Chapter 14 - The Attorney Who Knew EverythingMargaret didn't deny it.
She sat across from Emily in the brownstone.
The children slept upstairs.
Adrian waited in the adjoining room.
Emily placed the letter on the table.
“You knew.”
Margaret sighed.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Almost everything.”
Emily's voice sharpened.
“You knew I had children.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Adrian was their father.”
“Yes.”
“You knew the trust belonged to them.”
“Yes.”
“And you sat beside me while I signed the divorce.”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“I did.”
Emily stood.
“Why?”
“Because your grandmother ordered me to.”
Emily stared.
“She told me that if Blake ever asked for a divorce, I was to let him believe he had won.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew the only way to expose Charles was to make him confident.”
Emily's anger slowly shifted.
“To make him careless.”
Margaret nodded.
“The divorce was bait.”
Emily sank back into the chair.
“You all knew.”
“Not everyone.”
“Who didn't?”
“Blake.”
Emily laughed bitterly.
“So he really was a fool.”
Margaret shook her head.
“He was manipulated.”
Emily looked away.
“I'm not defending him.”
“Neither am I.”
Margaret reached into her bag.
“There is something else.”
Another document.
“This is the final succession agreement.”
Emily opened it.
Her name was there.
Adrian's.
And the children's.
But beside Emily's name was a clause.
SPOUSE EXCLUSION.
Emily looked up.
“My grandmother specifically excluded Blake.”
“Yes.”
“That means she planned for him to betray me.”
“Not exactly.”
Margaret hesitated.
“She planned for him to be tested.”
Emily stared.
“He failed.”
Margaret nodded.
The room fell silent.
Then Adrian entered.
“We've arrested Charles's remaining network.”
Emily looked at him.
“What happens now?”
“He'll face charges.”
“And Sienna?”
“Cooperating.”
“Blake?”
“He resigned.”
Emily blinked.
“From Carson Meridian?”
“Yes.”
She looked out the window.
Three years ago, she had walked out with a handbag.
Today, the company was hers again.
But she felt strangely empty.
Adrian approached.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“I thought getting everything back would feel better.”
He smiled faintly.
“Maybe you weren't trying to get the company back.”
“What was I trying to get?”
He looked upstairs.
“Yourself.”
Emily smiled.
Then Mia appeared at the doorway.
“Mommy?”
Emily knelt.
“Yes?”
“Can Daddy come to my birthday?”
Emily looked at Adrian.
Adrian said nothing.
Emily thought.
Then answered:
“Yes.”
Mia smiled.
“Both Daddies?”
Emily froze.
Adrian nearly laughed.
“That's complicated.”
Mia frowned.
“Why?”
Emily smiled.
“Because adults make everything complicated.”
Mia nodded.
“Okay.”
She ran upstairs.
Emily laughed softly.
Adrian looked at her.
“She has your stubbornness.”
Emily smiled.
“She has yours too.”
The moment became quiet.
Then Adrian asked:
“Would you consider giving me another chance?”
Emily looked at him.
“After three years?”
“After seven.”
“What does that mean?”
“I never stopped loving you.”
Emily stared at him.
“You disappeared.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You stole time from me.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer.
“And I don't know if I can forgive you.”
“I understand.”
“But…”
He waited.
Emily touched his hand.
“I don't think I can stop loving you either.”
Adrian smiled.
Before either could say more, Emily's phone rang.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A male voice spoke.
“Ms. Carson?”
“Yes?”
“I'm calling from the Swiss medical archive.”
Emily frowned.
“I thought all the records had been transferred.”
“They were.”
“So?”
“There is one record we couldn't transfer.”
Her heart began beating faster.
“Which record?”
The man hesitated.
“Your original pregnancy file.”
Emily's face changed.
“What's wrong with it?”
“There are four fetal entries.”
Emily froze.
“What?”
“Four.”
She looked at Adrian.
He heard every word.
The caller continued.
“Three were listed as viable.”
Emily's breathing stopped.
“And the fourth?”
Silence.
May you like
Then:
“Unknown.”
