Chapter 10 - The False Victory
Daniel did not give Vanessa a single second to recover from her shock.
He pulled a small remote control from his pocket and pressed a button.
The massive flat-screen television on the dining room wall instantly flickered to life.
The guests watched in absolute horror as security footage showed Vanessa slipping the crushed blood thinner pills into his morning coffee.
The video then switched to a crystal-clear recording of Vanessa aggressively demanding the assassin give her more time to steal the money.
"You are completely insane!" Vanessa shrieked, trying to snatch the remote from Daniel's hand.
Daniel easily sidestepped her frantic attack.
The heavy dining room doors violently burst open, and a dozen armed police officers rushed into the room.
They grabbed Vanessa by the arms and slammed cold steel handcuffs onto her wrists.
She screamed and cursed at Daniel as the police dragged her out of the mansion in total disgrace.
The corporate board members clapped their hands, deeply relieved that the company was finally safe.
Daniel turned to Grace, pulling the quiet maid into a warm, grateful embrace in front of everyone.
He thanked her publicly for saving his life, promising her a massive financial reward and total protection from her ex-husband.
Later that night, the mansion was finally empty and completely silent.
Daniel walked into his private study, feeling a profound sense of victory and peace.
He had won the war, saved his empire, and eliminated the immediate threat.
He sat down in his leather chair and noticed a strange, unmarked yellow folder resting dead center on his mahogany desk.
He frowned, picking up the folder and slowly peeling open the seal.
Inside was a certified DNA laboratory report and a handwritten letter.
Daniel scanned the medical document, and his heart violently slammed against his ribs.
The DNA results confirmed with absolute certainty that Grace's four-year-old daughter, Lily, was his own biological child.
His mind raced back to a chaotic, forgotten night in Chicago five years ago before he became a famous billionaire.
He dropped the report and picked up the handwritten letter with shaking fingers.
It was written by Vanessa's loan shark, the man who ran the deadly syndicate.
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"Vanessa was just a distraction to keep you busy, Daniel," the final sentence of the letter read.
"We never wanted your money; we wanted the true heir to your empire, and we just took her."
