Chapter 11 - THE MAN WHO REMEMBERED THE BABY
The document was hidden in the hospital archives.
It was dated October 16, 1989.
Two days after the babies were born.
The agreement listed three names:
Robert Hart.
Thomas Whitmore.
Margaret Whitmore.
Lena stared at the paper.
“What is this?”
Dr. Reed explained.
“Your father transferred ownership of several properties.”
“To whom?”
“An unborn child.”
Lena frowned.
“That is impossible.”
“Not legally, if the agreement was written as a trust.”
Daniel looked at the document.
“Why would my family give property to a baby?”
Dr. Reed pointed to the final page.
“Because the child was the heir.”
Emily looked at him.
“Which child?”
“That is the question.”
An elderly man entered the archive room.
He walked with a cane.
His name was Walter Hayes.
He had worked at St. Matthew's Hospital in 1989.
“I remember the night,” he said.
Lena turned.
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Walter looked at Daniel.
“I remember two babies.”
“Everyone says that.”
“I remember something else.”
“What?”
“One baby was crying.”
“Which one?”
Walter closed his eyes.
“The girl.”
Emily's face tightened.
“What happened to her?”
“Someone came into the nursery.”
“Who?”
“A man.”
“Robert Hart?”
Walter nodded.
“What did he do?”
“He picked up the girl.”
Lena felt her heart pound.
“Why?”
“He said she was in danger.”
“From whom?”
Walter looked at Daniel.
“From the Whitmore family.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Why?”
Walter shook his head.
“I never knew.”
“Then why did my father take her?”
“He didn't take her.”
Lena stared.
“What do you mean?”
Walter pointed to the transfer document.
“He was trying to protect her.”
“From what?”
Walter's voice dropped.
“Thomas Whitmore.”
Daniel froze.
“My father?”
Walter nodded.
“Thomas had arranged for the baby to be moved.”
“Why?”
“Because the girl was the legal heir to something.”
Lena stared at the document.
“What?”
Walter pointed to a handwritten note.
“Your mother inherited shares in a company.”
Lena looked at him.
“My mother?”
“Claire Hart was the biological heir to a family fortune.”
Lena felt dizzy.
“What family?”
Walter looked at Daniel.
“The Whitmore family.”
The room went silent.
Emily whispered:
“My mother was a Whitmore?”
Walter nodded.
“Her mother was Thomas Whitmore's sister.”
Daniel stared.
“Rachel.”
“Yes.”
Walter continued.
“Rachel had a daughter.”
Emily's face went pale.
“That was me.”
“Yes.”
Lena looked at Daniel.
“And Daniel?”
Walter shook his head.
“Daniel was not Rachel's child.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Walter continued.
“Rachel died after giving birth. The baby was supposed to inherit her shares.”
“Why would Thomas care?”
“Because those shares were worth hundreds of millions.”
Lena felt sick.
“Then my father took Emily to protect her inheritance.”
Walter nodded.
“But the records were changed.”
“By whom?”
Walter looked toward the door.
“Margaret.”
Lena froze.
“What?”
Walter sighed.
“She believed she was protecting the family.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She destroyed it.”
Walter looked at him.
“She was protecting you.”
Daniel stared.
“Why?”
“Because Thomas wanted to use you as the heir.”
Daniel's face went white.
Walter handed Lena another document.
It was a letter from Thomas Whitmore.
The boy will inherit.
The girl must disappear.
Lena felt the world stop.
Emily began to cry.
Daniel stared at the letter.
“My father wanted me to inherit everything.”
“Yes,” Walter said.
“And he wanted Emily gone.”
“Yes.”
Lena looked toward the door.
Margaret had known.
Her entire life had been built around a lie.
But now they understood the real reason.
Margaret had not rejected Eli because she hated him.
She had rejected him because his existence reminded her of a secret she had buried.
A secret that could destroy the Whitmore empire.
Then Walter spoke again.
“There is one more thing.”
Lena turned.
“What?”
“Thomas Whitmore is not dead.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
May you like
Walter looked at him.
“He has been living under another name.”
