Chapter 2 - The Funeral Without a Body
The private elevator rose toward Daniel’s penthouse.
Lena stood in the corner, watching the mirrored doors as if she expected someone to burst through them. Daniel held the baby carefully, supporting her head with one hand.
The child stirred.
She had Lena’s nose.
She had Daniel’s dark lashes.
“How old is she?” he asked.
“Fourteen months.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
His daughter had been born while he was lighting candles beside an empty coffin.
Two years earlier, police had found Lena’s car abandoned near a flooded ravine. Her purse was inside. Blood had been discovered on the driver’s seat. Days later, investigators recovered a badly burned female body from a remote property owned by an unidentified shell company.
Dental records had supposedly confirmed the victim was Lena.
Evelyn Cross, Daniel’s mother, had arranged the funeral before he was allowed to view the remains.
“She said seeing the body would destroy me,” Daniel murmured.
Lena’s mouth tightened.
“She made sure you never saw it.”
The elevator doors opened.
Daniel’s security chief, Marcus Hale, was waiting inside the penthouse. He reached beneath his jacket when he saw Lena, then stared in disbelief.
“Mrs. Cross?”
Lena stepped backward.
Daniel raised one hand.
“Lock down the building. No calls. No staff. Disable every camera except our private system.”
Marcus moved immediately.
Daniel carried the baby into the living room and placed her gently on the couch.
“What’s her name?” he asked.
Lena touched the child’s cheek.
“Hope.”
Daniel looked at his daughter for a long time.
Then his secured phone vibrated.
A message appeared from federal investigator Rebecca Sloan.
PHASE TWO CONFIRMED. BOARD DINNER AT 8:00. EVELYN WILL BE PRESENT.
Lena stared at the words.
“What is Phase Two?”
Daniel looked toward the rain-covered windows.
May you like
“The part where my mother finally believes she won.”
👉 But before Daniel could explain his plan, Lena revealed that Evelyn had not acted alone.
