Chapter 8 - The Name Hidden Under the WatchDetective Mason immediately raised his weapon.
“Officer, step away from the door.”
The other detective froze.
“What?”
“Hands where I can see them.”
The room changed instantly.
Olivia gripped the blanket.
Ethan moved in front of her.
Richard stared at the silver watch.
The letter J glimmered under the hospital light.
The detective looked at it.
Then he smiled.
“You people have no idea what you're dealing with.”
Mason's partner reached inside his jacket.
Mason shouted,
“Don't!”
The man pulled out a photograph.
He placed it on the floor.
“Ask Julian.”
Then he turned and ran.
Police chased him.
The hallway erupted in shouting.
Doors slammed.
People screamed.
Richard remained frozen.
The photograph lay between him and Ethan.
Ethan bent down and picked it up.
It showed three people.
Evelyn Cole.
Maria Hart.
And a newborn baby.
Olivia.
On the back was a date.
The day Olivia was born.
And one sentence.
THE AGREEMENT IS COMPLETE.
Richard stared.
“What agreement?”
Ethan shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Olivia whispered,
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
She was crying.
“My mother told me once.”
“Told you what?”
“That I was adopted.”
Richard's face collapsed.
“What?”
Olivia nodded.
“She told me when I was sixteen.”
Richard couldn't speak.
“She said she was afraid I'd hate her.”
Richard's voice was barely audible.
“Did you believe her?”
“I thought she was joking.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I forgot.”
Richard stared at her.
“Forgot?”
“She never mentioned it again.”
Ethan looked at the photograph.
“We need to find Julian.”
Richard nodded.
“And Grace.”
“And the original trust documents.”
“And whoever ordered the poisoning.”
Mason returned.
“Your suspect escaped.”
Richard turned.
“Where?”
“Service tunnel.”
“Did you identify him?”
“His fingerprints don't match our officer.”
“Then who was he?”
Mason looked grim.
“The man used a false identity.”
Richard looked at the watch.
“Julian?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Mason handed him a report.
“His name is Daniel Voss.”
Richard froze.
“Voss?”
“You know him?”
Richard's face hardened.
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
“My wife's former lawyer.”
Ethan looked stunned.
“Maria had a private lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Richard's voice became cold.
“She hired him six months before she died.”
Richard suddenly remembered an old locked cabinet at his house.
Maria had left one key behind.
He had never opened it.
Now he knew what the key was for.
They drove home under police escort.
Richard opened the cabinet.
Inside was a single envelope.
His wife's handwriting was on the front.
FOR OLIVIA, WHEN SHE IS OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
Richard's hands trembled.
He opened it.
The letter began:
My precious Olivia,
If you are reading this, I am either dead or too afraid to tell you the truth.
Richard stopped.
Olivia continued reading aloud.
You were not given to us because someone wanted a better life for you.
You were given to us because someone needed to hide you.
Olivia's voice broke.
She kept reading.
Your biological father is alive.
Richard's breath stopped.
Ethan stared.
The next line was worse.
He is not a Hart.
Olivia lowered the letter.
Richard turned toward her.
“Who is he?”
Olivia continued.
His name is Julian Cole.
The room went silent.
Ethan staggered backward.
“No.”
Richard looked at him.
“Julian?”
Olivia's hands shook.
“My biological father is Julian.”
Ethan whispered,
“That means…”
Richard finished for him.
“It means Olivia and Julian are connected by blood.”
Ethan looked toward the photograph.
But there was another line on the letter.
He read it.
His face went white.
“Richard.”
“What?”
“The last sentence.”
Richard looked.
And the man you call your husband knows more about this than he has ever admitted.
Everyone turned toward Ethan.
Ethan stepped backward.
“No.”
Olivia stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I didn't.”
“You knew about my father?”
“No.”
Richard's voice hardened.
“Then why does this letter say you did?”
Ethan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then someone knocked on the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Richard moved toward it.
Mason raised his hand.
“Don't.”
The knocking came again.
Three times.
Then a voice spoke from outside.
“Ethan.”
Ethan froze.
The voice continued.
“You've run out of lies.”
Olivia looked at Richard.
“Who is it?”
Ethan's face had lost all color.
He whispered,
May you like
“Julian.”
And the front door slowly began to open.
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