Chapter 4: The Woman Carrying Patricia's Secret
I read the message three times.
*Daniel isn't the father.*
*PATRICIA WHITMORE.*
For several seconds, I couldn't make sense of the words.
Patricia was Daniel's mother.
The pregnant woman at my house was calling him Daddy.
And somehow, the unknown sender was suggesting that Patricia was connected to the baby's real father.
I called the number immediately.
No answer.
I called again.
Nothing.
Arthur watched me from across the conference table.
“Emily, what's happened?””
I turned the phone toward him.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know. They've been sending me documents since last night.””
Arthur removed his glasses.
“There's something I haven't told you.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“Your grandfather discovered a personal scandal involving Patricia shortly before his death. He believed it was connected to the financial fraud.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I couldn't prove it.””
He opened another drawer and removed a sealed envelope.
The handwriting on the front was unmistakable.
My grandfather's.
For Emily. Only if Daniel attempts to take what belongs to her.
I felt my throat tighten.
“What's inside?””
“I was instructed not to open it unless the conditions in the trust were triggered.””
“And now they have been?””
Arthur nodded.
He handed me the envelope.
My fingers trembled as I broke the seal.
Inside was a photograph.
Patricia stood outside a private clinic, holding the hand of a young man in a black coat.
On the back, my grandfather had written:
The truth about Patricia's first son may explain everything.
I looked up.
“First son?””
Arthur nodded.
“Patricia had a child before Daniel. A boy she gave up shortly after birth.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Does Daniel know?””
“I don't believe so.””
“Then who is the woman at my house?””
Arthur studied the photograph.
“I don't know.””
My phone vibrated.
This time, the message contained a video.
I pressed play.
The footage showed the living room of my own house.
Daniel was standing beside the fireplace.
Patricia sat on the sofa, while a young blonde woman stood near the staircase.
I recognized her immediately.
She was the same woman Claire had described.
The woman rested one hand on her stomach.
Daniel handed her a glass of water.
Then Patricia spoke.
“Once the transfer is complete, none of this matters anymore.””
The young woman looked nervous.
“What if Emily finds out?””
Daniel laughed.
“Emily doesn't know how to read a balance sheet. She'll be too busy crying over the divorce papers.””
Patricia shook her head.
“Don't underestimate her. Her grandfather was clever. Unfortunately, she inherited his sentimental side.””
Daniel stepped closer to the woman.
“Don't worry, Sophie. By Monday, everything will be settled.””
Sophie.
The woman's name was Sophie.
She lowered her voice.
“And the baby?””
Patricia's expression hardened.
“The baby gets the future it deserves.””
The video ended.
I sat motionless.
Arthur leaned forward.
“Emily, we need to know who Sophie is.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Then something clicked.
“Sophie Bennett.””
Arthur frowned.
“What?””
“The woman in the video. Her surname is Bennett.””
Arthur went pale.
“Are you certain?””
“I saw it on the delivery label in the background.””
He took the photograph from my hand.
“Emily, Arthur Bennett is my name. But I have a son. His name is Michael Bennett.””
I looked at him.
“Your son?””
He nodded slowly.
“And he was involved in a relationship with Patricia many years ago.””
The room went silent.
I looked back at the photograph of Patricia.
Suddenly, the message made a terrible kind of sense.
The baby wasn't Daniel's.
It was connected to Patricia's past.
And if Sophie was Arthur's granddaughter, then this wasn't just another family scandal.
It was a secret that could destroy the entire Whitmore family.
I reached home at 4:10 p.m.
Two security guards stood outside the entrance.
One stepped forward.
“Mrs. Whitmore, Mr. Whitmore instructed us not to let you enter.””
I stared at him.
“This is my residence.””
“I'm sorry, ma'am.””
Behind him, I saw Patricia through the glass doors.
She was holding my grandmother's jewelry box.
I raised my voice.
“Patricia! Put that down.””
She turned.
Then she smiled.
A deliberate, satisfied smile.
She opened the door just wide enough to speak.
“Emily, you're not welcome here anymore.””
“That's my jewelry box.””
“Daniel says it belongs to the family.””
“It belonged to my grandmother.””
Patricia held it against her chest.
“Your grandmother is dead. Perhaps it's time you stopped clinging to things that no longer belong to you.””
I stepped forward.
The guard blocked me.
Then Daniel appeared behind his mother.
“What's all this?””
“You know exactly what's happening.””
He looked at the guards.
“Remove her.””
I couldn't believe it.
“Daniel, you cannot throw me out of my own home.””
He pulled a folded document from his jacket.
“Actually, I can.””
He held it up.
“Temporary separation agreement. You've already been notified that your access to certain marital assets is suspended.””
I looked at the document.
There was a signature at the bottom.
Mine.
Another forgery.
“You really think this will work?””
His smile faded.
“It's already filed.””
“Then you'll enjoy explaining the forged signature to a judge.””
For the first time, Patricia looked nervous.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Be careful, Emily. You have no idea what you're dealing with.””
I looked at him.
“Neither do you.””
Then I turned and walked toward my car.
As I opened the door, I heard someone behind me.
“Emily!””
It was Sophie.
She had come down the front steps.
Her eyes were red.
“Please. I need to talk to you.””
Daniel immediately grabbed her arm.
“Sophie, get inside.””
She pulled away.
“No!””
Patricia rushed toward them.
“Don't you dare.””
Sophie looked directly at me.
“I'm sorry. I didn't know who you were until today.””
I stared at her.
“What do you want?””
She glanced at Daniel.
Then at Patricia.
Finally, she whispered:
“Your husband isn't the one who stole your inheritance.””
My blood ran cold.
“Then who did?””
Sophie began crying.
“His mother.””
May you like
And before Daniel could drag her inside, she shouted:
“Patricia has been stealing from this family for twenty-seven years!””
