CHAPTER 2 — The Truth Hidden Inside the Broken Laptop
CHAPTER 2 — The Truth Hidden Inside the Broken Laptop
Daniel Hart accepted the stuffed rabbit with surprising care, as though it were something fragile enough to shatter in his hands.
"Mr. Ears," Olivia announced proudly. "He protects Mama."
For one impossible second, the tension inside the study loosened.
Then Daniel's eyes shifted.
Straight to the stack of documents clutched against Helena's chest.
His expression changed so quickly that Helena almost stepped backward.
"What are those?" he asked.
His voice remained calm.
That frightened her more than shouting would have.
Helena looked down.
The papers.
She had forgotten she was still holding them.
"I... they fell out when the laptop hit the floor."
Daniel slowly crossed the room.
Every polished shoe step echoed against the hardwood floor.
When he reached her, he didn't take the documents immediately.
Instead, he studied her face.
"You read them."
It wasn't a question.
Helena swallowed.
"I wasn't trying to."
Silence.
"I was only picking everything up."
Another silence.
"But yes..."
She lowered her eyes.
"...I saw enough."
Daniel gently removed the pages from her trembling hands.
He placed them carefully on the desk, aligning every corner with mechanical precision.
Only then did he open the cracked laptop.
The screen was dead.
He pressed the power button anyway.
Nothing.
A long breath escaped him.
"So," he murmured.
"They finally made their move."
Helena frowned.
"I'm sorry?"
Daniel looked at the broken computer instead of her.
"Those documents."
"They were never supposed to exist."
Her heart skipped.
"What do you mean?"
"They're forged."
The word landed like thunder.
Helena stared.
"But... they're signed by doctors."
"Not my doctors."
"They carry legal stamps."
"Not filed."
"The medical report says—"
"I have no cognitive disease."
His answer came so quickly that it left no room for doubt.
Olivia looked between the adults, confused.
"Mama?"
Helena forced a smile.
"It's okay, sweetheart."
But it wasn't.
Daniel reached into his pocket and removed his phone.
He dialed without hesitation.
"Marcus."
A pause.
"I need you at the mansion."
Another pause.
"Now."
He ended the call.
Helena recognized the name.
Marcus Bennett.
Chief Legal Officer.
Daniel's oldest friend.
If Daniel trusted anyone, according to the house staff, it was Marcus.
Daniel looked back at Helena.
"I have one question."
She nodded nervously.
"When you found these..."
"...did anyone else see them?"
"No."
"Did you tell anyone?"
"No."
"Not even another employee?"
"No."
His shoulders lowered almost imperceptibly.
"Good."
Helena frowned.
"Mr. Hart..."
"...what is happening?"
Before he could answer—
A woman's voice floated through the hallway.
"Daniel?"
Every muscle in Daniel's body stiffened.
Helena recognized that voice instantly.
Isabella Crane.
She wasn't supposed to arrive until evening.
The click of expensive heels grew louder.
Daniel whispered only two words.
"Hide those."
"What?"
"The papers."
Helena instinctively slid the documents beneath a leather portfolio lying on the desk.
A second later...
Isabella entered.
She looked flawless.
Cream-colored designer dress.
Diamond engagement ring sparkling beneath the afternoon light.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect posture.
Perfect smile.
Until she noticed Helena.
Then Olivia.
Then the shattered laptop.
The smile disappeared.
"What happened?"
Daniel answered before Helena could speak.
"My laptop fell."
Isabella's eyes narrowed.
"How?"
Olivia raised her tiny hand proudly.
"I did."
Helena almost fainted.
"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Crane—"
Isabella ignored her completely.
Instead, she walked directly to Daniel.
She touched his arm.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"The files?"
Daniel met her gaze.
"What files?"
A heartbeat.
Just one.
But Helena saw it.
The smallest hesitation in Isabella's eyes.
Tiny.
Barely noticeable.
Unless you had already seen those documents.
"Oh," Isabella laughed lightly.
"I only meant your business files."
Daniel smiled politely.
"The backups are secure."
"They're always secure."
Another pause.
"I'll buy you another laptop," Isabella offered.
"I insist."
"No need."
"I've already ordered one."
"You ordered it?"
"I have assistants."
She laughed again.
"Of course."
Her eyes drifted toward the desk.
Toward the leather portfolio.
Toward the place where Helena had hidden the papers.
Only for a fraction of a second.
But Daniel noticed.
So did Helena.
Isabella recovered instantly.
"I actually came because the wedding planner needs your final guest list."
Daniel didn't answer.
She stepped closer.
"Daniel?"
He was watching her.
Not lovingly.
Not warmly.
Studying her.
As though seeing someone unfamiliar wearing the face of the woman he intended to marry.
Finally he asked,
"When did you last speak with Dr. Leonard Hayes?"
The color drained from Isabella's face.
Only for an instant.
Then it returned.
"I don't know anyone by that name."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"I see."
"You seem tired."
"I am."
"Maybe you should rest."
She kissed his cheek.
A perfect fiancée's kiss.
Soft.
Measured.
Practiced.
Then she smiled at Olivia.
"And who are you?"
Olivia hugged Mr. Ears.
"I'm Olivia."
"What a sweet name."
"You pretty."
Isabella chuckled.
"Thank you."
"You smell like flowers."
"That's perfume."
"My mama smells like pancakes."
Helena nearly died of embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry—"
But Olivia wasn't finished.
"And you smell scared."
The room froze.
Helena's blood turned to ice.
"Olivia!"
"I'm sorry!" Helena whispered.
"She's only—"
Daniel never took his eyes off Isabella.
Neither did Isabella take hers off Olivia.
Seconds passed.
Long.
Painful.
Then Isabella laughed.
"Children say the funniest things."
She turned back toward Daniel.
"I'll see you tonight."
The moment the front door closed behind her...
The smile vanished from Daniel's face.
Completely.
He walked to the window and watched Isabella climb into a black luxury sedan.
Instead of driving away...
The car remained parked outside the gates.
Daniel quietly spoke.
"She's waiting."
Helena looked confused.
"For what?"
"For confirmation."
"Confirmation of what?"
"Whether the laptop survived."
Helena felt cold all over.
Just then—
Daniel's phone vibrated.
Marcus had arrived.
But before Daniel could answer...
Another notification appeared on the shattered laptop.
The damaged screen flickered.
Just once.
Miraculously.
Long enough for a hidden synchronization program to finish uploading.
A folder opened automatically.
No password.
No encryption.
Hundreds of emails.
Dozens of audio recordings.
Bank transfers.
Medical invoices.
Private photographs.
And one video file.
Its title froze every heartbeat in the room.
"Guardianship Plan — Final Meeting with Isabella."
Daniel stared.
His fingers hovered over the touchpad.
Very slowly...
He pressed play.
Outside the mansion...
Isabella's black sedan finally began to move.
She smiled confidently.
Believing every piece of evidence had just been destroyed forever.
May you like
She had no idea...
The broken laptop had chosen that exact moment to reveal everything.
