Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO WATCHED ME GROW UP
Michael Carter stood beside a hospital window when I entered the room.
He was sixty-one.
Thin.
Gray-haired.
With a small scar above his right eyebrow.
But when he turned toward me, I recognized the eyes from the photograph.
My eyes.
Or at least the eyes I'd grown up believing were his.
"Sophie?"
His voice broke.
I stopped.
For twenty-eight years, I'd imagined meeting my father.
Sometimes I pictured a hero.
Sometimes a stranger.
Sometimes a man who'd abandoned us.
Now he stood before me looking terrified.
"Michael?"
He nodded.
"My little girl."
Something inside me crumbled.
I crossed the room.
He opened his arms.
I hugged him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he whispered, "I'm sorry."
I pulled back.
"Where were you?"
His eyes filled.
"Hiding."
"For twenty-eight years?"
"I thought they would kill you if I came home."
I stared.
"Who?"
Michael looked toward Adrien.
"Your father's business partners."
Adrien's jaw tightened.
"Victor Voss?"
Michael nodded slowly.
"But Victor wasn't the one who ordered it."
I frowned.
"Then who?"
Michael took a shaky breath.
"Nathan Whitmore."
My stomach tightened.
"Catherine's brother?"
"Yes."
He continued.
"Nathan believed Catherine's inheritance should return to him after her death."
I stared.
"He wanted my money?"
"He wanted control of the entire trust."
Michael looked down.
"Catherine refused to sign documents transferring her rights."
"What happened?"
"She was threatened."
My hands trembled.
"And then she died?"
Michael nodded.
"The official report called it an accident."
I felt sick.
"Was it?"
He hesitated.
"I never believed it."
Silence settled over the room.
Then Michael reached into his coat.
A small silver locket appeared.
He handed it to me.
"Catherine wanted you to have this."
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A beautiful young woman with dark hair and warm blue eyes held a newborn baby.
Me.
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
For the first time, I saw my biological mother holding me.
Michael touched the photograph.
"She loved you, Sophie."
I covered my mouth.
"Then why did she give me away?"
His expression softened.
"She didn't."
I looked up.
"What?"
"She asked Helen and me to protect you temporarily."
My heart hammered.
"From Nathan?"
Michael nodded.
"We planned to reunite you once the investigation was complete."
I swallowed.
"But she died."
"Yes."
Then Michael looked toward Adrien.
"There's something else."
Adrien straightened.
"What?"
"Your father helped me hide the evidence."
Adrien froze.
"Victor?"
Michael nodded.
"He discovered the trust fraud before he died."
I stared.
May you like
Then Michael said something that made both of us go still.
"Victor Voss was murdered because he refused to help Nathan Whitmore steal Sophie's inheritance."
