Chapter 13: The Truth in the Blood
The voice coming from my father's old phone was calm.
Too calm.
“It's time you found your real father.””
Nobody moved.
Detective Bennett reached for the phone, but I stopped her.
“Wait.””
The voice continued.
“Your father spent years protecting you from a truth he believed would destroy your family.””
I looked at Marcus.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
“Who is this?”” I asked.
A quiet laugh came through the speaker.
“You'll know soon.””
“Tell me.””
“You've spent eight years blaming the wrong man.””
The call ended.
The warehouse seemed suddenly enormous.
Cold.
Empty.
I turned toward my brothers.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus looked at Julian.
Julian looked at Caleb.
Finally, Marcus said, “Dad found out before he died.””
“What?””
“That you weren't biologically his daughter.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“He was your father in every way that mattered.””
“But not by blood.””
“No.””
I backed away.
“Who was?””
Marcus swallowed.
“We don't know.””
“Then why did that man say I would know?””
Daniel stepped toward the car.
“There may be records.””
Bennett opened the trunk farther.
Under the spare tire was a metal box.
It had a combination lock.
Julian stared at it.
“I've never seen that.””
Marcus looked at the numbers.
“Dad's birthday?””
Nothing.
My birthday?
Nothing.
Then I remembered the letter.
The one he'd written before my wedding.
I pulled it from my purse.
There was a date beneath his signature.
Not his birthday.
Mine.
But beside it was another number.
*17.*
I entered it.
The lock clicked.
Inside were three envelopes.
The first contained medical records.
The second contained an old photograph.
The third was sealed with red wax.
I opened the photograph first.
My mother was young.
She stood beside my father.
And beside them was another man.
I stared at his face.
Something inside me cracked.
I knew him.
Not personally.
From photographs.
From old stories.
From the portrait hanging in my grandfather's study.
“That's Daniel's father,” I whispered.
Everyone turned toward Daniel.
He went pale.
“My father?””
Daniel took the photograph.
His hands began shaking.
“My father died before I was born.””
Marcus looked at the photograph.
“He didn't.””
Daniel stared at him.
“What?””
Marcus pointed to the date.
“This was taken eleven months before Claire was born.””
Daniel looked at me.
Then at the photograph.
His face drained of color.
“No.””
I opened the first envelope.
The medical records belonged to my mother.
A maternity report.
A paternity test.
My father's name appeared under *Presumed Father*.
Another name appeared beneath it.
*Biological Father: Samuel Price.*
Daniel staggered backward.
“Samuel.””
I looked at him.
“Your father.””
He nodded slowly.
“My father.””
The pieces began falling into place.
My mother.
My father.
Samuel Price.
Northbridge Holdings.
Richard Cole.
Adrian.
The money.
The surveillance.
I opened the final envelope.
Inside was a letter.
My father's handwriting.
Claire,
If you are reading this, then I failed to protect you from the truth.
Samuel Price was my closest friend. He was also your biological father.
Your mother and I chose to raise you together because Samuel believed his involvement would put you in danger.
Richard Cole knew the truth.
That is why he wanted control of Northbridge.
I stopped reading.
Daniel whispered, “Why would Richard care who your father was?””
I continued.
Samuel discovered that Richard was using Northbridge to move illegal funds. He threatened to expose him.
Richard responded by destroying Samuel's reputation.
Samuel disappeared.
My eyes moved down the page.
Years later, Richard learned Samuel had survived.
I looked at Daniel.
“You said your father died.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That was what I was told.””
The final line was written darker, as if my father had pressed the pen hard into the paper.
If Richard is involved, don't trust Adrian. He may not be the mastermind.
A sound came from behind us.
The captured investigator laughed.
“You're getting close.””
Bennett grabbed his shoulder.
“Where is Samuel Price?””
The man smiled.
“You're looking at him.””
Everyone froze.
He nodded toward Daniel.
“Daniel isn't Samuel's son.””
His smile widened.
“Daniel is Samuel.””
I stared at the man.
Daniel's face went white.
Then the investigator said the words that changed everything.
“And Claire…”
May you like
He looked directly at me.
“Your husband knows.””
