Chapter 6: The Secret Account
Daniel immediately stood.
“We need to leave.””
I grabbed the folder.
“Where?””
“Somewhere Ellis doesn’t know.””
The panic in his voice scared me more than anything else.
Not because he was afraid for himself.
Because he was afraid for me.
We left the coffee shop separately.
Daniel walked five minutes ahead.
I waited outside a bookstore before following.
For the first time in my life, I understood what fear looked like when it had a name.
Ellis Carter.
The man I once loved.
The father of my child.
The man who had spent years building a beautiful prison around us.
Daniel took me to a small rented office downtown.
No signs.
No name.
Nothing connecting it to him.
Inside were stacks of documents and old computers.
“This is where I kept backups.””
I looked around.
“How long have you known about Ellis?””
“Three years.””
“And you did nothing?””
His expression hardened.
“I tried.””
He opened a drawer and pulled out a small notebook.
“I reported irregularities. Then my reports disappeared.””
“Why?””
“Because Ellis had people everywhere.””
I looked at the notebook.
“What does Noah have?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said:
“The original drive.””
My heart skipped.
“What drive?””
“The one containing everything.””
“Where is it?””
Daniel looked at me.
“That’s the problem.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Noah hid it.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew Ellis would search him.””
I sat down.
My son.
Twelve years old.
Creating backup plans.
Hiding evidence.
Carrying secrets no child should ever carry.
I felt tears falling before I realized I was crying.
Daniel softened.
“He did it because he loves you.””
I wiped my face.
“I thought he hated me.””
“He wanted you to believe that.””
Those words hurt more.
Because it meant Noah had intentionally broken his own mother’s heart.
To save me.
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Noah.
I opened it immediately.
*Mom, I’m sorry.*
Then:
*I heard Dad talking to someone last night.*
My fingers moved quickly.
*What did he say?*
The reply came.
*He said the court decision was only the beginning.*
I frowned.
Another message.
*He said once he gets the money, you won’t matter anymore.*
My stomach dropped.
The money.
The six million dollars.
Not because Ellis wanted it.
Because he believed it was still his.
I typed:
*Noah, where did you hide the drive?*
The message stayed unread.
One minute.
Two.
Five.
Then finally:
*I can’t tell you through messages.*
Another message followed.
*Someone is watching me.*
I stood.
“We need to get him.””
Daniel looked at me.
“We need a plan first.””
“No.””
My voice surprised both of us.
“No more plans. No more waiting. My son spent weeks protecting me while I sat here believing he abandoned me.””
I grabbed my coat.
“I’m going to get him.””
Daniel stepped in front of the door.
“Sabrina, if you go directly to Ellis, he’ll know Noah contacted you.””
“I don’t care.””
“You should.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because Ellis doesn’t just want the money anymore.””
The room went silent.
“What does he want?””
Daniel slowly answered.
“He wants to erase the one person who knows the truth.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A child’s voice whispered.
“Mom?””
I froze.
“Noah?””
His breathing was fast.
“Listen carefully. I don’t have much time.””
I pressed the phone closer.
“Where are you?””
“Mom, I found out what Dad did with Grandpa’s money.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Noah whispered:
“It was never just six million.””
A sound came from his end.
Like a door opening.
“Noah?””
His voice became urgent.
“Mom, don’t trust—”
The call cut off.
I stared at the screen.
Then a new message appeared.
Not from Noah.
From Ellis.
*You should have stayed away.*
And below it was a photograph.
May you like
A photograph of Noah.
Standing alone in a dark room.
