Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH ABOUT MY BIRTH
I couldn't breathe.
“What did you say?”
The woman introduced herself as Dr. Evelyn Hart.
She had been a physician at the private clinic my mother used.
According to her, I had been born through a confidential adoption arrangement.
My mother had raised me.
But biologically, she wasn't my mother.
“Who is?”
Evelyn looked at my father.
He nodded.
“Your biological mother was Graham's sister.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
“She died shortly after you were born.”
“Why?”
“Because Graham wanted control of her inheritance.”
My entire life had been built on a lie.
My father had married my mother.
They had raised me.
They had protected me.
But Graham had always known who I was.
And that explained why he wanted me.
I wasn't simply the daughter of a woman he had tried to silence.
I was connected to his family.
I had inherited something from my biological mother.
“What did she leave me?”
Evelyn looked at me.
“An ownership stake.”
“In what?”
“Graham's original company.”
I laughed.
“This is insane.”
“No,” my father said. “It's worse.”
He explained that my biological mother had owned forty percent of Graham's business before her death.
Her shares had been placed into a trust.
The beneficiary was me.
But I couldn't access them until I turned thirty-five.
I was thirty-four.
Three months away.
My husband had known.
Maren had known.
Graham had known.
Everyone had been waiting.
“That's why the money started moving.”
“Yes.”
“That's why Adrian married me.”
My father looked down.
“I don't know.”
I shook my head.
“You knew enough.”
“Yes.”
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the sky had turned dark.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Adrian.
I know who changed your medical records.
I opened it.
A photograph appeared.
Rebecca.
Standing beside a man.
Graham.
My aunt was alive and well, despite telling everyone she hadn't spoken to Graham in ten years.
Then another message appeared.
She wasn't trying to steal your money.
I stared.
She was trying to make sure your baby inherited the trust.
I frowned.
Another message:
Your baby is the only person who can inherit if something happens to you.
My blood went cold.
I called Adrian.
“Explain.”
“She knows about the trust.”
“Rebecca?”
“Yes.”
“She was working with Graham?”
“No.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“She was working against him.”
That made no sense.
“Then why did she access my medical records?”
“To protect you.”
“By changing them?”
“To hide your pregnancy from Graham.”
I looked at my father.
He understood immediately.
“That's why your blood type was changed.”
“What?”
“If Graham accessed your medical file, he'd know the records were false.”
“So he wouldn't find me.”
“Yes.”
My phone buzzed again.
This time it was Rebecca.
I answered.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Her voice trembled.
“Because your mother made me promise.”
“Promise what?”
“To protect you until your thirty-fifth birthday.”
I closed my eyes.
“What happens then?”
Silence.
Then Rebecca whispered:
“Your mother's original will becomes active.”
“And?”
“It names the person who ordered her death.”
My heart stopped.
“Who?”
May you like
Rebecca's voice broke.
“Your father.”
