Chapter 18: The Daughter Who Knew Too Much
Nobody spoke.
Evelyn stood frozen beside the doorway.
Her face had lost every trace of color.
I looked from the document to her.
"Why is your name here?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Anthony turned toward her.
"Your birth certificate lists Robert Dawson as your biological father.""
Evelyn stepped backward.
"That's a lie.""
Robert remained seated.
He didn't deny it.
Roy picked up the document.
"Is this true?""
Evelyn looked at the older man.
"Tell them it's not true.""
Robert stared at her.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he answered:
"Your mother and I had an arrangement.""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"An arrangement?""
"She needed financial help. I provided it.""
"Was I your daughter?""
Robert looked away.
"Biologically, yes.""
Evelyn began shaking.
I remembered the photograph of her mother standing outside Patricia's hospital room.
I remembered her involvement in the forged guardianship papers.
And suddenly, her behavior made more sense.
She hadn't simply been protecting Thomas.
She had been protecting the man who had controlled her entire life.
I approached her.
"Did you know?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No.""
Anthony looked at her.
"Your mother told you when you were twenty-three.""
Evelyn turned sharply.
"How do you know that?""
"Because she told me everything.""
Evelyn covered her mouth.
"She said Robert was helping her. She said he was an old family friend.""
Robert finally spoke.
"Vivian should have kept her mouth shut.""
Evelyn looked at him.
"You knew?""
He shrugged.
"Of course.""
She began crying.
"All these years?""
Robert leaned back.
"I paid for your education. I helped you marry Thomas. I made sure you had everything you needed.""
Evelyn's voice rose.
"You made me marry your grandson?""
Robert looked irritated.
"I made sure you were connected to the right family.""
I felt sick.
Thomas had married his own half-sister without knowing it.
Daniel stared at the document.
"Does Thomas know?""
Anthony shook his head.
"Not yet.""
Evelyn sank into a chair.
"That's why you always told me to keep the family together.""
Robert looked at her.
"You were useful.""
The words seemed to break something inside her.
She began sobbing.
I sat beside her.
For all the terrible things she had done, I could see the frightened young woman who had spent her life obeying a powerful man.
But that didn't erase what she had helped Thomas do.
"Did you know about Daniel's accident?"" I asked.
Evelyn nodded through her tears.
"Yes.""
"Did you know Thomas had pushed him?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know Henry had tried to contact me?""
She lowered her head.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then you chose to help them.""
Evelyn whispered, "I was afraid.""
"So was I. But I still tried to find my children.""
She covered her face.
Anthony stepped forward.
"There's another reason Robert kept Evelyn close.""
Robert's eyes narrowed.
"Don't.""
Anthony ignored him.
"He used her to monitor Henry's family. Whenever Henry contacted one of his children, Evelyn reported it.""
I turned toward her.
"Is that true?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Sometimes.""
"Sometimes?""
"I reported his visits to Daniel. I reported his meetings with Samuel. I told Thomas when Henry changed his will.""
Daniel stared at her.
"You were the reason Dad's attempts to reunite us failed?""
Evelyn began crying harder.
"Yes.""
Roy stepped away from the table.
"Unbelievable.""
I looked at her.
"What about the night Thomas told you to stop me from finding the medical records?""
Evelyn wiped her cheeks.
"He said if I helped him, Robert would give Thomas control of the company.""
"And you agreed?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
Anthony closed the folder.
"That's enough. We have everything we need.""
Robert slowly rose.
"You think these papers will destroy me?""
Anthony looked at him.
"They will expose the hospital payments, the forged documents, the financial transfers, and the evidence concerning Patricia's death.""
Robert laughed.
"You have no idea how many people still owe me favors.""
Roy stepped toward the door.
"That may be true. But some of those people are going to have questions when the police see this.""
Robert's expression changed.
He reached toward the telephone on the side table.
Anthony immediately moved it away.
"Don't.""
Robert looked at him.
"You ungrateful child.""
Anthony's voice remained calm.
"I'm not a child anymore.""
Then Daniel's phone vibrated.
A message from Thomas appeared.
*I know where you are. Get out of that house.*
Another message followed.
*Robert isn't the only one who can make people disappear.*
Daniel showed me the screen.
I felt a chill run down my back.
Roy looked toward the windows.
"Everybody away from the glass.""
A car engine roared outside.
Then another.
The housekeeper hurried into the room.
"Mr. Dawson, there are two vehicles at the gate.""
Robert smiled.
"Finally.""
Anthony turned toward him.
"Who did you call?""
Robert didn't answer.
The front door opened.
Thomas walked into the hallway.
He was carrying a leather briefcase.
Behind him stood two men in dark suits.
Thomas looked at Daniel first.
Then Samuel.
Then me.
His expression was completely different from the man who had confronted us at the funeral.
He looked calm.
Almost relieved.
"Well," he said, "I see everyone finally knows about the family.""
Anthony stepped forward.
"Thomas, don't do anything stupid.""
Thomas placed the briefcase on the table.
"I didn't come here to fight.""
He opened it.
Inside were several legal documents and a small black recording device.
"I came to finish what Dad started.""
I stared at the device.
"What is that?""
Thomas looked directly at me.
"Henry's final recording.""
Anthony frowned.
"We already have his confession.""
Thomas shook his head.
"Not the confession he made to you.""
He pressed a button.
Henry's voice filled the room.
"Margaret, if you're hearing this, there's something I never told you about Thomas.""
I stopped breathing.
Henry continued.
"He was never supposed to inherit the Dawson company.""
Thomas's expression changed.
Then Henry said the words that made Robert grip his cane.
"Because Thomas is not my biological son.""
Nobody moved.
Daniel looked at Thomas.
Samuel looked at Robert.
Evelyn began crying again.
And Thomas slowly turned toward his grandfather.
"Tell them," he whispered.
Robert stared at him.
Thomas's voice broke.
"Tell them who my real father is.""
Robert closed his eyes.
May you like
Then he answered:
"I am.""
