"Daniel is here."

The detective's words made Ethan grip his phone.

Investigators had reached the private medical facility that morning.

The administrator initially claimed nobody named Daniel Callahan had ever been admitted.

Then officers obtained the relevant patient records.

A man registered as David Collins occupied Room 214.

His photograph matched Daniel's.

Ethan went completely still.

"Is he alright?"

"He's conscious and speaking with medical personnel. We're arranging an independent examination."

Rachel watched Ethan lower himself into a chair.

For eight months, he'd lived with the possibility that his brother was dead.

Now Daniel had been found.

But the detective's next words changed everything.

"Mr. Callahan, your brother says Derek Walsh brought him to the facility."

Ethan closed his eyes.

"Can I speak to him?"

"Once his medical team confirms he's ready."

Rachel reached for Sophie's little hand.

She couldn't stop thinking about the morning she'd left Derek's apartment.

He had been unusually cheerful.

He'd told her he was going to settle a business matter and return home early.

Instead, he'd apparently been arranging Daniel's transfer.

The detective continued.

"Daniel has also identified Marcus Bell as one of the people who pressured him to authorize disputed financial transactions."

Ethan looked up sharply.

"Did he sign anything?"

"He's told us he refused. We'll obtain a formal statement when he's ready."

Rachel felt sick.

Derek had created an account in Sophie's name.

Marcus had moved company money into it.

And Daniel had been held while someone tried to obtain his approval for financial transactions.

The pieces were coming together.

But Rachel still had one question.

"Why did they put the money in my daughter's name?"

Olivia looked at her.

"We need to examine the account records and determine who authorized each transfer."

Rachel stared at the photograph of Derek.

He had once promised to protect their daughter.

Instead, he had used her identity without Rachel's informed consent.

That afternoon, Ethan received permission to visit Daniel.

Rachel offered to remain at the lake house.

Ethan hesitated at the door.

"You don't have to stay here because I asked you to."

She looked up.

"I know."

Then she added, "But I'd like to know he's okay."

Ethan nodded.

"I'll tell you."

When he returned that evening, his face looked different.

Tired.

Relieved.

And deeply angry.

"He's alive," Ethan said.

Rachel stood.

"How is he?"

"Recovering. He says they threatened him whenever he refused to cooperate."

Rachel's eyes filled.

Ethan continued.

"Daniel also remembered seeing Derek at the office the day you were there."

She froze.

"He saw me?"

"He heard a woman asking for a restroom. Derek told him to stay quiet."

Rachel remembered.

She had asked to use the restroom before leaving.

Derek had insisted they use the one downstairs.

Now she knew why.

Ethan looked down.

"My brother heard your voice. He thought someone else was being brought into the scheme."

Rachel felt tears spill down her cheeks.

"I wish I'd known."

Ethan gently shook his head.

"You were pregnant. Derek controlled what you could see. Daniel doesn't blame you."

Rachel covered her face.

Then Ethan's phone vibrated.

A message from the detective.

The medical facility's payment records showed that Daniel's confinement had been funded through the same account established in Sophie's name.

Rachel stared at the screen.

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Her daughter's financial identity had been used to pay for the place where Ethan's brother was being held.

👉 Sophie's account had been used to fund Daniel's confinement, and the investigators were now tracing who created the false documents that allowed Derek to control it.