Chapter 5: The Daughter Who Remembered Everything
The courtroom was filled before Theron arrived.
Reporters stood outside.
Cameras flashed.
The Viremont family had always attracted attention.
But never like this.
The headline was already everywhere.
*Billionaire Father Accused of Violence Against Wife During Custody Battle.*
Theron walked past the cameras without looking at them.
He only cared about one person.
Eirlys.
Inside the courtroom, Corisande sat beside her attorney.
She looked fragile.
Perfectly styled.
Tears already forming in her eyes.
Theron almost admired the performance.
Almost.
Then he saw his daughter.
A small figure sitting with a child advocate.
She looked tiny in the enormous room.
He wanted to run to her.
But he couldn't.
The judge entered.
Everyone stood.
The hearing began.
Corisande's attorney spoke first.
"My client is a loving mother who suffered physical abuse.""
Theron remained silent.
The lawyer continued.
"She attempted to maintain peace in the home, but Mr. Viremont reacted violently.""
The judge looked at Theron.
"Mr. Viremont, do you deny pushing your wife?""
"No.""
The courtroom murmured.
His own lawyer looked at him.
But Theron continued.
"I pushed her.""
The honesty surprised everyone.
"However, that happened after she struck my daughter.""
Corisande immediately shook her head.
"That's not true.""
Her voice cracked.
"I would never hurt Eirlys.""
Theron looked at her.
The same woman who had whispered threats into a child's ear.
The same woman who had turned fear into a weapon.
She looked innocent.
And the room wanted to believe her.
The judge turned toward the child advocate.
"Has the child been interviewed?""
"Yes, Your Honor.""
"And?""
The advocate looked uncomfortable.
"Eirlys is afraid.""
Theron's heart tightened.
"Afraid of whom?""
The advocate glanced at him.
"Both parents.""
The words felt like a knife.
Because he deserved part of that fear.
He remembered the pool.
The moment he lost control.
The moment his daughter watched him become something he hated.
The judge ordered a temporary recess.
Outside the courtroom, Theron stood alone.
Marcus approached.
"We need to talk.""
"What now?""
"There is something wrong with the evidence.""
Theron turned.
"What?""
"The security footage.""
"I know. The angle.""
"No.""
Marcus shook his head.
"The footage was edited.""
Theron froze.
"How?""
"Someone removed twelve seconds.""
"Which twelve seconds?""
Marcus opened his tablet.
"The twelve seconds before your wife fell.""
Theron's eyes narrowed.
"Why?""
Marcus looked at him.
"Because during those twelve seconds, someone entered the courtyard.""
Theron's pulse increased.
"Who?""
Marcus pressed play.
The missing section appeared.
The image was grainy.
A figure walked behind the pool area.
Theron leaned closer.
The person stopped near Corisande.
Then handed her something.
The video froze.
Marcus zoomed in.
The person's face became clearer.
Theron stepped backward.
"No.""
Because he knew that face.
Everyone in the Viremont family knew that face.
It was Adrian Vale.
His father's most trusted assistant.
The man who had worked beside Lucien for twenty years.
The man who had attended every family event.
The man who had held Eirlys the day she was born.
"What was he giving her?""
Marcus looked serious.
"We don't know.""
"Find out.""
"We're trying.""
Theron stared at the screen.
A terrible thought entered his mind.
Adrian had been close to his family.
Close to Eirlys.
Too close.
That evening, Theron returned home early.
The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
"Eirlys?""
No answer.
His heart jumped.
He ran upstairs.
Her bedroom door was open.
The room was empty.
The window was unlocked.
The curtains moved in the wind.
On the floor was her stuffed rabbit.
Theron's blood went cold.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
"Where is my daughter?""
A woman's voice whispered.
"Theron...""
He froze.
Because he recognized the voice.
Corisande.
"What did you do?""
A shaky breath.
"I didn't have a choice.""
"Where is Eirlys?""
Silence.
Then:
"Your father lied to you.""
Theron's grip tightened.
"What are you talking about?""
Corisande's voice broke.
"The inheritance wasn't the reason they wanted her gone.""
"Then what was?""
A pause.
A long one.
Then she whispered:
"Because Eirlys knows what happened the night your mother died.""
Theron stopped moving.
His mother.
A death nobody in the family ever discussed.
A death Lucien always called an accident.
"Corisande...""
But she had already hung up.
A second later, another message appeared.
A photo.
Theron opened it.
His daughter was sitting in a dark room.
Beside her stood Adrian Vale.
May you like
And underneath the image was a sentence.
*Come alone if you want the truth.*
