Chapter 12: The Woman Behind the Hospital Badge
"Stop right there!""
One of the officers shouted.
The woman in the hallway turned.
For a moment, I thought she would run.
Instead, she slowly raised both hands.
The photograph slipped from her fingers.
It landed faceup on the floor.
I could see the image clearly.
It was an ultrasound.
My ultrasound.
The same one I'd received at my twenty-week appointment.
My name was printed across the top.
And beneath it was a handwritten note.
*Ashford heir. Confirmed.*
Emily moved in front of me.
"Who is she?""
Agent Collins stepped into the hallway.
"Identify yourself.""
The woman looked at her.
Then she smiled.
"My name is Evelyn Morgan.""
I stopped breathing.
Evelyn Morgan.
Celeste's mother.
The woman whose name had appeared in my father's letter.
The woman who had supposedly raised my half-sister.
Agent Collins immediately signaled the officers.
"Take her into custody.""
Evelyn didn't resist.
She looked directly at me.
"Sarah, you have your mother's eyes.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Stay away from me.""
She smiled sadly.
"I've been trying to keep you alive.""
I almost laughed.
"By sending Celeste to destroy my marriage?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Celeste was never supposed to hurt you.""
"Then why did she?""
"Because she was promised something.""
"What?""
"Her birthright.""
Agent Collins stepped between us.
"Ms. Morgan, you can explain everything downtown.""
Evelyn ignored her.
"Sarah, Victor has been lying to all of you.""
"That's not exactly news.""
"Your mother didn't separate the three girls to protect them from Victor.""
I looked at her.
"Then why?""
"Because she discovered that one of the children wasn't biologically related to the man she believed was the father.""
My heart began pounding.
"Which child?""
Evelyn glanced toward Emily.
"Emily.""
Emily stiffened.
"That's not true.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Your mother knew Robert wasn't your biological father. But she raised you as his daughter because he loved you.""
Emily looked at me.
I reached for her hand.
"Don't listen to her.""
Evelyn continued.
"Your mother wanted you to have a normal life. She didn't want you caught in the Ashford inheritance.""
Agent Collins stepped forward.
"You're making serious claims. What evidence do you have?""
Evelyn reached into her coat.
The officers immediately raised their weapons.
"Slowly.""
She removed a small photograph.
It showed three adults standing in front of a hospital.
My mother.
Victor.
And a man I didn't recognize.
On the back was a date.
The day Emily was born.
Evelyn held it toward Agent Collins.
"That man is Emily's biological father.""
Agent Collins examined the photograph.
"Who is he?""
Evelyn looked at Emily.
"His name is Thomas Reed.""
Emily's face went pale.
"Who?""
"Your mother worked with him before she married Robert. He was a doctor at the hospital where you were born.""
Emily shook her head.
"No.""
"He died in an accident when you were two.""
"Stop.""
Evelyn lowered the photograph.
"Your mother never told you because Thomas had discovered something about Victor.""
I looked at Agent Collins.
"Why does everyone who knew Victor end up dead?""
Evelyn's expression changed.
"Because he doesn't tolerate betrayal.""
Agent Collins took the photograph.
"How do you know all this?""
"Because I worked for Victor.""
Silence.
"For how long?"" Agent Collins asked.
"Twenty-two years.""
"What was your role?""
"I managed the private accounts and handled the children's records.""
Emily stepped backward.
"You helped him separate us?""
Evelyn looked at her.
"I was trying to protect Celeste.""
"And what about Sarah?""
Evelyn lowered her eyes.
"I failed her.""
I felt anger rising.
"You knew who I was when I married Daniel.""
"Yes.""
"You knew I was marrying into the family that had destroyed my parents.""
"Yes.""
"And you let me do it?""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"Victor told me he would leave you alone if you married Daniel.""
I stared.
"What?""
"He said the marriage would secure the trust and prevent him from going after your sister.""
I turned toward Emily.
She was crying silently.
"Why didn't you tell us?""
"Because Victor had people watching all three of you.""
Agent Collins interrupted.
"Where is Victor now?""
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"He's going to the archive.""
"Which archive?""
"The original Ashford Foundation vault.""
Agent Collins took out her radio.
"All units, locate Victor Ashford immediately.""
Evelyn grabbed her arm.
"You're too late.""
Agent Collins turned.
"What do you mean?""
"Victor already has the original trust agreement.""
My heart dropped.
"How?""
"Because he never needed the blue key.""
Evelyn looked directly at me.
"The key only opens the outer compartment. The actual documents are protected by a biometric lock.""
I stared at her.
"Whose biometric information?""
She hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Yours.""
I felt cold all over.
Agent Collins looked confused.
"How could Victor access Sarah's biometric data?""
Evelyn gave a small, bitter smile.
"Because he had it collected during her pregnancy.""
I remembered the routine scans.
The medical appointments.
The blood tests.
The paperwork I'd signed without reading.
Dr. Vale.
I looked toward the empty doorway.
"Where is the doctor?""
An officer checked the hallway.
"He's gone.""
Agent Collins swore under her breath.
Evelyn continued.
"Victor has a copy of Sarah's medical records, her fingerprints, and the original DNA sample.""
"Why would he need all that?"" Emily asked.
"To activate the trust without Sarah being present.""
Agent Collins immediately ordered a search of the hospital records.
Then Evelyn said something that made my blood run colder.
"There's another reason Victor needs the baby born at the mansion.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"The private medical facility isn't just a place to deliver a child.""
"Then what is it?""
Evelyn glanced at my stomach.
"It's where Victor has been preparing to conduct a genetic procedure.""
Agent Collins stepped forward.
"What procedure?""
Evelyn swallowed.
"He wants to obtain a biological sample from the baby before the trust becomes legally active.""
"Why?""
"Because the original agreement contains a provision allowing him to claim the company if the designated heir is genetically verified and the three daughters are unable to exercise their rights.""
I stared at her.
"So he wants to use my baby to take the company?""
Evelyn nodded.
"And once he has the sample, he won't need your permission anymore.""
Emily began crying.
Agent Collins immediately called for additional security.
But Evelyn wasn't finished.
She looked at me and whispered:
"Sarah, there's one thing your mother never told you.""
"What?""
"Victor isn't your only biological parent whose identity was concealed.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Evelyn took another photograph from her pocket.
This one showed my mother holding a newborn baby.
Beside her stood a woman with dark hair.
I recognized the woman.
She was Margaret Ashford.
Daniel's mother.
I stared at the photograph.
"Why is Margaret holding me?""
Evelyn's voice dropped.
"Because the woman who raised you wasn't your biological mother.""
I couldn't move.
"You're lying.""
"No.""
"Who is my biological mother?""
Evelyn looked at me with tears in her eyes.
Then she said:
"Margaret Ashford.""
The room went silent.
The woman who had applauded when I was shoved into the gift table.
The woman who had called Celeste's unborn child a proper Ashford heir.
The woman who had spent years humiliating me.
She was my mother.
And if Evelyn was telling the truth, Daniel and I had never been the husband and wife we believed ourselves to be.
We might have been something far worse.
I looked at Agent Collins.
"Find Margaret.""
She nodded.
But before she could move, Evelyn spoke again.
"There's no point.""
"Why?""
Evelyn looked toward the hospital entrance.
"Because Margaret has already confessed.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Sarah, come home. We need to talk about your husband.*
It was Margaret.
And beneath the message was a photograph of an old family document.
At the top were two names.
*Daniel Ashford.*
*Sarah Bennett.*
May you like
Below them, in Margaret's handwriting, were six words:
*The marriage was never legally valid.*
