Chapter 9 - THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
For several seconds, Delaney couldn't make herself speak.
Her birth certificate lay on the table.
Her mother's signature was unmistakable.
But the section identifying her biological father had been altered.
She looked at Damon.
"What does this mean?"
He examined the document.
"I don't know."
Frank leaned forward.
"The alteration appears to have been made decades ago."
Delaney felt sick.
"Was Samuel Whitfield even my father?"
Damon's expression softened.
"The man who raised you was your father, regardless of what that document says."
She swallowed.
"But I deserve the truth."
"Yes," he said quietly. "You do."
Frank contacted an attorney familiar with the old trust records.
Within two hours, they discovered that Margaret had deposited an additional sealed statement.
It could only be released to Delaney.
Inside was a letter.
My darling daughter,
Samuel Whitfield was your father in every way that mattered.
He loved you from the moment you were born.
But there is something I never told you.
Delaney's hands shook.
Before I married Samuel, I was engaged to a man who disappeared after learning I was pregnant.
I believed he abandoned us.
Years later, I discovered he had been forced into hiding because of what he knew about Charles Hale.
Delaney stared at the page.
The letter continued.
His name was Adrian Moretti.
Damon drew a sharp breath.
Delaney looked up.
"Who is Adrian Moretti?"
Frank answered.
"A former financial investigator who worked with Thomas Bianchi."
"Is he alive?"
Frank hesitated.
"We believed he died twenty-six years ago."
Damon took the letter.
"Adrian was accused of stealing money from my father's companies. He disappeared before he could defend himself."
Delaney's stomach tightened.
"So he might have been innocent?"
"Possibly."
The letter contained one final instruction.
If you ever need to know what happened, find the woman who worked at Saint Catherine's Children's Home. Her name is Rose Bennett.
Delaney immediately searched her phone.
Saint Catherine's had closed years earlier.
But Rose Bennett was listed as a former administrator living in Oak Park.
Damon arranged for them to visit.
Rose was eighty-one, sharp-eyed, and remarkably composed.
When Delaney introduced herself, the woman's eyes filled with recognition.
"Margaret's daughter."
"You knew my mother?"
Rose nodded.
"She brought you here once. You were only a baby."
Delaney sat down slowly.
"Did you know Adrian Moretti?"
Rose's expression changed.
"Of course."
"Then tell me what happened to him."
Rose looked toward Damon.
"You won't like the answer."
Damon remained silent.
Rose folded her hands.
"Adrian Moretti never died."
Delaney leaned forward.
"Where is he?"
Rose's next words left both of them speechless.
"He has been living under another name for twenty-six years."
May you like
She paused.
"And, Delaney, you spoke to him yesterday."
