Chapter 8: The Man Who Signed the Papers
I hadn't seen my uncle Victor in nearly eight years.
The last time had been at my father's funeral.
He had stood beside my mother, wearing an expensive black suit and a silver tie, shaking hands with business associates as though he were hosting a corporate event instead of burying his brother-in-law.
I remembered asking him why he hadn't visited Dad during his final months.
He had shrugged.
“Your father preferred privacy.””
Now I understood that there had been far more to their relationship than I knew.
Officer Harris placed a photograph on the table.
It showed a tall man with gray hair entering the hospital's administrative building.
Victor.
“Where is he now?”” I asked.
“We're trying to locate him.””
Olivia stared at the photograph.
“He was at the clinic when the girls were born.””
“You saw him?””
“Yes. He was standing outside the delivery room with Evelyn.””
She looked sick.
“He told me that if I wanted my babies to survive, I needed to cooperate.””
I gripped the table.
“What exactly did he say?””
Olivia closed her eyes.
“He said the family had already decided which child would be raised by whom. He said I should be grateful that one of my daughters would have a comfortable life.””
I couldn't believe it.
“He thought he could divide our family like property.””
“He believed he was protecting the Cole legacy.””
Harris stood.
“We have enough to bring Victor in for questioning. But I want you both to remain here.””
I nodded.
Then I remembered something.
“There's a safe in my father's study.””
Harris turned.
“What?””
“Dad kept a small safe behind a painting. I used to see him open it when I was a teenager.””
“Do you know the combination?””
I shook my head.
“But my mother does.””
Olivia looked at me.
“That's why she wants us at the estate.””
I understood.
The midnight invitation wasn't simply a threat.
It was a trap.
She wanted the original documents.
And she wanted to know whether we had discovered what was inside the trust.
Harris received a call.
He listened for several seconds, then looked at me.
“We located Victor.””
“Where?””
“Outside the Cole estate.””
My heart began pounding.
“Is he alone?””
“No. Your mother is with him.””
Olivia stepped forward.
“Officer, we need to go there.””
“Absolutely not.””
“She has the original records.””
“We'll obtain a warrant.””
Olivia shook her head.
“You don't understand. Victor knows the documents are there. If he destroys them, we may never prove what happened to Ruby.””
Harris considered this.
Then he made a call.
An hour later, we were in an unmarked vehicle with two officers and a warrant authorizing a search of the estate.
The girls remained at the secure location with another officer.
Before leaving, Sophie hugged me.
“Daddy, are you going to find the truth?””
I kissed her forehead.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
Ruby held Olivia's hand.
“Please bring Mommy back.””
Olivia knelt.
“I promise.””
The old Cole estate stood on a quiet stretch of land outside Atlanta.
The iron gates were open.
The mansion looked exactly as I remembered it.
White columns.
Wide windows.
A circular driveway.
The oak tree where my father had taught me to ride a bicycle.
But the house no longer felt like home.
It felt like the place where my family had been destroyed.
We entered through the front door.
Evelyn stood in the foyer.
Victor was beside her.
Neither looked surprised.
“Damien,” my mother said.
“Evelyn.””
She glanced at Olivia.
“I see you've brought your problems home.””
Olivia stepped forward.
“They were never problems. They were your grandchildren.””
Victor laughed.
“Let's not become emotional.””
I turned toward him.
“You arranged the medical records?””
He adjusted his cufflinks.
“I handled some administrative matters.””
“You helped my mother steal my daughter.””
“I helped protect the family's interests.””
“She's a child!””
Victor looked at me with mild irritation.
“Children grow up. Money lasts generations.””
I wanted to hit him.
Officer Harris stepped between us.
“Mr. Victor Cole, we have a warrant to search the property and seize documents related to the Cole family trust and the hospital records.””
Victor's smile disappeared.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
Harris held up the warrant.
“We'll let a judge decide that.””
Evelyn stepped toward me.
“Damien, listen to me. Your father was not the man you remember.””
I stared at her.
“Neither are you.””
She flinched.
For a moment, I saw something like regret.
Then it vanished.
“You think Olivia is innocent?”” she asked.
I looked at my wife.
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“She never told you the entire story.””
Olivia stiffened.
Victor looked at her.
“Go ahead, Olivia. Tell him.””
I turned toward my wife.
“Tell me what?””
Olivia's eyes filled.
“Damien, I was going to tell you.””
“Tell me now.””
She took a breath.
“Your father didn't discover the trust after the twins were conceived.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He knew about the embryo program before we got married.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know until much later.””
Evelyn laughed.
“Of course she didn't. Your father kept her in the dark, just as he kept you.””
Olivia looked at me.
“Your father approached me before the wedding. He wanted me to undergo genetic testing because of the hereditary condition in his family.””
I felt confused.
“Why would he ask you?””
“He wanted to make sure our children wouldn't inherit it.””
I nodded slowly.
“That sounds reasonable.””
“It was. But he also asked me to sign a document agreeing to use a specific fertility program if we ever needed assistance.””
I stared at her.
“We never discussed that.””
“I know.””
“Did you sign it?””
Olivia nodded.
“Years before the pregnancy.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“And that is how the entire arrangement began.””
I looked at my mother.
“What arrangement?””
She smiled.
“The one your father created behind your back.””
Then Victor walked toward the study.
Harris followed him.
“Stop right there.””
Victor ignored him.
He opened the study door and reached toward the painting above the fireplace.
I recognized the safe behind it.
“Don't touch that!”” I shouted.
Victor turned.
Too late.
He had already entered the combination.
The safe opened.
Inside were several folders, a small box, and a sealed envelope.
Victor reached for the envelope.
Officer Harris grabbed his wrist.
“Step away.””
Victor struggled.
A second officer restrained him.
Evelyn screamed.
“Don't let them take that!””
I moved toward the safe.
The envelope had my father's handwriting.
My name was written across the front.
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
And beneath the letter was a photograph.
A photograph of a woman holding a newborn baby.
The woman wasn't Olivia.
It was my mother.
The date on the photograph was twelve years before my marriage.
I looked at Evelyn.
She had gone completely pale.
“Damien,” she whispered.
I read the letter.
My son, if you have found this, then the truth has finally reached you. There is something about your birth that I never had the courage to tell you.
I looked up.
My mother was crying now.
May you like
My father had written one final sentence.
Evelyn is not your biological mother.
