Chapter 5: The Name on the Hospital Bracelet
Nathan didn't sit down.
He stood near the cutting table, watching me examine the photograph as though he expected me to throw it at him.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
He nodded.
“My father has a private office at the Reed development headquarters. Last night, I went through his old files.””
“You broke into your father's office?””
“I used my access card.””
“That's not much better.””
“I know.””
He looked at the photograph.
“I found the hospital documents, the original trust agreement, and a letter from your aunt. My father had kept copies of everything.””
I held up the picture.
“Why does this say Madison Reed?””
Nathan rubbed his face.
“Because Richard believed you were his biological daughter.””
I stared at him.
“Believed?””
“That's what he told me.””
“Did he know Caroline?””
Nathan looked away.
“More than that.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Explain.””
He pulled a chair out but didn't sit.
“Before I was born, my father was engaged to Caroline Hayes. They were supposed to get married. He was working with her family on a textile business, and she had designed a collection of bridal fabrics.””
“Then what happened?””
“My father met another woman. He married her instead.””
“Your mother.””
He nodded.
“Caroline was pregnant when they separated. Richard believed the baby was his.””
I looked down at the photograph again.
A newborn.
A tiny hospital bracelet.
My name.
“Then why did my mother raise me?””
Nathan swallowed.
“Victoria was Caroline's closest friend at the time. She offered to help after the accident.””
I felt sick.
“Why would she do that?””
“I don't know.””
I looked at him sharply.
“You've had eight months to find out.””
“I know.””
He finally sat down.
“My father told me Caroline had died before I was born. He said there had been a complicated custody arrangement. I didn't know the details until your aunt contacted me.””
“Did he know about the money?””
“Yes.””
“Did he know my mother was trying to take it?””
Nathan nodded.
“And he wanted the designs transferred to Carter Bridal Holdings because he had invested in Brittany's company.””
I stared at him.
“So all of you were going to divide up my mother's work while I stood at the altar?””
“Madison, I swear I never wanted that.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You knew. You stayed silent. You signed documents.””
“I thought I could stop it without hurting you.””
“You don't protect someone by hiding the truth.””
He lowered his head.
For a moment, the shop was silent except for the ticking wall clock.
Then he reached into his jacket.
“There is something else.””
He placed a folded letter on the table.
The handwriting was Caroline's.
I recognized it from the design sketches.
Richard,
If anything happens to me, please make sure our daughter is safe. Victoria has offered to help, but I don't trust the arrangement anymore.
I discovered that someone has been accessing the licensing accounts without authorization.
I have transferred the original design rights into a trust for Madison. Eleanor knows where the documents are.
Please don't let anyone use my daughter's name to steal what belongs to her.
I read it twice.
Then I looked up.
“Did Caroline write this before the accident?””
Nathan nodded.
“Three days before.””
My chest tightened.
“She knew something was wrong.””
“Yes.””
I turned the page.
There was another paragraph.
There is one more thing. The person who has been moving money from the business is not Richard.
The sentence ended there.
The rest of the page had been torn away.
“Where is the missing section?””
Nathan shook his head.
“I don't know.””
I looked at him.
“Does your father?””
“He says he never saw it.””
“Do you believe him?””
Nathan didn't answer.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I put him on speaker.
“Madison, I received an update from the hospital archive. There is a second medical authorization document.””
“What's on it?””
“The first document authorized emergency treatment. The second authorized the transfer of Caroline's personal belongings and the guardianship of her infant daughter.””
“Who signed it?””
A pause.
“Victoria Carter.””
I gripped the table.
“Why?””
“Because Caroline had named her as an emergency guardian. But the authorization was supposed to expire after thirty days.””
“And it didn't?””
“No. Someone filed an amended version extending the guardianship indefinitely.””
“Who filed it?””
“Richard Reed.””
Nathan stood abruptly.
“That can't be right.””
Daniel continued.
“There is also a handwritten note attached to the amendment. It states that Victoria would receive a monthly payment for maintaining custody.””
My mouth went dry.
“Payment from whom?””
“The Caroline Hayes estate.””
I stared at the ceiling.
My mother had been paid to raise me.
For twenty-six years.
And she had apparently believed that the money belonged to her.
Nathan moved closer.
“Madison, I can explain why my father did that.””
I turned.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
I picked up the letter.
“Did he know my mother was taking money from the trust?””
“I don't know.””
“Did he know about the designs?””
“Yes.””
“Did he know what happened to Caroline?””
Nathan's face changed.
“What?””
I looked at him.
“You heard me.””
He shook his head slowly.
“My father told me it was an accident.””
I slid the letter across the table.
“Then why did Caroline write that she didn't trust the arrangement?””
He stared at the page.
For the first time, he looked genuinely frightened.
Before he could speak, the shop's landline rang.
Neither of us moved.
It rang again.
Elise picked it up.
“Carter Alterations.””
She listened.
Then her face drained of color.
“Who is this?””
A pause.
“Yes, she's here.””
She looked at me.
“It's the hospital.””
I took the receiver.
A woman introduced herself as the records supervisor at St. Matthew's Medical Center.
“Ms. Carter, I'm calling because we located an additional item in the archived records associated with Caroline Hayes.””
“What item?””
“A sealed personal effects envelope. It was never collected.””
I closed my eyes.
“What was inside?””
The woman hesitated.
“A cassette recording, a hospital identification bracelet, and a note addressed to a child named Madison.””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Can I collect it?””
“Tomorrow morning. You'll need identification.””
I thanked her and hung up.
Nathan was watching me.
“Madison, whatever is on that tape, you don't have to listen to it alone.””
I looked at him.
“I've been alone in this family for twenty-six years. I can handle one more truth.””
He nodded slowly.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new email from Brittany.
The subject line read:
*TOMORROW'S WEDDING — ONE FINAL CONDITION*
I opened it.
There was a photograph of the ivory gown hanging in a hotel suite.
Beside it sat a pair of scissors.
Brittany had written:
Mom says you can have the dress back after the ceremony.
But there's one condition.
You have to sign the transfer papers in front of everyone.
A second line appeared beneath it.
Otherwise, we'll make sure Nathan's father tells the police what your aunt really did to Caroline.
I looked at Nathan.
He read the message over my shoulder.
Then he whispered:
“Madison, I think my father is going to Bellamere tomorrow.””
I looked back at the photograph.
The ivory train was spread across the floor.
And beneath the pearls, I knew, was the evidence they were all terrified of.
May you like
“Good,” I said.
“Because I want him there.””
