Chapter 3 - My Mother’s Secret
My father arrived two hours later.
He looked older than he had that morning.
His shoulders were tense.
His eyes were exhausted.
He sat beside my hospital bed but didn’t speak.
I stared at him.
“Tell me everything.”
He looked toward the door.
“Is anyone listening?”
“Dad.”
He nodded.
Then he reached into his coat.
He pulled out an old photograph.
I had seen it before.
My mother stood beside a dark-haired man I didn’t recognize.
She was smiling.
The man had his hand around her waist.
I had always assumed he was a family friend.
My father placed the photograph on my blanket.
“His name was Nathan Cross.”
I stared at the picture.
“Who is he?”
My father looked at me.
“Your biological father.”
The words made no sense.
I laughed.
It was an empty, frightened sound.
“You’re my father.”
“I raised you.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
My father looked down.
“I am not your biological father.”
My world collapsed silently.
For thirty-two years, I had believed my father was my father.
He had taught me to ride a bicycle.
He had stayed beside my hospital bed when I broke my arm.
He had walked me down the aisle.
And now he was telling me he had never been my biological father.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your mother begged me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because Nathan Cross was dangerous.”
I looked at the photograph again.
The man beside my mother looked wealthy.
Powerful.
Cold.
“Who was he?”
My father swallowed.
“The founder of Crosswell Holdings.”
I knew the name.
Everyone did.
Crosswell Holdings owned hotels, hospitals, technology companies, and private investment firms across the country.
Nathan Cross had died twelve years ago.
His only son, Daniel Cross, had inherited the company.
My husband.
I stopped breathing.
My father watched my face.
“Emma…”
“Daniel knew?”
“I don’t know.”
“He knew my mother?”
“He knew her name.”
I stared at him.
Suddenly, memories began connecting.
Daniel’s obsession with my family history.
His strange questions about my childhood.
The way his mother had once asked whether I had ever taken a DNA test.
The way Daniel had become furious when I told him I was pregnant.
“What does this have to do with my baby?”
My father’s face tightened.
“Everything.”
I felt sick.
“Tell me.”
“Your mother was involved with Nathan before she met me.”
“I don’t want details.”
“She became pregnant.”
I looked at him.
“With me?”
He nodded.
“Then Nathan abandoned her.”
“Why?”
“Because he was married.”
My stomach twisted.
“What happened after that?”
“Your mother married me. I raised you. Nathan knew about you.”
“Then why did he never come for me?”
My father looked at the photograph.
“Because your mother threatened to expose him.”
I stared at him.
“What did she know?”
My father’s voice lowered.
“Nathan had stolen millions from his own company.”
I felt my heart pounding.
“And my mother knew?”
“She had proof.”
“What happened to the proof?”
My father looked at me.
“It disappeared the night your mother died.”
I could barely breathe.
Then he said the words that destroyed everything I thought I knew.
“Your mother didn’t die because of a random accident.”
“Then who killed her?”
My father hesitated.
“I believe Nathan ordered it.”
I stared at him.
“But Nathan died twelve years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would Daniel try to kill me?”
My father’s face became grim.
“Because Nathan left something behind.”
“What?”
“A clause in his will.”
I felt cold.
My father leaned closer.
“Your mother’s child was entitled to a controlling share of Crosswell Holdings.”
I stared at him.
“That’s impossible.”
“Your mother never claimed it.”
“Why?”
“Because she was afraid.”
My father reached into his coat again.
This time, he pulled out a sealed envelope.
On the front was a name.
EMMA HALE.
My mother’s handwriting.
The date was written thirty years earlier.
The envelope had never been opened.
My father placed it in my hand.
And on the back was a single sentence:
If my daughter ever marries Nathan Cross’s son, give her this.
My fingers began to tremble.
I looked at my father.
“Mom knew I might marry Daniel?”
“No.”
“Then why did she write this?”
My father’s expression was full of dread.
“Because she knew what Nathan was capable of.”
I opened the envelope.
May you like
Inside was one sentence.
Daniel is not Nathan’s son.
