Chapter 4 - The Letter in the Hospital Archive
Declan and Sarah arrived at Massachusetts General Hospital that afternoon.
Dr. Weaver met them privately.
When Declan explained what they had discovered, the doctor's expression changed.
"I've been waiting for someone to ask."
"Ask what?"
Dr. Weaver closed the office door.
"Your father came to me six years ago."
Declan stared.
"Why?"
"He was investigating something."
"What?"
"A poisoning case."
Declan's blood went cold.
Dr. Weaver opened an old file.
Inside was a letter.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Daniel Hayes.
If my son ever asks about this, tell him the truth.
I failed him once. I will not fail him twice.
Declan's hands trembled.
He read the letter again.
"What's the case?"
Dr. Weaver looked at Sarah.
"Your father believed someone inside Hayes Global was attempting to gain control of the company."
"Who?"
"He never told me."
"Why?"
"Because he was afraid."
Declan almost laughed.
His father had never been afraid of anyone.
Apparently he had been wrong.
Dr. Weaver continued.
"He believed the person was close to you."
"Family?"
"Possibly."
Declan looked at Sarah.
She was pale.
"Why was I poisoned?"
Dr. Weaver answered carefully.
"Because you became pregnant."
Declan's eyes darkened.
"What does that mean?"
"Your child could become an heir."
Silence.
If Sarah gave birth to Declan's child, that child would eventually inherit everything.
Unless the child never existed.
Declan suddenly understood.
Someone wasn't simply trying to kill Sarah.
They were eliminating the future heir to his empire.
The question was:
Who?
That evening, Declan returned to the mansion with Sarah.
For the first time, he didn't separate himself from her.
He stayed near her.
When she became tired, he brought her water.
When she struggled with nausea, he sat beside her.
Sarah watched him with confusion.
"You don't have to do this."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Declan looked at her.
"Because I should have done it before."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You didn't know."
"I should have noticed."
She shook her head.
"You were busy."
"No."
His voice was quiet.
"I was hiding."
"From what?"
"From caring."
Sarah smiled sadly.
"You weren't very good at it."
For the first time in years, Declan smiled.
A real smile.
Then every light in the mansion went out.
The security system screamed.
Victor rushed into the room.
"Everyone down!"
Glass shattered upstairs.
Declan grabbed Sarah and pulled her behind the stone fireplace.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Men shouted.
The attack lasted less than two minutes.
Then silence.
Victor returned.
"Two intruders dead."
"Who sent them?"
"We don't know."
Declan looked toward Sarah.
She was trembling.
Then something fell from her coat.
A small envelope.
Declan picked it up.
It was addressed to Sarah.
No return address.
Inside was a single sentence.
Stop looking into your father's death, or the baby dies with you.
Declan stared at the words.
Then he looked at Sarah.
May you like
Someone knew everything.
And they were watching.
