Chapter 10: The Father I Was Told Had Died
I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling.
Richard Hale.
My biological father.
The man I'd believed was dead before I was born had apparently been alive all these years, hiding under a different name while my mother raised me alone.
And somehow, my mother-in-law had known.
At six the next morning, Michael arrived with two coffees and a folder.
He looked exhausted.
"Did you sleep?"" he asked.
"Did you?""
He placed the coffee on the table.
"Not really.""
I looked at him.
"Michael, what if Richard really is my father?""
"Then we'll find out the truth.""
"What if he knew about me and never wanted to meet me?""
Michael pulled his chair closer.
"Emily, you don't have to decide how you feel about him before you even meet him.""
I looked down at my hands.
"I spent thirty-one years believing I didn't have a father. Now I'm supposed to walk into a room and meet a man who might have abandoned me?""
Michael took my hand.
"Whatever happened, none of it was your fault.""
A nurse entered to check my monitors.
"Mrs. Carter, your daughter had a good night. Her breathing is improving, and the neonatal team is pleased with her progress.""
I immediately sat up.
"Can I see her today?""
"If your doctor clears you, we can arrange a wheelchair visit.""
I felt tears fill my eyes.
"Thank you.""
For the first time in days, something felt hopeful.
At ten thirty, Detective Bennett arrived with an officer.
"We've arranged a meeting at the station," she explained.
"Richard has agreed to provide a statement. We'll bring him to a private interview room.""
Michael helped me into the wheelchair.
Before we left, I looked at the nurse.
"Please call me if anything changes with Sophie.""
"Of course.""
The meeting room was small.
There was a table, four chairs, and a large observation window.
Michael sat beside me.
Detective Bennett entered first.
Then the door opened.
A gray-haired man walked inside.
He was thinner than the man in the old photograph. His hair was almost completely white, and he leaned slightly on a wooden cane.
But his eyes...
I recognized them immediately.
They were the same pale green eyes I saw every morning in the mirror.
He stopped when he saw me.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, "Emily?""
My throat tightened.
"Are you Richard Hale?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at him.
"Are you my father?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Yes, sweetheart. I am.""
I looked away.
"Don't call me that.""
He flinched.
Michael placed a hand over mine.
Richard slowly sat down.
"I understand.""
"Do you?"" I asked.
"Because I grew up believing you were dead.""
He lowered his head.
"I know.""
"Did you know I existed?""
He nodded.
"I knew your mother was pregnant. I tried to see you.""
"Then why didn't you?""
Richard took a trembling breath.
"Because Diane told me your mother had moved away and wanted nothing to do with me.""
I stared at him.
"Why would my mother-in-law care?""
He looked directly at me.
"Because Diane was my wife before she married Michael's father.""
The room went silent.
Michael slowly turned toward him.
"What?""
Richard closed his eyes.
"Your mother and I were married for three years. We separated when I discovered she'd been stealing money from our company.""
Michael looked horrified.
"You're saying my mother was married to Emily's father?""
"Yes.""
I felt sick.
Richard continued.
"When I found out your mother was pregnant, I wanted to be involved. Diane threatened to destroy my business if I contacted her. She told me Emily's mother had signed an agreement preventing me from approaching the child.""
"That's not true," I whispered.
"I know that now.""
He opened a folder.
Inside were photographs of my mother, a copy of a birth certificate, and several old letters.
"I hired an investigator years later. I discovered that your mother had changed your surname and moved across the country.""
I stared at the photograph.
It showed my mother holding a newborn baby.
Me.
On the back was a date.
The same date as my birth.
I touched the photograph.
"Why didn't you keep looking?""
Richard's face crumpled.
"Because I believed you were safer without me. And because Diane convinced me that if I came near you, she would make sure your mother lost custody.""
I wanted to hate him.
But I couldn't ignore the pain in his eyes.
Detective Bennett interrupted.
"Mr. Hale, we need to discuss your relationship with Diane Carter and the insurance documents.""
Richard nodded.
He pulled another folder from his bag.
"This is why I agreed to meet.""
He placed a document in front of Michael.
"Your father discovered that Diane had created a fraudulent insurance policy using Emily's identity. But he didn't know the entire plan.""
"What plan?"" Michael asked.
Richard looked at me.
"Diane wanted to control the money connected to Emily's identity. She believed Emily's biological inheritance would eventually become accessible.""
I frowned.
"What inheritance?""
Richard turned another page.
"Your maternal grandfather left a trust in your name. It was supposed to become available when you turned thirty-two.""
My mouth went dry.
"How much?""
Richard looked down.
"Approximately four million dollars.""
I stared at him.
Four million.
May you like
Then he added something that made Michael grip the table.
"Diane has been trying to access that trust for years.""
