Whispers and Shadows

Whispers and Shadows
Ashton’s POV

Three days in Hudson Valley didn’t feel like enough for us. But work was waiting. Lily would be starting college soon, and Max had called multiple times, asking us to come back. While we were away, my mother and Kelly stayed at the mansion to look after Max.

Our trip was short, yes, but it left behind something unforgettable. It wasn’t just a getaway to unwind or a typical honeymoon. It meant more than that. Those three days with Lily deepened our bond in ways I hadn’t expected. We didn’t just share bodies. Our souls found a rhythm, slowly weaving into one another, realizing how much we truly needed each other.

We saw each other more clearly. We learned to notice the little things—how something that felt trivial to me could mean the world to her. Marriage, I’ve come to realize, is a lifetime of learning.

This morning, I had a meeting with the CEO of King Group. They’re interested in collaborating on our hotel development project. At the same time, Evelyn and Frederick asked to meet. They said they had new evidence. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wouldn’t find peace until this case was solved. A part of me hoped David Taylor wasn’t behind it. I’d suspected him before, but something in me had shifted. I’d started to accept him as my father-in-law.

We met in my office’s conference room, just after my meeting wrapped.

“Ashton, my team and I investigated the truck driver who hit your father’s car. His name was Timothy Cruise. Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago,” Evelyn said, her eyes steady. I could tell she wasn’t done—there was more, something heavier she hadn’t yet revealed.

“But we managed to trace the funds that went into his account. We have a trusted informant at the bank.” Evelyn laid down a photo of a bank statement. It showed the sender’s name, the recipient, and a fifty-thousand-dollar transaction.

“So there was a fifty-thousand-dollar transfer to Timothy Cruise from something called The Brightmoore Foundation? What kind of foundation is that?” I asked, staring at the paper.

Evelyn let out a slow breath. “We looked into it. It claims to support children recovering from cancer. It’s registered in Delaware. Know why? Because the tax laws and legal oversight there are loose. But here’s the shocking part—after reviewing their Form 990, I’m convinced this foundation is fake.” She handed me a printout, her gaze sharper now. “Take a look yourself, Ashton. See who’s listed as the board members.”

I read through it carefully. The more I read, the more the unease inside me grew.

“There’s a pattern here—money flowing to people connected to my father’s accident. First, Timothy Cruise. Then, Peter Hamilton, the mechanic who inspected my father’s car. He’s disappeared without a trace.” My eyes scanned the form again, catching details I almost missed.

“How is it that the board members of this foundation are people I know?” I looked from Evelyn to Frederick.

“Who are they, Ashton?” Frederick asked, frowning with curiosity.

“Charles Rutherford, our family lawyer for the past fifteen years. Miranda Cho, head of Finance at a Williams Corp subsidiary—she reports directly to my mother. And Noah Greene, David Taylor’s personal assistant.” I looked at them again, and their faces gave away nothing. But I could see the gears turning in their minds, same as mine.

“This is serious, Ashton. We need to tread carefully. We can’t afford to chase the wrong lead,” Frederick said with quiet urgency.

“I’ll keep digging with my team,” Evelyn added firmly.

My mind felt like it was spinning. So many possibilities. Everything was tangled, wrapped around itself. A lawyer we trusted, a financial executive from my own company, and David Taylor’s assistant? Were they working together? Or was there someone else—someone higher, someone pulling the strings?


Lily’s POV

I only had two classes today. With some time to spare before the next one, I decided to sit in the campus café. There’s something comforting about this place, never too crowded, always just quiet enough.

I ordered my usual: a matcha latte and a croissant.
These two had become my go-to, not because they were the trendiest choices, but simply because I liked them.

Out of the blue, three classmates joined me at my table. There was always this strange divide I felt between my high school days and now. Back then, I was practically invisible. Here, people greeted me, talked to me. Was it because I happened to be the wife of Ashton Reagan Williams?

"Hey, have you heard the hottest gossip today?" Molly asked, breaking the silence. She had soft, curly hair, round cheeks, and the kind of baby face that made her look perpetually sweet.

"What gossip?" Cassey leaned in, clearly intrigued.

"You all know Professor Daniel, right?" Molly’s eyes scanned our faces.

The name didn’t ring any bells for me.

"He’s teaching Developmental Psychology. We’ll be in his class soon," she explained helpfully.

"Okay, but what’s the hot part?" Robby, the only guy among us—seemed unusually invested in this kind of news.

"Yesterday, he was invited to Anna Louise’s birthday party. You know, the upperclassman?
At the party, she lured him into a private room and… tried to seduce him. But he rejected her," Molly whispered dramatically.

"Wait... He turned down Anna Louise? The stunning, ultra-sexy Anna Louise?" Robby raised both eyebrows.

"Is Professor Daniel not into women? Or maybe he’s gay?" Cassey blurted it out a bit too loudly.

“Ssshh! Not so loud, Cassey,” Molly quickly pressed a finger to her lips. “He’s straight.”

“I think he turned her down because he wanted to keep things professional. Imagine if anything had happened between a professor and his student—
it’d be a scandal. It might even ruin his entire career.” I wasn’t usually one for gossip, but I felt like someone needed to ground the conversation.

“Lily’s right. Even off-campus, Professor Daniel probably wants to keep his boundaries clear.” Molly nodded.

“The man you’re talking about… is right there.” Robby motioned toward the opposite side of the room.

All our gazes followed his.

And there he was—a tall, broad-shouldered man whose presence seemed to command attention without effort. I narrowed my eyes,.a sudden flicker of recognition stirring in me. I’d seen him somewhere before.