Chapter 6 - Raymond noticed the change in her expression.“You're questioning me.”
Emily didn't deny it.
“Shouldn't I?”
“You should question everyone.”
“Including you.”
“Yes.”
That answer surprised her.
Raymond took a slow breath.
“I've hidden things from you.”
“How many?”
“Too many.”
“Did you know my father was alive?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know my mother was alive?”
“Yes.”
Emily swallowed.
“And you still let me believe they were both dead.”
“I believed the less you knew, the safer you were.”
“It wasn't your choice.”
“No.”
Emily looked away.
For sixteen years she had believed herself an orphan.
Now she was discovering a family built around secrets.
One branch owned hospitals.
Another controlled corporations.
And somewhere in the shadows, her parents were still alive.
The security chief returned.
“We found Dr. Shaw.”
“Where?”
“Parking garage.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Take me there.”
They entered the garage.
Dr. Shaw sat against a concrete pillar, blood staining his forehead.
Emily rushed toward him.
“Doctor.”
He looked up.
“Don't come closer.”
“Why?”
He pointed at Raymond.
“He killed your father.”
Emily froze.
Raymond's face became expressionless.
“That isn't true.”
Dr. Shaw looked at Emily.
“I saw it.”
“You saw my father die?”
“Yes.”
Emily's heart hammered.
“When?”
“Twenty years ago.”
“Then how is he alive?”
Dr. Shaw shook his head.
“He isn't.”
Emily stared.
“What?”
“The man on the phone isn't Lucas.”
Raymond closed his eyes.
“Adrian.”
“He's pretending to be him.”
Emily stepped back.
“Why would someone pretend to be my father?”
Dr. Shaw whispered:
“To control you.”
Raymond looked at him.
“Tell her the rest.”
The doctor hesitated.
Then spoke.
“Lucas Black wasn't your biological father.”
Emily blinked.
“What?”
Dr. Shaw continued:
“Your mother was involved with someone else.”
Raymond's expression hardened.
“Stop.”
“I won't.”
Emily looked between them.
“Who?”
Dr. Shaw swallowed.
“Richard Hayes.”
The name hit her like a blow.
Victoria's father.
Richard Hayes.
The hospital financier.
The man whose family had been trying to take her mother's company.
Emily shook her head.
“No.”
Dr. Shaw spoke quickly.
“Your mother had an affair with Richard before marrying Lucas.”
Raymond interrupted.
“That is a lie.”
“You weren't there.”
“I was.”
“You were her brother.”
“I was her guardian.”
Dr. Shaw looked at Emily.
“There is a DNA test.”
Emily stared.
“Where?”
“In the hospital archive.”
Raymond moved toward him.
“You will not say another word.”
Emily stepped between them.
“No.”
She looked at Dr. Shaw.
“Show me.”
The archive was hidden behind a false wall.
Dr. Shaw entered a code.
A metal drawer opened.
Inside were sealed envelopes.
One carried Emily's name.
She opened it.
DNA analysis.
The probability of biological relationship between Emily and Richard Hayes:
99.9987%.
Emily couldn't speak.
Raymond looked devastated.
“No.”
Emily felt her knees weaken.
She sat on the floor.
“My father…”
Dr. Shaw crouched beside her.
“Richard Hayes was your biological father.”
Emily stared at the report.
“Then why did my mother hide it?”
“Because Richard wanted custody.”
“Why?”
“Because you were his only legitimate heir.”
Emily looked up.
“He had other children.”
“Yes.”
“Victoria?”
“No.”
Dr. Shaw shook his head.
“Victoria isn't Richard's biological daughter.”
Emily's eyes widened.
“What?”
“She was adopted.”
Everything suddenly connected.
Victoria hated Emily because Richard's fortune could pass to Emily.
But then why had Victoria been using the hospital?
Why threaten the baby?
Why forge the records?
Emily looked at Raymond.
“What are you not telling me?”
Raymond remained silent.
Dr. Shaw answered instead.
“Victoria isn't working alone.”
“Who?”
He looked directly at Emily.
“Your mother.”
Emily froze.
“No.”
“She ordered it.”
Raymond shook his head.
“She would never.”
Dr. Shaw pulled out another file.
Inside was a recorded authorization.
Margaret Carter's signature.
Instructions to alter Emily's medical records.
Instructions to monitor her pregnancy.
And one final order.
Under no circumstances should Emily discover the identity of the child's father.
Emily stared.
Her hand went to her stomach.
“Who is my baby's father?”
No one answered.
She looked at Raymond.
Then Dr. Shaw.
“Tell me.”
Raymond whispered:
“We don't know.”
A phone began ringing.
This time, it was Emily's.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Emily.”
She recognized it instantly.
Her mother's.
“Mom?”
“Listen to me.”
Emily stood.
“Where are you?”
“I don't have much time.”
“Who is my baby's father?”
Silence.
Then Margaret spoke.
“Your baby isn't the heir.”
Emily's stomach dropped.
“Then what is my baby?”
Her mother answered:
“The key.”
The call ended.
Behind Emily, Dr. Shaw suddenly screamed.
May you like
Someone had stabbed him.
And the attacker was standing directly behind Raymond.
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