Chapter 10 - THE DEATH CERTIFICATE WITH MY NAME
I was twenty-six years old, eight weeks pregnant, and staring at a document declaring I was dead.
My name appeared in black ink.
Madison Elizabeth Bennett.
The listed cause was a motor vehicle collision.
The date was the night of my crash.
But the document had been prepared before the accident occurred.
I looked toward Lucia.
"How is that possible?"
She studied the filing.
"It appears someone prepared the paperwork in advance and submitted it using fraudulent credentials."
My mouth went dry.
"Connor."
Margaret lowered her eyes.
I stared at her.
"You knew he was involved."
"I suspected."
"Then why didn't you warn me?"
She began crying.
"I tried to reach you."
My anger rose.
"You had my number."
"Your phone number had been changed."
I stopped.
Connor had persuaded me to switch carriers two months earlier.
He claimed his company offered a cheaper family plan.
Now I wondered how many messages he'd intercepted.
How many calls had disappeared.
How thoroughly he'd isolated me without my noticing.
Lucia touched the edge of the file.
"The trust transfer hasn't necessarily taken effect. We need confirmation from the administrator."
I looked at her.
"Can we stop it?"
"We can challenge the fraudulent documents and notify the appropriate authorities."
I took a breath.
"Do it."
For the first time since the crash, I wasn't simply reacting to what others had done.
I was making decisions.
I called the detective handling the suspected vehicle tampering.
I gave a complete statement about Connor.
The messages.
The spare car key.
The false death paperwork.
And the connection to Jessica Walsh.
Then I asked for legal advice about protecting my identity and finances.
Adrien remained nearby.
He didn't interrupt.
Didn't give orders.
Didn't insist on handling everything himself.
When we were alone, I looked at him.
"You're being unusually quiet."
He smiled faintly.
"I've learned you dislike being ordered around."
I almost laughed.
"That's an understatement."
He nodded.
"Then I'll ask instead."
"Ask what?"
"How can I help?"
For a moment, I couldn't answer.
Connor had always decided what help should look like.
Help meant surrendering my passwords.
Help meant trusting his judgment.
Help meant letting him manage my money.
Adrien was offering something different.
A choice.
"Can you make sure the investigators get every record your family has about Carlo Versani?"
"Yes."
"And stop anyone from interfering with the case?"
"I can cooperate with the authorities and make sure our records are preserved."
I nodded.
"Good."
Then I hesitated.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"I need a proper medical appointment."
His expression softened.
"Of course."
"The baby comes first."
He nodded.
"Agreed."
The next morning, I was evaluated at a hospital.
The obstetric assessment was reassuring, and the doctors arranged follow-up care.
My concussion was also improving.
For the first time in days, I felt like the world might eventually become ordinary again.
Then my phone rang.
Camila.
"Madison?"
"Hey."
Her voice sounded frightened.
"I need to tell you something."
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"Connor came to my office."
I closed my eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Security made him leave."
Relief washed through me.
Then she continued.
"He said the woman named Jess isn't his mother."
I frowned.
"What?"
"He said she's his wife."
My heartbeat stopped.
"His wife?"
Camila swallowed.
May you like
"He showed me a marriage certificate."
And suddenly, the lie was even bigger than we thought.
