Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO KNEW HER MOTHER
Grant spent the next morning searching old records.
Evelyn watched him from the kitchen.
He looked different.
Without Vivian beside him, Grant seemed smaller.
Less powerful.
More human.
But Evelyn no longer knew whether she could trust him.
By noon, Marcus arrived.
He had found them.
“The call was real,” he said.
Grant looked up.
“What do you mean?”
“Your father may still be alive.”
Grant gripped the table.
“Where?”
Marcus placed a file in front of him.
A photograph showed an old man entering a private care facility.
Grant stared.
“That’s him.”
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
“Why would Vivian tell everyone he was dead?”
“Because Nathaniel wanted to expose her.”
Grant shook his head.
“My mother said he died of a heart attack.”
Marcus answered quietly.
“He suffered a breakdown after discovering Vivian had been transferring company assets.”
Grant looked sick.
“And she hid him?”
“She had him declared incompetent.”
Evelyn understood.
Vivian had not killed Nathaniel.
She had done something more useful.
She had erased him.
That evening, they drove to the facility.
Nathaniel Whitmore was ninety-one years old.
His body was weak.
His mind was not.
When Grant entered the room, the old man looked at him.
“My son.”
Grant stopped.
He began to cry.
Evelyn stood in the doorway.
Nathaniel's eyes moved to her.
Then to her belly.
“Claire's daughter.”
Evelyn froze.
“You knew my mother?”
Nathaniel smiled sadly.
“She saved my company.”
“Why did she leave?”
“Because Vivian threatened you.”
Evelyn's breathing stopped.
Nathaniel looked at Grant.
“Your mother was never supposed to control the empire.”
Grant lowered his head.
“What did she do?”
Nathaniel looked toward the window.
“She changed the trust.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“Where is the original?”
Nathaniel smiled.
“The second door.”
Evelyn felt a shiver.
“The nursery?”
Nathaniel nodded.
“But there is something you must know.”
“What?”
Nathaniel's eyes filled with tears.
“Your mother did not die because of an accident.”
The room went silent.
“She was murdered?”
Nathaniel shook his head.
“Not by Vivian.”
Evelyn stared.
“Then who?”
Nathaniel looked at Grant.
“Your father.”
Grant went pale.
“My father?”
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
“Your father tried to expose Vivian. Claire discovered the truth. He panicked.”
Evelyn felt the world move beneath her.
“My mother knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she stay silent?”
May you like
Nathaniel looked at her.
“Because she believed your father would kill you next.”
