Chapter 2 - THE HOSPITAL ROOM
Thomas reached the hospital in eleven minutes.
He barely remembered the drive.
David drove.
Thomas stared through the windshield while Boston blurred past.
Genevieve had collapsed.
His daughter.
The child he had raised alone after losing his wife.
The child he had spent years trying to protect.
And somehow, while he was preparing to marry another woman, someone had been threatening her.
He stepped into the emergency department.
“Genevieve Vance.”
The nurse checked the computer.
“Family?”
“Father.”
She looked at him carefully.
“She is conscious.”
Thomas nearly sagged with relief.
“Can I see her?”
“Five minutes.”
He entered the room.
Genevieve looked small beneath the hospital blanket.
Her face was pale.
An IV ran into her arm.
Toby was asleep beside Sarah in the waiting area.
Thomas walked to the bed.
Genevieve looked at him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she whispered:
“You saw it.”
Thomas nodded.
“All of it.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I tried to tell you.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“You don't.”
Thomas pulled a chair closer.
“I believe you.”
Genevieve looked away.
That hurt more than anything.
“I believed Evelyn.”
“I know.”
“I thought you hated her because she wasn't Mom.”
Genevieve closed her eyes.
“I never hated her.”
Thomas felt shame settle heavily over him.
“Why didn't you tell me everything?”
“I did.”
She opened her eyes.
“Every time I tried, she already knew what I was going to say.”
Thomas frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“She knew private conversations. She knew where Toby's daycare was. She knew which attorney I spoke to.”
Genevieve swallowed.
“I realized someone inside the family was giving her information.”
Thomas stiffened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
That answer terrified him.
Because Evelyn couldn't have done everything alone.
Thomas looked at his daughter's IV.
“What was she trying to make you sign?”
Genevieve hesitated.
“A trust amendment.”
“For what?”
“Toby.”
Thomas frowned.
“My grandson?”
“She wanted control over his inheritance.”
Thomas felt his jaw tighten.
“Why?”
Genevieve looked directly at him.
“Because Mom left something.”
Thomas stopped.
“Your mother?”
Genevieve nodded.
“Before she died, Mom created a private trust.”
Thomas remembered the trust.
But he had never known the details.
“Why didn't I know?”
“Because she didn't trust everyone.”
Thomas felt something shift.
His late wife had been many things.
Kind.
Intelligent.
Careful.
But secretive?
That was new.
“What did she leave?”
Genevieve's voice lowered.
“Evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“I don't know.”
Before she could continue, the door opened.
A lawyer stepped inside.
Thomas recognized him immediately.
Richard Bell.
His family's attorney for twenty-five years.
Richard smiled nervously.
“Thomas.”
Thomas stood.
“What are you doing here?”
“Evelyn called me.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“Why?”
Richard hesitated.
“To discuss the wedding.”
“The wedding is over.”
Richard looked confused.
Then he noticed Genevieve.
“I'm sorry.”
Thomas stepped between them.
“Leave.”
Richard blinked.
“Thomas—”
“Leave.”
Richard's face tightened.
“You should be careful.”
Thomas leaned closer.
“About what?”
“Making accusations without evidence.”
Thomas smiled coldly.
“I have a USB full of evidence.”
Richard's face changed.
Only slightly.
But Thomas noticed.
So did David.
Richard left.
Thomas waited until the door closed.
“That's the man Mom trusted?”
Genevieve nodded.
“Dad, there is something else.”
“What?”
Genevieve reached beneath her pillow.
She pulled out an envelope.
“I found this inside Mom's old storage box.”
Thomas opened it.
A photograph fell onto the bed.
It showed his late wife standing beside a young man.
Thomas recognized the location.
His own company headquarters.
But he did not recognize the man.
On the back of the photograph was one sentence.
If Thomas ever marries Evelyn, show him this.
Thomas stared.
“Who is he?”
Genevieve shook her head.
“I don't know.”
David picked up the photograph.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“The man in this picture.”
David pointed.
“I've seen him before.”
“Where?”
“At Evelyn's house.”
Thomas's blood chilled.
“When?”
“Last month.”
Thomas turned toward the door.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A distorted voice spoke.
“You shouldn't have opened the drive.”
Thomas went still.
“Who is this?”
“You had one job.”
“What job?”
“To marry Evelyn.”
Thomas's grip tightened around the phone.
“And now?”
“Now you know too much.”
The call ended.
Thomas stared at the screen.
Genevieve saw his face.
“What happened?”
Thomas looked at her.
“They're scared.”
“Of what?”
May you like
Thomas glanced at the photograph.
“Of whatever your mother left behind.”
