Chapter 4: The Person Nobody Suspected
Nobody spoke after the video stopped.
The silence was heavier than any accusation.
Alexander remained frozen in front of the screen.
I watched his face carefully.
A man who seemed impossible to shake was suddenly struggling to process what he had seen.
“Play it again,” he said.
The security director looked at him.
“Mr. Whitmore—”
“Play it again.””
The footage restarted.
Daniel entered the office.
The second person followed.
Then the image became clearer.
It was Catherine Whitmore.
Alexander’s older sister.
My stomach tightened.
I had met Catherine several times.
She always appeared elegant and warm.
She brought Noah expensive gifts.
She kissed his forehead.
She called him “the little prince.””
I never imagined she could be connected to something like this.
Alexander stepped away from the screen.
“No.””
Catherine’s name seemed impossible for him to accept.
Victoria watched him carefully.
“Alexander…”
He turned sharply.
“Did you know?””
Her silence answered.
His expression hardened.
“You knew.””
Victoria sighed.
“I knew Daniel was involved.””
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I was trying to find out what they were planning.””
Alexander shook his head.
“No. You were covering something up.””
Victoria looked offended.
“I was protecting you.””
“Stop saying that.””
His voice echoed through the office.
Nobody moved.
Nobody interrupted.
I had never seen Alexander angry before.
Not truly angry.
Victoria lowered her voice.
“You don’t understand what’s happening.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked at me.
Then at Noah.
Then back at Alexander.
“Your sister believed you were making a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“Everything.””
The word hung in the air.
Victoria continued.
“She thinks you’re destroying the company by changing your plans.””
Alexander frowned.
“My company?””
“Yes.””
The security director looked uncomfortable.
“What does this have to do with the baby?””
Nobody answered.
Then I remembered something.
Earlier that evening, before the party, I had seen Catherine arguing with Alexander near the library.
I had only heard a few words.
“You’ll lose everything.””
At the time, I thought it was a normal family disagreement.
Now I wasn’t sure.
Alexander looked at me.
“You saw something, didn’t you?””
I hesitated.
“I…”
“Please.””
His voice softened.
That surprised me.
I took a breath.
“I saw your sister with Daniel earlier.””
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“When?””
“Before the party started.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
I looked down.
Because I was a maid.
Because people like me were often invisible.
Because I had learned that wealthy families didn’t always want servants sharing what they saw.
“I didn’t think anyone would believe me.””
Alexander became quiet.
Those words affected him.
Before he could respond, Noah started crying.
Mrs. Parker immediately rocked him gently.
The sound reminded everyone of what had almost happened.
A child had nearly become a victim of a family war.
Alexander walked over and picked up his son.
His expression changed.
The anger was still there.
But something else appeared.
Fear.
“I need the truth,” he said.
Then the office door opened.
Catherine walked inside.
Everyone turned.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
“I assume you found the footage.””
Alexander stared at her.
“How long were you going to keep lying to me?””
Catherine sighed.
“You always were dramatic.””
My eyes widened.
She wasn’t denying it.
Alexander stepped forward.
“You were working with Daniel.””
Catherine looked at the screen.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
I felt my chest tighten.
She admitted it.
Just like that.
“Why?”” Alexander asked.
Catherine looked at Noah.
Then at him.
“Because I was trying to stop you from destroying this family.””
Alexander shook his head.
“You almost destroyed my son.””
Catherine’s expression changed slightly.
“Your son was never supposed to be hurt.””
Those words made my blood run cold.
Never supposed to be hurt?
Meaning what?
Alexander heard it too.
“What was supposed to happen?””
Catherine looked away.
For the first time, she seemed uncertain.
Then her eyes moved toward me.
And I realized something terrifying.
She wasn’t looking at me with anger.
She was looking at me with fear.
Because I had seen something she never wanted anyone to know.
Alexander noticed her reaction.
“What aren’t you telling us?””
Catherine stayed silent.
Then Daniel’s name appeared on the security director’s phone.
An incoming call.
Everyone stared.
The director answered on speaker.
A voice came through.
“Alexander Whitmore?””
Alexander stepped closer.
“Who is this?””
The voice paused.
Then said something that changed everything.
“You’re asking the wrong question.””
The line went silent for a moment.
May you like
Then the voice continued.
“The real question is why your sister needed that baby gone before tomorrow morning.””
