Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPHGraham felt as if the floor had disappeared.
"My mother died fifteen years ago."
"That's what you were told."
"By whom?"
Sloane did not answer.
"By whom?"
"Marcus."
Graham took a step toward her.
"My mother died in a car accident."
"That's the official story."
"And you believed it?"
"At first."
"Claire didn't."
"No."
"Why?"
Sloane looked toward the photograph.
"Because she saw her."
Graham laughed.
It came out broken.
"You expect me to believe my dead wife found my dead mother alive?"
"Not just alive."
Sloane paused.
"Living under another name."
Before Graham could respond, his phone rang.
It was the head of security.
"We found the intruder."
"Where?"
"East garage."
"Who is he?"
A pause.
"Mr. Grant, you need to come down here."
Graham took Maisie's hand.
They moved through the dark hall.
The man was sitting on the garage floor.
His face was bruised.
One security guard stood over him.
Graham crouched.
"Who sent you?"
The man spat blood onto the concrete.
"I was told to retrieve the box."
"By whom?"
Silence.
Graham held up the photograph.
"You know her?"
The man's eyes widened.
"Where did you get that?"
"Answer me."
He stared at the image.
"She told me the girl was supposed to be moved today."
Graham's heart slammed.
"Who?"
"The woman in the photo."
"Who is she?"
The man laughed nervously.
"You really don't know."
Graham grabbed his collar.
"Tell me."
The man stared at Maisie.
"Your daughter was born with a different name."
Graham released him.
Maisie stepped behind him.
"What name?"
The intruder looked toward Sloane.
She looked terrified.
He said:
"Elizabeth."
Graham froze.
"Elizabeth what?"
"Elizabeth Hart."
Graham looked at Dr. Evelyn Hart's name on the behavioral report.
The pieces twisted together.
"No."
The man continued.
"Claire found out the adoption records were altered."
Graham could barely speak.
"Maisie is adopted?"
The man shook his head.
"No."
"Then what?"
"Your daughter is biologically yours."
Graham exhaled.
"But?"
"The mother listed on the original record wasn't Claire."
Silence.
Graham stared.
"Then who?"
The man smiled.
"Your mother."
Graham stepped back.
"That's impossible."
"Ask for the original blood test."
"Where?"
The man looked at Sloane.
"She knows."
Graham turned.
Sloane's lips parted.
"I never saw it."
"You did."
"No."
"You were there."
"Stop."
The man looked toward Graham.
"The wedding was never about marrying you."
Graham stared.
"What was it about?"
"Getting access to the family trust before the court sealed it."
"How?"
"By marrying the legal guardian."
Graham's voice was cold.
"Me."
The man nodded.
"But you're not the real problem."
"Then who is?"
He glanced toward Maisie.
"The person who has legal authority over her."
Graham frowned.
"I do."
"No."
The man's smile disappeared.
"Not anymore."
Graham's blood ran cold.
"What did you say?"
"Check the state records."
Graham grabbed his phone.
He opened the family trust portal.
A notification appeared.
GUARDIANSHIP STATUS UPDATED.
AUTHORIZATION: TEMPORARY EMERGENCY GUARDIAN.
NAME:
Graham's stomach twisted.
The name beneath it was not Sloane.
It was not Marcus Bell.
It was not him.
It was:
EVELYN HART.
Graham looked up.
"That's impossible."
Sloane whispered:
"It isn't."
He turned.
"How did she become Maisie's guardian?"
May you like
Sloane answered with one sentence.
"Because someone used your signature to remove you."
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