Chapter 32: DANIEL’S SECRET CHILD

The air in my office felt thicker than usual as I held the old, yellowed envelope in my hands. It had arrived with no return address, no note, only a single sheet of paper tucked inside. The handwriting was unfamiliar, but it was the content that struck me to my core.

The letter detailed a hidden chapter of Daniel’s life—one I had never suspected. It spoke of a secret child, born out of a brief affair Daniel had over a decade ago. The revelation was unsettling, but the letter also included photographs and a name: Lily Blackwood.

Lily. The name echoed in my mind as I read through the letter again. I couldn’t fathom how Daniel had kept this from everyone, how he had managed to shield his life from scrutiny while manipulating mine. The letter indicated that Lily's mother had recently resurfaced and had made demands.

I had to know more. I needed to confront the implications of this new piece of the puzzle. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my office door. I looked up to see Cla