Chapter 18 - The Real FatherEverything I had believed about my life collapsed in less than a minute.
Michael wasn't my biological father.
Daniel Mercer was.
And Mama had known.
Mercer explained that before I was born, he and Mama had worked together to expose the Hollister network.
They fell in love.
Then she became pregnant.
Wayne discovered the pregnancy.
“He threatened to kill her,” Mercer said.
“Why didn't you protect her?”
“I tried.”
“You disappeared.”
“I was forced into hiding.”
“Why?”
“Because Voss controlled people inside federal agencies.”
Mercer looked at Emily.
“Your birth was supposed to be the end of the investigation.”
“But it wasn't.”
“No.”
“Why were there three babies?”
Mercer hesitated.
“Because your mother was carrying one child.”
He looked at Sarah.
“Your aunt was carrying another.”
Then Emily.
“And Wayne arranged for a third infant to be introduced into the hospital system.”
My stomach turned.
“Emily wasn't Mama's biological daughter.”
Emily froze.
“No.”
Mercer shook his head.
“She was born to another woman.”
I looked at Emily.
“But we're sisters.”
“Not biologically.”
Emily's face broke.
“Then why did I match her DNA?”
“Because your mother's family was involved.”
Sarah stepped forward.
“Then why did Mama call us daughters?”
Mercer looked at her.
“Because she raised you in secret.”
Emily was crying.
I felt something strange.
Not loss.
Relief.
Family wasn't suddenly gone.
It was changing shape.
Then Mercer reached into his pocket.
He removed a folded piece of paper.
“This is what your mother wanted you to have.”
I unfolded it.
It was a letter.
Linda,
By now you know about Daniel.
You also know the truth about the money.
But there is one thing I never told anyone.
I continued.
Wayne did not choose you because you were the heir.
He chose you because Daniel loved you.
My throat tightened.
Then:
Voss believed he could control Daniel through you.
The next sentence was almost impossible to read.
He was wrong.
Then one final paragraph.
If you reach this point, Linda, you must make one choice.
Take the inheritance and disappear.
Or expose everyone.
At the bottom:
Do not trust the person who brings you this letter.
I looked up.
Mercer was watching me.
My heart pounded.
“What does that mean?”
Mercer stepped backward.
Then Sarah whispered:
“Linda.”
“What?”
She pointed behind him.
The office door was open.
Russell was gone.
So was Emily.
I turned.
Only one person remained.
Mercer.
He looked at me.
“I didn't bring you here to save you.”
May you like
He locked the door.
“I brought you here because I need the inheritance.”
