Chapter 8: The Secret About My Daughter
I couldn't understand what I was looking at.
The photograph showed Margaret holding a newborn baby.
The date printed on the back was seven years earlier.
Lily's birth year.
But Margaret was nearly sixty when Lily was born.
It made no sense.
I looked at Richard.
"What is this?""
He smiled.
"Your family has always had a talent for keeping secrets.""
Alicia shook her head.
"Daniel, don't listen to him.""
Richard turned toward her.
"Still protecting him? Even now?""
"Shut up!""
It was the first time I'd heard Alicia raise her voice.
Richard laughed.
Then he looked at me again.
"Your daughter was born through a private fertility arrangement.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Your wife was unable to carry a pregnancy. You knew that, didn't you?""
I looked at Alicia.
She lowered her eyes.
Three years earlier, Alicia had suffered a medical complication. She had told me that having another child might be difficult, but we had never discussed fertility treatment in detail.
"Daniel," she whispered, "I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
Richard interrupted.
"After she had secured the inheritance, apparently.""
I turned toward him.
"Explain the photograph.""
"Margaret donated an embryo through a private clinic. Alicia carried the pregnancy.""
The room tilted.
I looked at Alicia.
"Is that true?""
She nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
Alicia began crying.
"Because the clinic was connected to Richard.""
Richard's smile widened.
"Now we're getting somewhere.""
Alicia shook her head.
"Don't believe him, Daniel. He arranged everything. He told me the treatment was legitimate. He said it was a private donation and that nobody would ever need to know.""
"Why would he do that?""
"Because he wanted access to the child's medical records.""
Richard stepped closer.
"Your daughter carries a genetic connection to William Ellison's estate.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"Your grandfather established a secondary trust for future generations. If you had no biological descendants, the trust would eventually revert to the family foundation. But Lily changed that.""
I felt a cold wave move through me.
"You're saying Lily is connected to my grandfather?""
Richard nodded.
"Through Margaret.""
Alicia stepped forward as much as her restraints allowed.
"Daniel, I didn't know the full arrangement. I thought I was helping Margaret have a connection to her family. Richard told me it was harmless.""
"And then?""
"After Lily was born, I discovered the clinic had falsified the records.""
I looked at Richard.
"Why?""
"Because the inheritance required a biological descendant.""
I understood.
The estate was worth more than forty million dollars.
Richard had created a scheme involving Margaret, Alicia, and my daughter to make himself the guardian of a future inheritance.
But there was another question.
"Who is Lily's biological father?""
Richard's smile vanished.
Alicia closed her eyes.
"Daniel—"
"Tell me.""
She looked directly at me.
"You're her father.""
I stared at her.
"That's not what I asked.""
Richard laughed.
"Technically, he is.""
I turned toward him.
"Technically?""
Alicia began shaking her head.
"Daniel, please. Let me explain.""
Richard opened the folder again.
"The clinic used your genetic material. The procedure was legitimate. Margaret provided the donated embryo, and you were listed as the intended father.""
I looked at the photograph.
Then at Alicia.
"So Lily is biologically connected to Margaret?""
"Yes," Alicia whispered.
"And to my grandfather's family.""
"Yes.""
I struggled to breathe.
"Then why hide it?""
Alicia's voice broke.
"Because Richard wanted custody rights if something happened to us.""
Richard looked almost amused.
"Not custody. Guardianship.""
"You're insane," I said.
He shrugged.
"Call it whatever you like.""
I looked at Alicia.
"Did you know?""
"Not at first.""
"When did you find out?""
"Three years ago. Just before I disappeared.""
I remembered the letter.
The financial records.
The warehouse.
The gunshot.
"What happened that night?""
Alicia swallowed.
"I went to meet Ethan because he had promised to give me the original clinic records. Instead, Richard was waiting.""
Richard interrupted.
"She had stolen documents belonging to me.""
"They belonged to my daughter!"" Alicia shouted.
He slapped the folder against his leg.
"You had no right to interfere.""
I moved toward him.
One of the armed men raised his weapon.
Marcus grabbed my shoulder.
"Daniel. Don't.""
I stopped.
Richard looked satisfied.
"Now, about that will.""
I held the envelope tightly.
"You want it?""
"I want you to sign the transfer documents.""
"What transfer documents?""
He removed several pages from the folder.
"Your inheritance. Your company shares. The trust. Everything.""
I laughed.
"You expect me to sign away forty million dollars?""
"I expect you to do what's best for your family.""
"My family is standing right there.""
Richard glanced at Alicia.
"She's been lying to you.""
"She was protecting our daughter.""
"From you?""
I looked at him.
"What did you mean when you said my adoptive father signed the documents?""
Richard's expression hardened.
For the first time, I saw irritation beneath his calm exterior.
"He was a weak man.""
"What did you do to him?""
"Nothing.""
"How did he die?""
Richard sighed.
"Heart failure.""
I shook my head.
"You're lying.""
He smiled.
"Your adoptive father was a very sick man. He knew his time was limited.""
I remembered the photograph from the storage unit.
My father standing outside the warehouse after his funeral.
I pulled out my phone.
"You were photographed with him after his supposed death.""
Richard looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the evidence Alicia left.""
He glanced at Ethan, who had just stepped out of the SUV.
"Get the phone.""
Ethan approached.
Marcus moved between us.
"Back off.""
Ethan gave him a cold look.
"Move.""
"No.""
Ethan suddenly struck Marcus across the face.
Marcus stumbled against a parked car.
I lunged forward, but one of the men grabbed my jacket.
Alicia screamed.
"Daniel!""
Richard took the will from my hand.
He opened it and examined the seal.
"Good.""
He handed it to Ethan.
"Burn it.""
Ethan pulled out a lighter.
I watched the paper catch fire.
The edges curled.
The flames consumed my grandfather's signature.
But I didn't move.
Because I had already noticed something.
The envelope was empty.
The original will was not inside.
Richard was holding a photocopy.
The real document was still hidden in the blue journal at my house.
I looked at him.
"You're making a mistake.""
Richard smiled.
"No, Daniel. I've spent thirty-five years making sure I never make mistakes.""
I glanced at Marcus.
He was slowly getting back to his feet.
Then I looked at Alicia.
Her eyes were fixed on me.
She gave the smallest nod.
I understood.
We needed time.
I raised my hands.
"Fine.""
Richard tilted his head.
"Fine?""
"I'll sign.""
Alicia shook her head.
"Daniel, no!""
I looked at her.
"Trust me.""
Richard handed me the documents.
I took the pen.
Then I noticed something written on the final page.
A clause about the transfer of guardianship.
Not just the inheritance.
Lily.
Richard wanted legal control over my daughter.
I put the pen down.
"I have one condition.""
Richard sighed.
"Of course you do.""
"Tell me what happened to my adoptive father.""
He stared at me.
Then he smiled.
"Your father is alive.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"Where?""
Richard leaned toward me.
"In a nursing facility outside Savannah. He has been living under another name for three years.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because he knows exactly what happened to Alicia.""
I looked at my wife.
She was crying.
Then Richard added:
"And he knows who fired the gun that night.""
Alicia whispered:
"Daniel, it wasn't Richard.""
I turned toward her.
"Who was it?""
She looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
And said:
"It was the man who raised you.""
Before I could respond, the lights across the parking lot went out.
A gunshot cracked through the darkness.
May you like
Someone screamed.
And when the emergency lights flickered back on, Alicia was gone.
