Chapter 7 - The Doctor's Recording
Dr. Evelyn Shaw agreed to cooperate with investigators.
In a secure interview room, she explained that Richard Sterling had approached her before Isabella's delivery. He claimed that Isabella was in danger because of Sebastian's enemies and asked her to keep the pregnancy confidential.
At first, Evelyn believed him.
Then she discovered that the records had been altered.
“The death certificate was prepared before Isabella was even admitted,” she said. “I saw the timestamp in the hospital system.”
Sebastian sat across from her.
“Who prepared it?”
“Dr. Marcus Hale. He had access to the hospital's private patient database.”
“And Vincent signed the transfer?”
“Yes. But Richard paid for it.”
Evelyn's voice trembled.
“I tried to object. They told me my license would be revoked and that my family would suffer if I spoke.”
“Why did you help them take Lily?”
She lowered her eyes.
“Richard told me Isabella had agreed to give up custody. He showed me documents with her signature.”
“Were they real?”
“No. I later realized they were forged.”
“Then why did you take Lily to Hawthorne Cottage?”
“Because I discovered Richard intended to move her again, and this time there would be no medical records. I took her before his men arrived.”
Sebastian studied her.
“You helped create the danger.”
“Yes.”
“And then you tried to undo it.”
“Yes.”
“Those are two separate things.”
“I know.”
Evelyn handed the investigators a small flash drive.
It contained recordings from a private meeting between Richard, Vincent, and Dr. Hale.
Their voices were unmistakable.
Richard discussed the diverted medical foundation funds. Vincent explained that Isabella had discovered duplicate invoices and payments to shell companies.
Then Dr. Hale spoke.
“Once the death certificate is accepted, there will be no legal reason for Romano to continue searching.”
Richard answered, “And the child?”
“She's a separate problem.”
A silence followed.
Then Vincent said, “The child can be placed somewhere far from the family. No birth record should connect her to Sebastian.”
Richard's reply chilled the room.
“If she grows up knowing who she is, she becomes a liability.”
Sebastian stopped the recording.
He stood and walked to the window.
Isabella sat nearby with Lily asleep in her arms. She had insisted on being present for the interview, though she had not yet recovered her strength.
She watched him.
“Don't let them turn you into someone you hate,” she said softly.
He looked back at her.
“They tried to erase you.”
“I know.”
“They stole our daughter.”
“I know.”
“And they used my name to do it.”
Isabella shifted Lily closer to her chest.
“Then use your name to protect people who cannot protect themselves.”
Sebastian returned to the table.
He told the investigators he would cooperate fully, provide access to the Romano family's legitimate business records, and testify about any crimes he uncovered.
It was a decision that could destroy his position in the organization.
Marco caught him alone afterward.
“Sir, if you hand over everything, the authorities will investigate the entire operation. Some of your people will be arrested.”
“Then they will answer for what they've done.”
“And your enemies may see this as weakness.”
Sebastian looked toward the nursery, where Lily slept beneath a soft night-light.
“Let them.”
He turned back to Marco.
“From now on, no one in this family gets to hide behind my name.”
That night, Vanessa requested a meeting.
She claimed she had information about Richard's next move.
Sebastian agreed to hear her, but only with investigators present.
When she entered, she looked exhausted.
“I didn't know he would take Lily,” she said.
“You knew he was capable of taking Isabella.”
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why did you help him?”
“Because I was afraid of losing you.”
Sebastian's expression remained cold.
“You lost me when you decided I had no right to know the truth.”
Vanessa reached into her purse and removed a small envelope.
“My father gave me this after Isabella disappeared. He told me to destroy it if anything happened to him.”
Inside was a copy of a bank transfer and a handwritten note.
The transfer had been made to a company called Meridian Holdings.
The note contained a meeting date.
Tomorrow.
May you like
Richard was preparing to leave the country.
And he had arranged to take the original foundation ledger with him.
