Chapter 14: The Truth My Mother Couldn't Tell Me
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee.
Marcus was in surgery.
The bullet had passed through his shoulder, missing his major arteries, but the doctors weren't willing to make promises.
I sat beside my mother in the waiting room.
Neither of us spoke for nearly twenty minutes.
Finally, I turned toward her.
"Did you change the DNA results?""
Margaret lowered her eyes.
"Yes.""
The answer hurt more than I expected.
"Why?""
She clasped her hands.
"Because Thomas asked me to.""
I stared at her.
"That's impossible. Thomas was my father.""
"Legally, yes. He adopted you. But he wasn't your biological father.""
I remembered the original documents.
James was my father.
Thomas had loved my mother and raised me from a distance, but the truth had been much more complicated.
"Why did Thomas want me to believe otherwise?""
Margaret took a shaky breath.
"Because Richard had discovered your real identity. He knew James had a legitimate claim to several founding shares in Carter Industries.""
"James?""
She nodded.
"Your biological father helped create the company. Thomas had promised to restore his ownership once James's name was cleared.""
I looked toward James, who was speaking quietly with a federal agent.
"Then why didn't he just come forward?""
"Because Richard threatened to frame him for Thomas's murder. He also threatened you.""
I shook my head.
"That still doesn't explain the DNA results.""
Margaret reached into her handbag.
She removed a small envelope.
"Eleven years ago, Thomas asked me to arrange a private DNA test. Richard had already obtained a sample from you. He wanted to use the results to establish your inheritance rights and gain access to your trust.""
"So you changed them?""
"I made sure the false report showed that Thomas wasn't your biological father. Richard believed the test had failed. He stopped investigating your identity for a while.""
I stared at her.
"You could have told me.""
"I wanted to.""
"Then why didn't you?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because Richard was watching you. He knew you were getting married. He knew Marcus was involved in the plan to gain access to your inheritance.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"You let me marry him anyway.""
Margaret began crying.
"I didn't know how to stop it without exposing you.""
"Did you know Marcus was Thomas's son?""
"Yes.""
"Then you knew I was marrying my adoptive brother.""
She covered her face.
"I begged Thomas to stop the wedding. He refused because he believed Marcus had changed. He thought marrying you would eventually force Marcus to choose between his brother's scheme and the woman he loved.""
I stood.
"That was not his decision to make!""
"I know.""
"Nobody asked me what I wanted!""
Margaret looked up.
For the first time, I saw the full weight of her regret.
"You're right, Sarah.""
She reached for my hand.
I stepped away.
"Don't.""
She withdrew her hand.
Then she opened the envelope.
Inside was a second DNA report.
This one identified James Anderson as my biological father with a probability of 99.99 percent.
Beneath the results was a signed legal declaration from Thomas.
I acknowledge Sarah Elizabeth Mitchell as my daughter through adoption and recognize her as a beneficiary of my estate. Her inheritance shall never depend on biological blood.
I read it slowly.
Thomas had known.
He had known I wasn't his biological child.
And he had still chosen me.
A tear rolled down my cheek.
"Why did he never tell me himself?""
Margaret looked toward the window.
"Because he was afraid Richard would use your identity to destroy the company and take you away from us.""
I sat down again.
For the first time, I understood that the truth had been hidden for reasons that were both protective and selfish.
But I still couldn't forgive everyone.
Not yet.
Three hours later, a federal investigator approached us.
"Ms. Mitchell?""
I stood.
"Yes.""
"My name is Agent Collins. We recovered several documents from Richard Hale's office. There's something you should see.""
He placed a photograph on the table.
It showed a man entering an apartment building.
The date was two days earlier.
I recognized him.
Daniel.
"Is he under arrest?""
"Not yet. He's cooperating.""
"Why?""
Agent Collins exchanged a glance with Margaret.
"Because Daniel has offered evidence against Richard in exchange for consideration in his own case.""
"What evidence?""
The agent opened a folder.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
Daniel admitted that he had arranged the original financial transfers with Richard.
But the final paragraph was what caught my attention.
I did not know the full extent of Richard's involvement until after Thomas's death. Evelyn told me that the poisoning was intended to frighten Thomas into stepping down, not kill him.
I stared at the page.
"Is that true?""
Agent Collins nodded.
"We're investigating.""
Then he handed me another document.
It was a transfer authorization dated three days earlier.
The $2.4 million withdrawn from the family trust.
The signature belonged to Richard.
But beneath it was a second signature.
Margaret Mitchell.
I turned toward my mother.
"You signed this?""
She nodded slowly.
"Richard forced me to.""
"How?""
"He told me he had documents proving James was responsible for Thomas's death. He said he would give them to the police unless I signed.""
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"Because I believed James would be arrested.""
I stared at her.
"Mom, he was already imprisoned for eleven years.""
She broke down.
"I know.""
Agent Collins closed the folder.
"There's one more issue. Richard has requested a meeting with you.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"He claims he has information about Thomas's death that he hasn't disclosed.""
I looked at Margaret.
She immediately shook her head.
"Don't go near him.""
Agent Collins spoke calmly.
"We can arrange a recorded interview with federal officers present. You wouldn't be alone.""
I considered it.
Then I remembered Thomas's video.
The missing final section.
The name he had been about to reveal.
"Will he tell us who actually administered the poison?""
The agent nodded.
"That's what he claims.""
Richard sat behind a glass partition in a federal interview room.
His expensive suit was wrinkled.
His silver-framed glasses were gone.
For the first time, he looked like an ordinary old man.
He watched me enter.
"Sarah.""
I sat opposite him.
"Tell me who killed Thomas.""
Richard smiled.
"You still believe everything is about Thomas?""
I leaned forward.
"Answer the question.""
He folded his hands.
"Thomas was poisoned by someone he trusted. Someone who had access to his medication.""
"Daniel?""
"No.""
"Evelyn?""
"No.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Then who?""
Richard leaned toward the glass.
"Your father.""
I froze.
"James?""
Richard shook his head.
"Not James.""
He smiled.
"Thomas's biological son. Daniel.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because Thomas discovered that Daniel wasn't actually his biological child.""
My blood turned cold.
Richard continued.
"Daniel's mother had been hiding something for thirty years.""
I slowly stood.
"You're lying.""
Richard leaned back.
"Ask Evelyn who Daniel's real father is.""
May you like
Then he added one final sentence.
"And ask her why Thomas was willing to sacrifice everything to protect you.""
