Chapter 9: The Man Who Paid for My Childhood
The police didn't arrest Margaret that afternoon.
They took her to the station for questioning, along with Brittany, who spent the entire walk to the elevator insisting she had done nothing wrong.
I stayed in the hotel lounge with Nathan.
Neither of us spoke for several minutes.
Then he looked at me.
“I don't know who my family is anymore.””
I stared at the broken teacup being collected by a hotel employee.
“Neither do I.””
He reached for my hand.
This time, I didn't pull away immediately.
But I didn't hold his either.
“Madison, I need to tell you something about my father.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell me.””
“Richard wasn't just Caroline's former fiancé. He was the person who created the original trust.””
I frowned.
“Daniel told me Eleanor managed it.””
“She did. But Richard established it with Caroline before she died.””
Nathan took a folded sheet from his jacket.
It was an old bank statement.
Several transfers had been highlighted.
“Every month, money was transferred from the trust to an account under Victoria's name.””
I studied the dates.
The payments had started shortly after Caroline died.
They continued for twenty-six years.
“Four hundred thousand dollars?””
Nathan nodded.
“That's what my father says was transferred over the years.””
I looked up.
“Where did the rest go?””
He pointed to another line.
“Some of the money went into an investment account controlled by my father.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because he says he was trying to preserve the estate.””
“Did he?””
Nathan hesitated.
“Not entirely.””
I placed the statement on the table.
“Your father helped Victoria take money from my mother. Your mother helped Victoria cover up the accident. And you knew enough to keep quiet.””
He looked down.
“I know.””
I stood.
“Then I need you to understand something. I'm not going to marry you tomorrow.””
His face tightened.
“I wasn't expecting you to.””
“Good.””
“But I want to help you.””
I studied him.
“Then tell the police everything.””
“I will.””
“And give Daniel every document you have.””
“I will.””
I walked toward the window.
Outside, workers were arriving at Bellamere with floral arrangements.
The wedding was still scheduled.
Brittany still had my dress.
And my mother was still somewhere in the estate, probably trying to figure out how to destroy the last remaining evidence.
I turned toward Nathan.
“There's something I need to ask.””
“Anything.””
“Did your father ever say who ordered Caroline's death?””
Nathan looked uncomfortable.
“No.””
“Then why did Daniel say the ledger would prove it?””
He shook his head.
“I don't know.””
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Madison, where are you?””
“At the hotel.””
“Good. I need you to come to my office immediately.””
“Did you find the ledger?””
“Yes.””
“Who ordered it?””
He took a breath.
“Your biological father.””
I froze.
“Daniel Hayes?””
“Yes.””
“That makes no sense. He was dead before I was born.””
“I know. That's why I need you to see the documents in person.””
I ended the call.
Nathan watched me.
“What happened?””
“Daniel found the ledger.””
“And?””
“He says my biological father ordered the accident.””
Nathan stared at me.
“But Caroline said Daniel Hayes died before you were born.””
“I know.””
We drove downtown together.
Daniel was waiting in his office with two detectives.
On the conference table sat a thick leather ledger, several bank statements, and a sealed envelope.
He gestured for me to sit.
“Madison, I need you to understand that the ledger is not proof of murder by itself. But it contains financial instructions that may explain what happened.””
He opened it.
The first pages listed Caroline's business accounts.
The next contained payments to Victoria.
The final section showed several transfers made under a company name I had never seen before.
Hayes Family Holdings.
I frowned.
“Who owns that company?””
Daniel slid a document toward me.
The company had been registered under Daniel Hayes's name.
But the signature was different from the one on the letter Caroline had left.
One of the detectives leaned forward.
“Mr. Brooks, explain the significance.””
Daniel pointed to the date.
“The company was registered eleven months after Daniel Hayes's reported death.””
I stared at the page.
“Someone used his identity.””
“Yes.””
The detective nodded.
“We're investigating the possibility that someone continued operating under his name.””
I looked at the ledger again.
There was a payment of $75,000 listed three days before Caroline's accident.
The recipient was Margaret Reed.
Another payment followed the day after the accident.
This time, the recipient was Richard Reed.
And a third payment had been made to someone whose name had been crossed out.
“Who is this?”” I asked.
Daniel turned the page carefully.
“Your aunt believed it was a private investigator.””
“Why would Caroline pay a private investigator?””
“She was trying to locate someone.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked at the sealed envelope.
“Your biological father.””
I felt a strange pressure in my chest.
“But he was dead.””
“That was the story.””
The detective opened the envelope.
Inside was a recent photograph.
A man in his late fifties stood outside a small house in Kentucky.
His hair was gray.
His face was partly turned away.
But I recognized the eyes.
They were the same eyes I saw in the mirror every morning.
On the back was a handwritten note.
Daniel Hayes. Alive. Contact made six months ago.
I gripped the edge of the table.
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“Madison, someone has been pretending your biological father died for twenty-six years.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Where is he now?””
The detective looked at his notes.
“According to the investigator's report, he was last seen in Nashville three days ago.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
Madison, I know you've discovered the truth.
Another message followed.
Your aunt wasn't the only person who tried to protect you.
Then a third.
Meet me alone at Bellamere's east gate before the ceremony.
I showed Daniel.
He immediately shook his head.
“Absolutely not. This could be a trap.””
The detective took a photograph of the message.
“We'll arrange surveillance.””
I looked at the photograph of Daniel Hayes again.
A man I had believed dead my entire life.
A man who might know why my mother had been so determined to keep me away from my inheritance.
I picked up the phone and typed a reply.
Who are you?
The answer arrived almost immediately.
I'm the man who gave you your name.
I felt my heart pounding.
Then another message appeared.
And Madison, there's something your aunt never told you.
I stared at the screen.
Caroline wasn't the only person in that car.
I looked toward Daniel.
Before I could show him the message, the detective's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
“Mr. Brooks,” he said quietly.
“We've just received confirmation that the man in that photograph is currently inside Bellamere Estate.””
Daniel stood.
I looked at Nathan.
He was already reaching for his keys.
Then the detective delivered the final piece of news.
“There's one problem. The estate's security cameras show him entering the bridal suite.””
My stomach dropped.
May you like
Brittany was still there.
And she was still wearing my dress.
