Chapter 8: The Witness Who Changed Everything
I couldn't stop staring at the screen.
Uncle Peter.
My mother's brother.
The same man who had spoken up at the reception when Dad claimed the $180,000 was a gift.
The same man who had appeared genuinely shocked when he heard about the trust.
"What is he doing with my father's documents?"" I asked.
Nathan paused the footage.
"Let's find out.""
Daniel called Peter.
It went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then Nathan noticed something in the recording.
"Go back.""
Daniel rewound the footage.
"Right there.""
He enlarged the image.
Peter wasn't simply handing Dad a folder.
He was also holding an envelope.
A white envelope with a blue stamp.
I recognized it.
It was the seal of Margaret Hale's estate attorney.
"That's Grandma's legal office," I whispered.
Daniel nodded.
"Which means Peter may have had access to documents that should have remained confidential.""
My phone vibrated.
A text from Peter.
*Emma, please don't believe everything Daniel tells you. I need to explain something. Can we meet privately?*
Nathan read it.
"Absolutely not.""
I looked at him.
"I want to hear what he has to say.""
"Then he can speak with Daniel present.""
I replied.
*Come to the hospital. Daniel and Nathan will be here.*
Ten minutes later, Peter arrived.
He looked exhausted.
His tie was crooked, and his shirt collar was open.
He stopped when he saw Nathan.
"I was hoping to speak with Emma alone.""
Nathan didn't move.
"That isn't happening.""
Peter sighed.
"Fine.""
He sat across from me.
"Emma, I owe you an apology.""
"For what?""
He rubbed his hands together.
"For not telling you sooner.""
"About what?""
Peter looked at Daniel.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Your father approached me several months ago. He said he needed help locating the original trust documents.""
"Why would you help him?""
"He told me the trust was about to collapse. He said your grandmother had made a mistake and that you were entitled to less than you believed.""
I stared at him.
"So you gave him access?""
Peter shook his head.
"Not exactly.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Be specific, Mr. Hale.""
Peter swallowed.
"Richard wanted me to use my position as executor of another family estate to request documents from Margaret's attorney. I refused initially.""
"But you eventually did it.""
"Yes.""
I looked away.
Peter continued.
"He told me Diane would lose the house if I didn't help.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone seems to have a reason for stealing from me.""
Peter flinched.
"I know how that sounds.""
"No. You don't.""
He leaned forward.
"Emma, there's something you need to understand. Your father was desperate. His company was failing. He owed money to several creditors.""
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he was ashamed.""
I stared at him.
"That's not an excuse to break someone's nose.""
Peter looked down.
"No. It isn't.""
Daniel opened his folder.
"Did you give Richard the original hospital record?""
Peter shook his head.
"No. I gave him copies of the trust correspondence.""
"Where did those copies come from?""
Peter hesitated.
Then he pulled out his phone.
"I recorded something.""
He placed it on the table.
"I didn't know what Richard was planning until last week. When he started talking about guardianship, I became frightened.""
He opened an audio file.
Dad's voice filled the room.
"Once the court appoints me, we won't have to ask Emma for anything. The trust will be under my supervision.""
Peter's recorded voice answered.
"What if Nathan challenges it?""
Dad laughed.
"Let him. The boy thinks money gives him power. He doesn't understand how easily a family can make a woman look unstable.""
Then another voice spoke.
My mother's.
"What about the original birth certificate?""
Dad replied.
"Victor has it.""
Peter's voice became nervous.
"Why does Victor need that?""
Dad answered with something that made Daniel sit upright.
"Because if Emma discovers Thomas Whitaker is her biological father, she'll start asking questions about the money Diane received twenty-seven years ago.""
The recording ended.
I stared at the phone.
"What money?""
Peter looked at me.
"Your father received a payment from Thomas's family.""
I shook my head.
"You just said Thomas refused Grandma's money.""
"Not from Thomas. From his father.""
I felt Nathan's hand tighten around mine.
Peter continued.
"Thomas came from a wealthy family. His father didn't want a scandal. When Richard threatened to expose the relationship, Thomas's father offered him money to stay away from Diane and the baby.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"How much?""
"Two hundred thousand dollars.""
The room went silent.
"Did my mother know?""
Peter nodded.
"She knew.""
My stomach turned.
I had spent my childhood believing my father had sacrificed everything to raise me.
But he had been paid to keep my biological father away.
And my mother had helped him.
"Where did the money go?"" Daniel asked.
Peter looked down.
"Richard used most of it to start his first business.""
I closed my eyes.
The company he always claimed he had built from nothing.
The business he used as proof that I owed him gratitude.
It had been funded with money connected to the man he had spent twenty-seven years pretending didn't exist.
Nathan stood.
"Peter, do you have proof?""
Peter nodded.
He opened his phone again and showed us a photograph of an old bank transfer receipt.
The amount was $200,000.
The date was three weeks before my birth.
The sender was the estate of William Whitaker.
The recipient was Richard Hale.
I felt sick.
Daniel took a photograph of the document.
"Where did you find this?""
"In my father's old records. He kept everything.""
Then Peter looked directly at me.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Richard didn't just receive that money. He signed an agreement promising that he would never claim to be your biological father.""
I stared at him.
"Then why did he?""
Peter's eyes filled.
"Because your grandmother changed her will.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
"Your grandmother promised Richard a substantial inheritance if he raised you responsibly and protected your financial interests.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"How substantial?""
"Her house, investment properties, and a portion of the family business.""
I stared at him.
"But Grandma left everything to me.""
Peter nodded.
"Exactly. She discovered Richard had been stealing from you. So she changed her will.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Did he know?""
"Yes. And he was furious.""
Peter took a deep breath.
"That's why he became obsessed with controlling your trust. He believes that if he can prove you're incapable of managing money, he can challenge your grandmother's final decisions.""
Nathan looked at Daniel.
"Then we need to make sure the judge sees all of this tomorrow.""
Daniel nodded.
"We will.""
Peter stood.
"Emma, I know you hate me. But I want to help.""
I looked at him.
"I don't hate you, Uncle Peter.""
He looked relieved.
Then I continued.
"I just don't know if I can trust you.""
He nodded slowly.
"I understand.""
As he walked toward the door, Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed almost immediately.
"What do you mean Victor is missing?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Nathan.
"Richard's attorney has disappeared from his office. His staff says he left with several original estate documents.""
I felt cold.
"What documents?""
Daniel checked the message again.
Then he turned the screen toward us.
May you like
*The original birth certificate.*
And the document that could prove who had paid Richard Hale to raise me.
