Chapter 13: The Night My Father Died
"I was seventeen.""
Ethan's voice was barely audible.
He stood beside the window, staring at the letter as though the handwriting might change if he looked long enough.
My mother gripped the edge of the desk.
"You're saying you remember Michael's accident?""
Ethan nodded slowly.
"I remember being in the car.""
I felt something tighten inside my chest.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't remember everything. And because my father told me never to discuss it.""
Richard pulled out a chair.
"Mr. Blackwood, I need you to tell us exactly what happened.""
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"It was raining. My father had sent me to deliver a package to someone in Connecticut. I was supposed to meet Daniel afterward.""
"Who was driving?"" I asked.
"I was.""
My stomach dropped.
Ethan continued.
"I was following my father's instructions. He told me the package contained business documents. I didn't know what was inside.""
"Where did you meet my father?""
"At a private restaurant near Stamford. He was waiting outside. He looked frightened.""
My mother covered her mouth.
"Michael?""
Ethan nodded.
"He approached my car and asked me whether I knew what my father was doing to the Blackwood family.""
I stepped closer.
"What did you say?""
"I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. He asked me to take him somewhere safe.""
Ethan's breathing became uneven.
"I agreed.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Then what happened?""
"Someone followed us.""
The room went silent.
Ethan looked down.
"I saw headlights behind us. I tried to lose the car, but the road was wet. Michael told me to keep driving.""
"Was the other vehicle following closely?"" Richard asked.
"Yes.""
"What happened next?""
Ethan closed his eyes.
"I remember a horn. A bright light. Then the steering wheel jerked.""
My mother began crying.
"Did you hit him?""
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know. I remember the car spinning. When I woke up, I was in the hospital.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Was my father in the car with you?""
Ethan nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did he survive?""
Ethan's eyes filled with tears.
"He was alive when the ambulance arrived.""
My mother made a broken sound.
"Then why did the police tell me he died at the scene?""
Ethan looked at her.
"Because my father told them that.""
Richard immediately stood.
"Are you saying Charles interfered with the accident investigation?""
"I don't know. But I remember him standing beside my hospital bed. He told me Michael hadn't survived.""
I stared at Ethan.
"Did you believe him?""
"I was seventeen. I had a head injury. I was taking medication. My father told me that the man had died, and I accepted it.""
My mother sank into the chair.
"Michael was alive?""
Ethan nodded.
"For a little while.""
She began sobbing uncontrollably.
I wanted to comfort her, but I couldn't move.
My father had been alive after the accident.
Someone had taken him away.
Someone had decided that my mother would never see him again.
And Ethan had been there.
Richard picked up the letter.
"We cannot establish criminal responsibility from this recollection alone. We need the original accident records, hospital records, and the archive Charles left behind.""
Ethan looked at me.
"I'll help you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Why should I trust you?""
"Because I was a child when this happened.""
"So was I. I lost my father. My mother disappeared. And you grew up in the family that caused it.""
He lowered his eyes.
"I know.""
My phone rang.
An unknown number.
Richard motioned for me to answer on speaker.
A man's voice filled the room.
"Olivia, it's Daniel.""
Ethan immediately stepped forward.
"WHERE ARE YOU?""
Daniel laughed.
"Hello, brother. Still shouting at people when you don't get your way?""
"Where is the archive key?""
"That's not how this works.""
I stepped closer to the phone.
"Daniel, what did you do to my father?""
His tone changed.
"Your father was a very stubborn man.""
"Did you arrange the accident?""
"No.""
"Did you know Ethan was driving?""
A pause.
Then Daniel said, "I knew he was supposed to deliver the package.""
Ethan went pale.
"What package?""
"The one Father gave you.""
Ethan grabbed the edge of the desk.
"What was inside?""
"Documents that could have destroyed the family.""
Richard interrupted.
"Daniel, you should understand that this conversation is being documented.""
Daniel laughed again.
"Of course it is. You always were a careful lawyer, Richard.""
Then his voice became colder.
"Olivia, I know you have the original trust documents. I know you have the birth certificate. And I know your mother is with you.""
My mother froze.
"How do you know?""
"Because I've known where she was for years.""
I felt sick.
"Then why didn't you find her?""
"Because she was useful where she was.""
Richard signaled for me to keep him talking.
"What do you want?""
"The archive.""
"No.""
"Then your husband will finally learn what happened to him during that surgery.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"Tell me.""
Daniel ignored him.
"Charles didn't simply damage your fertility, Ethan. He arranged something else during the operation.""
"What?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"He ordered the doctors to preserve biological material for future use.""
The room went silent.
Richard stared at the phone.
"Are you suggesting samples were collected without Ethan's knowledge?""
"Ask the doctor.""
Ethan's face had gone white.
Daniel continued.
"And ask him why the samples were transferred to a private laboratory under a different name.""
I felt my heart racing.
"Why?""
"Because your father wanted a biological heir. And he wanted to control exactly who would produce it.""
Ethan's voice cracked.
"Daniel, what did you do?""
Daniel laughed.
"I didn't do anything your father hadn't already planned.""
Then he gave us an address.
"Come to Blackwood Manor tomorrow at nine in the morning. Bring the original trust agreement. Bring the birth certificate. And bring the key.""
"Why?""
"Because the archive opens with three fingerprints.""
"Whose?""
Daniel answered quietly.
"Yours, Ethan's, and mine.""
The call ended.
Richard immediately contacted the authorities.
But before he could finish, my mother reached for the letter.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
I turned.
"What?""
She stared at the handwritten name on the page.
"Charles didn't order the surgery alone.""
"Who helped him?""
She swallowed.
"Daniel.""
Then she looked at Ethan.
"And the doctor who performed the operation was not the doctor who signed the official medical report.""
Richard stopped typing.
My mother continued.
"Your husband was operated on by someone who had already been involved in your father's accident.""
Ethan gripped the desk.
"Who?""
May you like
My mother whispered the name.
"Dr. Harrison.""
