Chapter 8: The Letter That Exposed Emily's Secret
Daniel stood in the doorway.
He couldn't look away from the photograph.
Emily was smiling.
Michael stood beside her, one arm around her waist.
They looked happy.
Not like two people who had accidentally met at a business function.
Like two people who had shared a life.
Natalie entered behind him.
She looked at the photograph.
Then she lowered her eyes.
“I'm sorry.””
Daniel didn't respond.
He walked toward the dresser and picked up the frame.
There were several more photographs inside a drawer.
Emily and Michael at a restaurant.
Emily and Michael standing outside a beach house.
Emily holding a tiny pair of baby shoes.
And one photograph showing Michael with his hand resting on Emily's pregnant stomach.
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed.
His wife had been carrying another man's child.
And he had never known.
For three years, he had remembered her as the woman who had loved him, built a family with him, and died before they could grow old together.
Now every memory seemed to have a question attached to it.
Natalie stood quietly beside the dresser.
Finally, Daniel spoke.
“Was my marriage a lie?””
Natalie looked at him.
“I don't know what happened between them.””
“Look at these pictures.””
“I see them.””
“Do you think she loved him?””
Natalie hesitated.
“I think the photographs show that they were close.””
Daniel lowered his head.
“I don't know who my wife was anymore.””
Natalie wanted to comfort him.
But she couldn't forget that her own husband had been involved.
She had loved Michael.
She had believed he was honest.
Now she was discovering an entire part of his life that he had hidden from her.
Daniel looked at her.
“I don't expect you to defend him.””
Natalie swallowed.
“I don't know how to defend someone who isn't here to explain himself.””
Downstairs, the investigators were examining the documents Margaret had reluctantly produced.
Jonathan called Daniel.
“We found something.””
Daniel came downstairs immediately.
Jonathan placed a sealed envelope on the table.
“It's addressed to you.””
Daniel recognized Emily's handwriting.
Again.
He opened it.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, then I failed to explain everything while I was alive.
I never intended to hurt you. I loved you, but I was frightened of what your mother was doing.
Three years ago, I discovered that money was disappearing from Zoe's trust. I confronted Margaret, and she threatened to use her influence to take Zoe away from me.
Michael helped me understand the financial records. He was an accountant before he became involved in construction management. He knew how to follow the transactions.
I should have told you everything.
But I was afraid that if you confronted your mother without proof, she would destroy the evidence and turn you against me.
Daniel stopped reading.
He looked at Jonathan.
“Michael was an accountant?””
Jonathan nodded.
“According to his employment records, he had a background in financial auditing.””
Natalie stared at the letter.
She had known Michael worked in construction.
She had never known about the accounting qualification.
Daniel continued.
I became pregnant with Lily during a time when our marriage was already falling apart. Michael was the father.
I know this will hurt you. I know you may never forgive me.
But I need you to understand that I did not have an affair because I stopped loving our family.
I made terrible decisions. I was confused and frightened. And when I discovered what Margaret had done, I realized that Lily would never be safe if the truth remained hidden.
Daniel stopped again.
His eyes were wet.
Natalie looked away.
Then he read the final paragraph.
Michael wanted to tell you the truth himself. He believed you deserved to know. But Margaret found out about the baby and threatened to destroy both of us.
Please protect Zoe.
And please find Lily.
She is innocent.
Emily.
Daniel folded the letter.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then he whispered:
“She was going to tell me.””
Jonathan nodded.
“It appears so.””
Daniel looked at Natalie.
“Michael was the father.””
Natalie nodded slowly.
“I know.””
“Did you know he was involved with Emily?””
“No.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Margaret was sitting in the living room when Daniel approached.
She looked unusually small in the enormous leather chair.
“Why didn't you tell me?”” he asked.
Margaret glanced at the letter.
“Because you wouldn't have understood.””
“Emily was my wife.””
“She was also a liar.””
“And Michael?””
“He was a manipulator.””
Daniel placed the photographs on the table.
“Did you know they were together?””
Margaret nodded.
“Of course.””
“Did you know Lily was his daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Margaret stood.
“Because I was protecting you!””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Protecting me from what? The truth?””
“From humiliation!””
“You let me believe my wife died without ever telling me she had a child with another man!””
“You would have lost your mind!””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You took Lily away from her parents. You lied about the circumstances surrounding Michael's death. You stole money from Zoe's trust. And you pushed my daughter into a swimming pool.””
Margaret's face hardened.
“I did what was necessary.””
“No. You did what was convenient.””
Margaret pointed toward the photographs.
“Emily was going to destroy everything. She wanted to expose the trust accounts, take Zoe, and run away with Michael.””
Daniel shook his head.
“She wanted to tell me the truth.””
“She wanted to leave you!””
“Then why did you stop her?””
Margaret looked away.
Daniel continued.
“Did you arrange Michael's accident?””
Margaret's expression became unreadable.
“I did not kill anyone.””
“That's not what I asked.””
“I arranged for someone to retrieve the documents. Things got out of control.””
Daniel stared.
“What things?””
Margaret's voice cracked.
“Michael refused to cooperate.””
“Did you know his brakes had been tampered with?””
She said nothing.
Daniel's eyes filled.
“Did you?””
Margaret finally looked at him.
“I didn't think anyone would die.””
The words hung in the room.
Daniel took a step backward.
Jonathan, standing behind him, immediately signaled to the investigators.
Margaret noticed.
“You wouldn't dare.””
Daniel looked at her.
“I would.””
That evening, Lily was taken to a temporary protected residence while the investigators reviewed the guardianship arrangements.
Natalie visited her before leaving.
The little girl was sitting on a bed, holding her rabbit.
“Are you going away too?”” Lily asked.
Natalie sat beside her.
“No, sweetheart.””
“Will Grandma come back?””
Natalie chose her words carefully.
“I don't know. But there are people making sure you're safe.””
Lily looked down.
“Did I do something bad?””
Natalie felt tears gather.
“No. Nothing.””
“Grandma says I'm a secret.””
Natalie hugged her gently.
“You are not a secret. You're a little girl who deserves to be loved.””
Lily leaned against her.
“Can I call you Aunt Natalie?””
Natalie smiled through her tears.
“Of course.””
Lily touched the silver necklace around her neck.
“Daddy Michael gave me this.””
Natalie froze.
“What did you say?””
“Daddy Michael.””
Natalie looked at her.
“Who told you that?””
“Grandma.””
Lily continued playing with the necklace.
“She said he gave it to Mommy before he went away.””
Natalie felt her heart break all over again.
Michael had known Lily existed.
He had loved her.
He had given her the necklace.
And yet he had never told Natalie.
Perhaps he had been trying to protect them both.
Or perhaps he had simply been afraid.
At midnight, Daniel received a call from Jonathan.
“Daniel, we have a problem.””
Daniel sat up.
“What happened?””
“The investigators recovered the original hospital records. But there's a missing page.””
“What page?””
“The final medication administration record from Michael's treatment.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Can it be recovered?””
“Possibly. But that's not the biggest problem.””
“What is?””
Jonathan hesitated.
“Margaret has been arrested on suspicion of financial fraud and evidence tampering. However, she is claiming she never arranged anything involving Michael's vehicle.””
Daniel listened.
“Then who did?””
Jonathan exhaled.
“The maintenance supervisor who reported the brake problem has disappeared.””
Daniel stood.
“What?””
“He left his home this evening. His phone is switched off.””
“Find him.””
“We're trying.””
Then Jonathan said something else.
“The hospital has also identified the person who signed the disputed medication record.””
Daniel waited.
Jonathan read the name.
“Emily Hawthorne.””
Daniel felt his blood turn cold.
“That can't be right.””
“Her signature is on the record.””
“But Emily was supposed to be dead before Michael's accident?””
“No,” Jonathan replied quietly.
“That's what we've been told. The records suggest she was alive when Michael was being treated.””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Then what happened to her?””
Jonathan didn't answer.
Natalie was preparing to leave the protected residence when a nurse approached.
“Mrs. Collins?””
“Yes?””
“There's someone here asking to see you.””
Natalie frowned.
“Who?””
The nurse handed her a small envelope.
“He said you would recognize his name.””
Natalie opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note.
I know what happened to Michael. I also know what happened to Emily.
You have been asking the wrong people.
Come to the old Hawthorne guesthouse tomorrow at noon.
Come alone.
At the bottom was a signature.
*Paul Mercer.*
The former investigator who had changed Michael's accident report.
Natalie stared at the name.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel.
She answered.
“Daniel?””
His voice sounded desperate.
“Natalie, listen to me. Don't go anywhere alone.””
She looked at the note.
“Why?””
“Because Jonathan just discovered something in the original hospital records.””
“What?””
Daniel's voice broke.
“Emily's death certificate was issued three days before Michael's accident.””
Natalie stopped breathing.
“That makes no sense.””
“I know.””
“Then how could she have been at the hospital?””
Daniel was silent for several seconds.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“Because the woman buried in Emily's grave may not have been my wife.””
