Chapter 5 - THE SECRET THAT DESTROYED OUR MARRIAGE
I stared at Michael through the interrogation-room glass.
My husband's younger brother.
Lily's biological father.
The man who had spent years pretending to be her uncle.
I couldn't understand it.
Michael looked directly at me.
He didn't deny it.
“I wanted to tell you.”
I walked into the room.
“Then tell me now.”
Michael lowered his eyes.
“Lily was born after you and Daniel separated for six months.”
I remembered.
That period had always been painful.
Daniel and I had nearly divorced.
I had moved out.
Michael had been the only member of the family who checked on me.
I had trusted him.
Then Daniel and I reconciled.
Three months later, I discovered I was pregnant.
We believed Lily was Daniel's.
But Michael knew.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you say anything?”
“Because Daniel threatened me.”
“With what?”
“He said he'd destroy you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“He already did.”
Michael's eyes filled with tears.
“I stayed away because I thought that was protecting you.”
“And Lily?”
“I watched from a distance.”
“Until now.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you put the second injector there?”
“Because I knew Evelyn was planning something.”
“Why?”
“Because she told me.”
I froze.
“What did she tell you?”
Michael looked at Collins.
Then at me.
“Evelyn knew Lily wasn't Daniel's daughter.”
My heart stopped.
“How?”
“She had DNA testing done when Lily was three.”
“Why?”
“Because she wanted to know whether Lily had a claim to the trust.”
Michael explained that the trust contained a clause protecting biological grandchildren.
If Lily was not Daniel's child, Evelyn believed she could challenge the inheritance.
But there was a problem.
Lily's biological father was Michael.
And Michael had rights under another family agreement.
Evelyn had discovered it.
She wanted to control Lily.
Daniel wanted the money.
Dr. Harris wanted access to Lily's medical data.
And together, they created a plan.
Make Lily's allergy appear to be a pattern of parental neglect.
Trigger a custody case.
Remove me from the home.
Put Lily under temporary guardianship.
Then use the court order to gain control of the trust.
“But why fake the allergy attack?”
Michael shook his head.
“They didn't fake it.”
My stomach turned.
“They deliberately caused it.”
“Yes.”
“But why risk killing her?”
“Because they believed the hospital would save her.”
I felt sick.
“They knew how much epinephrine she needed.”
“They monitored her reaction.”
I looked at Collins.
“That's why the smartwatch mattered.”
He nodded.
“Lily's recording proves intent.”
Then Michael said:
“There is something you haven't found.”
“What?”
“The money wasn't stolen.”
I stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
“The nine million wasn't spent.”
“Then where is it?”
Michael whispered:
“It's in Lily's name.”
Collins leaned forward.
“What?”
Michael nodded.
“Daniel transferred it into an offshore trust.”
“Why?”
“Because he planned to disappear.”
I looked at him.
“With Lily?”
Michael shook his head.
“No.”
“With Evelyn.”
Then the interrogation-room door suddenly opened.
An officer rushed in.
“Detective Collins, we have a problem.”
“What?”
“Evelyn is missing.”
Collins stood.
“How?”
“She was released from the hospital holding area twenty minutes ago.”
“Released by whom?”
The officer swallowed.
“A judge's emergency order.”
I felt cold.
“Who requested it?”
The officer looked at me.
“Daniel's attorney.”
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
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