.
The same cold expression.
Arthur Ashford.
Victoria's grandfather.
Daniel slowly lifted his gaze.
“Why is my grandfather standing with my father?”
Victoria took a step backward.
“I don't know.”
Evelyn watched her carefully.
“You do.”
“No, I don't!”
“You knew the name Hartwell before you met Daniel.”
Victoria's eyes widened.
Daniel turned toward her.
“What does she mean?”
Evelyn held the black key between two fingers.
“Your father's company was called Hartwell Financial.”
Daniel frowned.
“I know that name.”
“You know the name because your father supposedly worked there.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“He didn't work there, Daniel.”
Daniel's breathing slowed.
“He founded it.”
The words seemed to hit him harder than the garden hose ever could.
“What?”
“Your father built Hartwell Financial from nothing. He created the investment system that turned a small regional fund into one of the most powerful financial institutions in the country.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“Because you were told he died with nothing.”
Evelyn glanced toward the mansion.
“Your father died in a car accident. The company was worth billions.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Billions?”
Victoria suddenly stepped forward.
“This is insane.”
Evelyn turned to her.
“Is it?”
Victoria's lips parted.
“You can't just come here and make accusations.”
“I am not making accusations.”
Evelyn held up the photograph.
“I am showing my son the truth.”
Daniel looked at the black key.
“What does this open?”
“Your father's private archive.”
“Where is it?”
Evelyn looked toward the house.
“Under this property.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“This property?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Your father bought this estate twenty-three years ago.”
Daniel slowly looked around.
The mansion.
The garden.
The white stone walls.
The guests.
The Ashford family.
“Why is it owned by them?”
“Because after your father died, your uncle transferred everything.”
Daniel's voice became almost inaudible.
“I don't have an uncle.”
“You do.”
Evelyn looked at Arthur Ashford's photograph.
“His name is Thomas Hart.”
Daniel stared at the image.
“Who is that?”
“The man you just saw walk inside.”
At that exact moment, the mansion doors opened.
Thomas Hart stepped out.
He was sixty-two years old.
Elegant.
Composed.
But his face had lost all color.
He looked at Evelyn.
Then at the key.
Then at Daniel.
“Evelyn,” he said.
Daniel turned.
“You know my mother?”
Thomas's expression tightened.
“I knew your father.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Thomas looked at Evelyn.
“You shouldn't have come here.”
Evelyn smiled.
“No, Thomas.”
She held the key up.
“I should have come much earlier.”
The guests began whispering.
Victoria grabbed Daniel's arm.
“Please. We need to talk privately.”
Daniel pulled his arm away.
“No.”
“Daniel—”
“No.”
He looked at Evelyn.
“Tell me everything.”
Evelyn stared at him.
Then she glanced at the thirty guests.
“Not here.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then we go somewhere else.”
Victoria stepped in front of him.
“You can't leave.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Watch me.”
The engagement party was over.
Nobody announced it.
Nobody needed to.
The celebration collapsed into silence as Daniel followed his mother toward the side gate.
Evelyn stopped before leaving.
She looked back at Victoria.
“You should change your dress.”
Victoria's eyes burned.
“Why?”
“Because you are going to need something darker.”
Then Evelyn walked away.
Daniel followed.
Behind them, Victoria stood frozen in the garden.
And in the mansion, Thomas Hart made one phone call.
“She's found the key.”
The voice on the other end was silent.
May you like
Then came the reply.
“Then the boy must disappear before she opens the archive.”
