Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NIGHT I LOST MY BABY
Richard stood in the foyer.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But alive.
Adrian walked toward him slowly.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
Richard looked at his nephew.
“I needed to disappear.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because your father was killing people who knew too much.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Did he kill my mother?”
“No.”
“Did he kill Daniel?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Richard looked toward Nia.
“You.”
She froze.
“Me?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“The night you lost your second pregnancy.”
Adrian went completely still.
Nia's heart stopped.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Richard looked at Adrian.
“Your father ordered someone to frighten Nia.”
Adrian's face changed.
“He knew about the pregnancy.”
“How?”
“Your medical records were being monitored.”
Nia felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because your father wanted leverage over Adrian.”
“Leverage for what?”
Richard looked at the floor.
“To force him back into the family business.”
Adrian shook his head.
“I refused.”
“That's when things escalated.”
Nia remembered that night.
The argument.
The drinking.
The blow.
The miscarriage.
She looked at Adrian.
“You knew?”
“No.”
Richard interrupted.
“He didn't.”
Nia stared at him.
“Then who told him?”
“No one.”
Richard sighed.
“Your husband lost control.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Nia felt something inside her break.
The explanation did not excuse him.
Richard continued.
“Your father's people created pressure around you.”
“But Adrian hit me.”
“Yes.”
Richard's voice was firm.
“That was his choice.”
Adrian looked at Nia.
“I have never blamed anyone else for that.”
Nia swallowed.
That mattered.
But it didn't erase the pain.
Richard continued.
“The reason I am telling you this now is because the same network is active again.”
“Who is running it?”
Richard looked at Adrian.
“Your father left behind a successor.”
“Who?”
Richard reached into his coat.
He removed a photograph.
Nia recognized the man immediately.
Victor Hale.
Adrian's current chief financial officer.
The man who had attended their wedding.
The man who had visited their home dozens of times.
“The whole time?” Adrian whispered.
Richard nodded.
“He has been moving money through Cole Meridian.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“And using Erin as leverage.”
Richard looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel found the original ledger.”
Daniel's face tightened.
“You had it?”
Richard shook his head.
“Your father did.”
“Where?”
Richard looked at Nia.
“Your husband has it.”
Everyone turned toward Adrian.
He frowned.
“I don't.”
Richard pointed at the ultrasound photograph sitting on the table.
Nia picked it up.
“What does this have to do with the baby?”
“Everything.”
Richard's voice softened.
“Your father believed the best way to control Adrian was through family.”
Nia stared at the photograph.
Then noticed something.
A faint mark in the corner.
A number.
Seven.
She looked at Adrian.
“That's from St. Catherine's.”
Richard nodded.
“The original ledger was hidden in the hospital archives.”
Adrian's expression changed.
“Why would they hide it there?”
“Because no one would think to search medical records for financial evidence.”
Nia suddenly remembered the nurse who had bumped into her.
The hallway.
The private maternity suite.
Erin.
Everything connected.
Then Victor's voice came from the foyer.
“You should have left the past alone.”
Everyone froze.
Victor entered.
He wasn't holding a weapon.
He didn't need one.
He held a file.
“Your father's records.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“Put it down.”
Victor smiled.
“You still think you're in control.”
Nia stood beside Adrian.
Victor looked at her stomach.
“You really are pregnant.”
Adrian's body went rigid.
Victor smiled.
“Now I understand why you were so easy to manipulate.”
Adrian moved.
Richard grabbed his arm.
“Don't.”
Victor placed the file on the table.
Inside was one photograph.
Nia entering St. Catherine's.
Then another.
Nia leaving.
Then another.
Her home.
Her car.
Her doctor.
Every appointment.
Every movement.
Nia's hand went cold.
Victor looked at her.
“You were never supposed to see Erin.”
Then he turned to Adrian.
“But now that you have…”
May you like
He smiled.
“Your child becomes part of the bargain.”
