Chapter 15: My Wife's Final Offer
Rachel walked toward us as though she had every right to be there.
Her heels clicked against the polished floor.
Evelyn immediately stepped between her and Victor.
"Stay back.""
Rachel looked at her.
"You're not part of this family.""
Evelyn didn't move.
"Neither are you.""
Rachel smiled.
"That's a matter of opinion.""
I stood.
"Where's my mother?""
Rachel glanced at me.
"Safe.""
"Stop using that word.""
"Then stop asking questions you already know the answers to.""
I stepped closer.
"You've been stealing from my family, forging documents, threatening my mother, and helping conceal an attempted murder.""
Rachel sighed.
"You're making me sound terrible.""
I stared at her.
"You're doing a good job of that yourself.""
She looked toward Victor.
"Hello, Victor.""
He began shaking.
"Get away from me.""
Rachel smiled.
"Still angry?""
Victor tried to move his wheelchair backward.
Evelyn held its handles.
Rachel opened her handbag and removed a document.
"I've brought something for you to sign.""
Victor shook his head.
"No.""
"It's the final transfer.""
"I won't sign.""
Rachel's smile disappeared.
"Then perhaps Daniel should know what happened to his mother.""
My blood turned cold.
I grabbed her wrist.
"Don't you dare.""
She pulled away.
"Your mother is perfectly fine. For now.""
I looked at the administrator.
"Call security.""
The woman had already reached for her phone.
Rachel raised her hand.
"Before you do that, perhaps you should know that I have legal authority to be here.""
She held up a document.
I examined it.
It was a temporary medical authorization for Victor Hale.
Signed by a court-appointed guardian.
The guardian's name was Thomas Bennett.
I laughed.
"Mr. Bennett told me to get out of here.""
Rachel's expression flickered.
Then she recovered.
"Thomas has been very helpful.""
I took out my phone.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
"Daniel, listen to me.""
"Rachel has a guardianship document with your name on it.""
"I didn't sign it.""
Rachel's smile disappeared.
"He's lying," she said loudly.
Mr. Bennett heard her.
"Put her on speaker.""
I did.
His voice filled the corridor.
"Rachel Carter, whatever you have, it's fraudulent. I have already reported the forged guardianship application.""
Rachel looked at the phone.
For the first time, she seemed uncertain.
Then she laughed.
"You should have stayed retired, Thomas.""
"Where is Margaret?""
Rachel ignored him.
"Daniel, I came here to make you an offer.""
I folded my arms.
"Go ahead.""
"Give me the original Northbridge key and sign the ownership release. In return, I'll give you enough money to start over.""
I stared at her.
"How much?""
"Five million.""
I laughed.
"You think I would sell my family for five million dollars?""
Rachel tilted her head.
"You already did.""
"What?""
She took out another document.
A marriage agreement.
My signature appeared on the last page.
I frowned.
"What is this?""
"Your postnuptial agreement.""
I had never signed one.
Rachel explained that the document transferred several marital assets into a private company if our marriage ended because of financial misconduct.
It was dated six months earlier.
I looked at the signature.
Another forgery.
"You've been planning this for months.""
She smiled.
"Longer than that.""
Victor suddenly spoke.
"Tell him about the baby.""
Rachel turned sharply.
"Be quiet.""
I looked at her.
"What baby?""
She stared at Victor.
Then she laughed.
"He's confused.""
Victor shook his head.
"No. Tell him.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
Rachel looked at me.
"Daniel, there is something I haven't told you.""
"What?""
She placed a hand over her stomach.
"I'm pregnant.""
The corridor went silent.
I stared at her.
"That's impossible.""
Her expression hardened.
"Why?""
"Because we've been trying for a child for years.""
"Apparently, we finally succeeded.""
I looked at Victor.
He was staring at Rachel with disgust.
Then he said something that made the entire room go still.
"That child isn't Daniel's.""
Rachel's smile disappeared.
I looked at her.
"Who is the father?""
She didn't answer.
Victor pointed toward the document in her hand.
"Ask her why she needed the hospital records. Ask her why she changed the date of conception.""
I turned toward Rachel.
"Who is the father?""
She looked at me for several seconds.
Then she said:
"Michael.""
I felt as though someone had punched me.
"Your brother?""
She shook her head.
"Your brother in name only, remember?""
I stepped backward.
"How long?""
Rachel wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Almost a year.""
I remembered the late-night calls.
The guest bedroom.
The hotel photograph.
The medication organizer.
The countless times she had kissed my cheek after lying to me.
I looked at her.
"Why did you stay married to me?""
"Because you were useful.""
The words came out casually.
Without regret.
Without shame.
She continued.
"You had the legal ownership. Michael had the financial access. I needed both.""
I stared at her.
"And the baby?""
She looked down.
"The baby was supposed to secure my position.""
Victor suddenly gripped the armrests.
"She's lying about something else.""
Rachel turned toward him.
"Enough!""
But Victor continued.
"The pregnancy isn't real.""
I looked at Rachel.
She went pale.
"What?""
Victor pointed toward her handbag.
"There's a medical report in there. She showed it to me when she wanted my signature.""
I grabbed the handbag.
Rachel tried to pull it away.
Evelyn caught her arm.
The bag fell.
Several papers scattered across the floor.
I picked up the medical report.
It was from a private clinic.
The result was clear.
*Pregnancy test: Negative.*
Below it was another document.
A payment receipt for a fabricated ultrasound report.
Rachel had invented a pregnancy.
She had planned to use an imaginary child to strengthen her claim to the family trust.
I looked at her.
"You lied about everything.""
She began crying.
"I had to!""
"No. You wanted money.""
"I wanted security!""
"You had a home. A husband. A family.""
She laughed bitterly.
"A family? Your mother treated me like a servant. Your father never trusted me. Michael promised me a future, and you gave me nothing.""
I stared at her.
"You had my love.""
For the first time, she looked away.
Then the administrator shouted.
"Security!""
Two officers rushed into the corridor.
Rachel immediately raised her hands.
"Thank God. This man is attacking me.""
I stepped away.
One officer approached.
"Mrs. Carter, we need you to come with us.""
Rachel looked at me.
"Daniel, tell them!""
I said nothing.
She began struggling.
Then she leaned close enough for only me to hear.
"You think you've won?""
I looked at her.
"Yes.""
She smiled through her tears.
"Then ask your mother who really signed your adoption papers.""
The officers escorted her away.
I stood in the corridor, staring at the medical report.
Then Victor spoke.
"Daniel.""
I turned.
He was crying.
"There's something else.""
"What now?""
He reached beneath his blanket and pulled out a small envelope.
It had my name written across it.
"I've kept this for forty-two years.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a newborn baby.
On the back was a handwritten note.
If Daniel ever learns the truth, tell him his mother didn't give him away willingly.
I looked at Victor.
"What does that mean?""
He closed his eyes.
"Your biological mother was murdered the night you were born.""
My fingers went numb.
"Who killed her?""
Victor looked toward the corridor where Rachel had disappeared.
Then he whispered:
"Your mother didn't die because of an accident, Daniel. She died because she discovered what your grandfather had done to the family.""
May you like
And beneath the photograph was one final name.
*Margaret Carter.*
