"She was going to tell me," he said. She was finally going to tell me and then she died. I know. It's not fair. No, it's not.
Daniel looked at Rachel. This stranger who shared Victoria's blood, Victoria's eyes, Victoria's pain. What do I do now? Rachel stood and walked around the table. She knelt beside his chair and took his hands in hers.
You raise your daughter. You love her. You tell her the truth when she's ready to hear it. Rachel's eyes were fierce. And you don't let Victoria's memory die.
You keep her alive for Lily. You make sure that little girl knows how much her birth mother loved her. How How do I explain any of this? One day at a time, one story at a time, one cookie at a time. Rachel smiled through her tears.
Victoria believed you could do this, Daniel. She believed in you. Don't prove her wrong. Daniel didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to feel.
Everything was too big, too overwhelming, too impossible to process. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard Victoria's voice. Only if you're the one beside me, he would carry her with him in his memories, in his stories, and the daughter they both loved. Victoria would never sleep beside him in his bed, but she would never leave his heart. And somehow that would have to be enough.
The reading of the will took place in Bradford's office the next morning. Daniel sat at the head of the table, surrounded by strangers in expensive suits, board members, executives, lawyers whose names he immediately forgot. Bradford cleared his throat. Ms. Hayes's will is straightforward. The majority of her estate, including her 42% stake in Hayes Enterprises, is to be held in trust for her biological daughter, Lily Carter, until her 25th birthday.
Murmurs rippled through the room. Daniel saw Marcus Webb's face go white. Mr. Daniel Carter is named as trustee, Bradford continued, with full authority to manage the trust and make decisions on Lily's behalf. Additionally, Mr. Carter is named permanent CEO of Hayes Enterprises, effective immediately with complete operational control of the company. This is absurd.
Marcus slammed his palm on the table. Carter's been here 18 months. He doesn't have the experience, the credentials, the the legal authority. Bradford interrupted coolly. Was granted by Ms. Hayes herself.
The will is airtight, Mr. Webb. My firm has spent the last 3 days confirming that the board won't accept this. The board doesn't have a choice. Bradford turned to Daniel. Mr. Carter, do you accept the responsibilities outlined in this will?
Every eye in the room fixed on Daniel. He thought about Victoria, about Lily, about the journal sitting on his kitchen table filled with 15 years of love and loss. Yes, he said. I accept. Marcus stood so fast his chair toppled backward.