Victoria Hale retained one of Pittsburgh's most prominent defense attorneys.
Within forty-eight hours, her legal team issued a statement denying that she ordered Emily Foster's confinement or participated in fraudulent financial transactions.
They described the incident as the result of unauthorized conduct by outside security personnel.
Victoria claimed she had been trying to protect Daniel from Emily's unpredictable behavior.
Her attorney emphasized that allegations were not proof.
Rebecca agreed with that principle, even as she helped Emily preserve evidence supporting her account.
Daniel struggled to understand how the woman he planned to marry could maintain such composure.
He remembered Victoria comforting Lily after nightmares.
He remembered her visiting his mother's grave with flowers.
He remembered how she held his hand during the anniversary of Claire's death.
Had those moments been genuine?
Or had every act of affection served a hidden purpose?
Rebecca warned him against allowing the question to consume him.
"You may never know everything Victoria felt. We can investigate what she did."
Daniel nodded.
He canceled their shared financial arrangements, notified relevant business partners of the pending review, and worked with counsel to protect Lily's trust.
He also arranged for an independent examination of documents he had signed during the relationship.
The review uncovered several unusual agreements.
Some concerned joint development projects.
Others involved consulting fees paid to businesses with overlapping ownership.
One document stood out.
It authorized the transfer of a historic downtown property from Bennett Construction into a newly created investment company.
Daniel remembered approving a preliminary development partnership for that property.
But the final version contained terms he said he had never seen.
A forensic review was needed to determine whether the signed pages had been altered or substituted.
Rebecca cautioned him not to assume the answer.
Still, the discovery confirmed Emily's concerns were worth investigating.
At the hospital, Emily began receiving counseling and medical support.
The physical effects of her confinement were gradually improving, but ordinary sounds still frightened her.
A door closing too loudly could make her flinch.
She found it difficult to sleep without a light.
Daniel visited when she wanted company.
Sometimes they talked about Claire.
Sometimes they sat in silence.
One evening, Emily asked him about Lily's birthday.
"She turns eight in November, doesn't she?"
Daniel nodded.
"She's already planning a party."
Emily smiled faintly.
"Claire would've made the cake herself."
"Probably three cakes."
They laughed quietly.
Then Emily's expression became serious.
"Daniel, there's another thing."
He looked at her.
"Before I disappeared, Claire's accountant told me something about the downtown property."
"What?"
"Claire bought part of it using money she inherited from our grandmother."
Daniel frowned.
"I thought the building belonged entirely to the company."
"It didn't."
Emily leaned forward.
"That's why Victoria wanted control. Part of the property was tied to Lily's inheritance."
Daniel stared at her.
The downtown development was worth millions.
And he had nearly signed documents transferring control without realizing whose future was at stake.