My Husband Slapped Me Twelve Days After Giving Birth—Then Three Black SUVs Pulled Into Our Driveway

For several seconds, my father didn't move.

Daniel stood beside my hospital bed, his eyes fixed on Dad. Evelyn had both hands pressed against her mouth. Renee was already reaching for her phone, apparently trying to process the possibility that the financial trust, the missing ledger, and my mother's disappearance were all connected.

But I could only think about one sentence.

Tell her what happened to the woman who was supposed to raise her after the accident.

I looked at my father.

"What does he mean?""

Dad rubbed his forehead.

"Daniel, this isn't the time.""

I grabbed his wrist.

"Dad. What does he mean?""

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he pulled the chair closer.

"When your mother supposedly died, you were sixteen. You were devastated. You stopped eating.

You barely slept. I was working constantly, trying to find out what had happened.""

"I remember.""

"There was a woman who helped us during that period. Her name was Margaret Hayes.""

I frowned.

Margaret.

The woman who had stayed with us for almost a year after my mother's funeral.

She had cooked my meals, driven me to school, and sat beside my bed when I had nightmares.

She was the closest thing I had to a second mother.

"What about her?""

Dad glanced at Daniel.

"Margaret was the sister of Laura Hayes.""

My stomach tightened.

"The woman who died in the car?""

He nodded.

"Yes.""

I felt the blood drain from my face.

"You're saying Margaret knew?""

"She believed her sister had been killed to cover up what happened to your mother.""

I looked at Daniel.

"Then why did she stay with us?""

"Because your mother asked her to.""

The room seemed to shrink.

Daniel explained that Margaret had been part of my mother's plan. She was supposed to help protect me while my mother disappeared and the financial investigation continued.

But something went wrong.

Margaret had been followed.

The original plan collapsed.

And my father, believing my mother was dead, had accepted Margaret's help without understanding the full story.

"Did Margaret know my mother was alive?"" I asked.

Daniel nodded.

"Yes.""

I shook my head.

"No. That's impossible. Margaret moved away. She stopped answering my calls.""

Dad looked down.

"She disappeared because someone threatened her.""

"Who?""

"Martin.""

I remembered the last time I'd spoken to Margaret.

I had been seventeen.

She'd called to wish me happy birthday. I could hear her crying.

I'd asked when she was coming to visit.

She'd said, "Soon, sweetheart. I promise.""

She never came.

I had thought she'd forgotten me.

Now I understood that she might have been protecting me.

"Where is she?"" I whispered.

Daniel took a small piece of paper from his jacket.

"She's in Oregon.""

Renee immediately reached for it.

"Is this a current address?""

"An address where she received mail until last month.""

Dad stood.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?""

"Because I didn't know whether I could trust you.""

Dad's expression hardened.

"After everything I've done?""

Daniel gave a humorless laugh.

"You spent sixteen years believing the official report. You buried a woman who wasn't your wife.""

Dad looked as though he'd been struck.

"I loved her.""

"I know.""

"Then don't tell me I didn't look.""

Daniel lowered his eyes.

For a moment, the anger disappeared from his face.

"Your wife made me promise something. If she couldn't return, I was supposed to keep her daughter safe. I failed her. And I wasn't going to risk making the same mistake again.""

I reached for the paper.

There was a phone number beneath the address.

"Can we call her?""

Daniel nodded.

"She'll recognize my name.""

Renee suggested using a secure line, and Detective Harris agreed to remain present during the call.

Dad dialed.

The phone rang four times.

A woman answered.

"Hello?""

Daniel leaned toward the speaker.

"Margaret. It's Daniel.""

Silence.

Then a sharp breath.

"Where have you been?""

"Trying to stay alive.""

"Is she safe?""

Daniel looked at me.

"She's here.""

Another silence.

Then the woman began crying.

"Is that really her?""

I leaned toward the phone.

"Margaret?""

A shaky voice answered.

"Oh, sweetheart.""

My eyes filled instantly.

"Where have you been?""

"I'm sorry.""

"You promised you'd visit.""

"I know.""

"You promised.""

"I know, darling. I'm so sorry.""

I pressed my hand against my mouth.

For years, I had carried a small, private hurt about Margaret. I had believed she had chosen to leave me.

Now I realized she might have spent those years looking over her shoulder.

"Do you know where my mother is?"" I asked.

Margaret stopped crying.

"Yes.""

My heart nearly stopped.

"Is she alive?""

"Yes.""

I looked at Dad.

He closed his eyes.

"Where is she?""

Margaret hesitated.

"Before I tell you, I need to know something.""

"What?""

"Has Derek found the trust?""

Renee leaned toward the phone.

"He knows it exists, but we don't believe he has access to it.""

Margaret let out a shaky breath.

"Then you need to listen carefully. Your mother didn't disappear because of the money. She disappeared because she discovered what the Bennett family intended to do to you.""

I felt cold.

"Me?""

"Yes, sweetheart.""

"What did they intend to do?""

Margaret's voice dropped.

"Your mother discovered that the trust was only part of the inheritance. There was another document. One that named you as the controlling owner of a company that the Bennett family had been using for illegal transactions.""

Renee looked at Daniel.

"That would explain why Derek wanted access to her signature.""

Margaret continued.

"Your mother believed that when you turned thirty, the ownership transfer would expose everything. She was afraid the family would try to control you before that happened.""

My stomach twisted.

"And Derek?""

"He was sent to get close to you.""

I couldn't breathe.

"Who sent him?""

Margaret answered without hesitation.

"His grandfather.""

Dad stood abruptly.

"Robert?""

"Yes.""

The woman on the phone began crying again.

"Your mother tried to stop it. But by the time she realized Derek was already involved, she was too late.""