Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Knew Too MuchNatalie sat alone in the kitchen when Adrian found her.
The ambulance had already taken Owen to the hospital.
Security surrounded the property.
No one was allowed in or out.
Natalie looked as if she had aged ten years.
Adrian placed the document on the table.
“You signed this.”
Natalie stared at it.
Then she closed her eyes.
“I hoped you'd never find that room.”
“So you knew it existed.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Julian.”
She said nothing.
Adrian slammed his hand onto the table.
“Answer me!”
Natalie finally looked up.
“Yes.”
The word was barely audible.
“How long?”
“Since before I met you.”
Adrian felt something inside him crack.
“You came into my life knowing who I was?”
“I came into your life because of Julian.”
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
“He asked me to.”
Adrian stepped back.
“That's impossible.”
“He knew he was in danger.”
“Three years before he died?”
“No.”
Natalie shook her head.
“He knew much earlier.”
She began to tell him.
Julian had discovered that the Vale family fortune was built on a hidden trust.
Not merely money.
Control.
Ownership.
Several companies Adrian believed belonged to his father had actually been transferred into a private foundation.
The legal beneficiary was the unborn male heir of the Vale family.
Adrian had never known.
Julian knew.
And Julian believed someone would kill to control the heir.
“That's why Owen was targeted,” Adrian said.
Natalie nodded.
“Who is behind it?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie.”
“I swear.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You put my son in that car.”
Natalie started crying.
“I didn't.”
“Then explain what happened.”
She covered her face.
“Someone came to me yesterday.”
“Who?”
“A man.”
“What man?”
“I don't know his name.”
“What did he want?”
Natalie looked toward the windows.
“He told me that if I didn't put Owen in the car, you'd die.”
Adrian said nothing.
“He showed me photographs.”
“What photographs?”
“You.”
Driving.
Sleeping.
Leaving the hospital.
Meeting Daniel.
Meeting me.
He had photographed everything.
Natalie continued.
“He told me the SUV would be unlocked. He said Owen would be taken within minutes.”
“But the doors were locked.”
“I know.”
“What changed?”
Natalie shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Adrian noticed her hand.
There was a faint red mark around her wrist.
“Who did that?”
Natalie looked down.
“I tried to leave.”
“When?”
“Last night.”
She reached into her pocket.
Pulled out a key.
Old.
Brass.
Adrian recognized it immediately.
“That's Julian's.”
Natalie nodded.
“He gave it to me.”
Adrian took it.
“What's it for?”
“Your father's old office.”
“My father demolished that office.”
“No.”
Natalie looked him directly in the eyes.
“He told everyone it was demolished.”
Adrian felt a chill move through him.
His father had always controlled information.
Maybe too well.
Before he could speak, Adrian's phone rang.
The hospital.
He answered.
“Mr. Vale?”
“Yes.”
“This is the pediatric emergency department. Your son is stable.”
Adrian exhaled.
“Thank God.”
“But there's something you need to know.”
“What?”
“The blood test doesn't match the records.”
Adrian went still.
“What blood test?”
“The one we ran when he was admitted.”
“Owen is my biological son.”
“That isn't what I said.”
The doctor hesitated.
“His blood group is inconsistent with the documented records.”
Adrian’s heart began pounding.
“Can you repeat that?”
“We need additional testing.”
Natalie was staring at him.
She had heard enough to understand.
“What does it mean?” Adrian asked.
The doctor lowered his voice.
“It means the child you believe is Owen Vale may not be Owen Vale.”
The call ended.
Adrian slowly lowered his phone.
Natalie looked at him.
“What did they say?”
He didn't answer.
“Adrian?”
“You told me Julian asked you to come into my life.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about the trust.”
“Yes.”
“You knew someone wanted Owen.”
“Yes.”
Adrian's voice became almost a whisper.
“So tell me the truth.”
“What truth?”
He stepped closer.
“Whose baby did I bring home four months ago?”
Natalie’s face drained of color.
“I was afraid you'd ask that.”
Adrian's blood turned cold.
“What does that mean?”
She began shaking.
“The night Owen was born…”
She stopped.
A long silence passed.
Then she whispered:
“Your real son died.”
May you like
Adrian couldn't move.
“And I didn't tell you.”
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