Chapter 7 - BEHIND THE PORTRAIT
The blue library had been locked since Richard Cole's funeral.
Nathan opened it at 2 a.m.
Dust covered everything except the portrait.
Someone had moved it recently.
Behind it was a wall safe.
Nathan knew his father's usual codes.
None worked.
Grace looked at the brass key in Emma's hand.
"Try April seventeenth."
0417.
The safe opened.
Inside were three envelopes.
One for Nathan.
One for Emma.
One marked FOR MY GRANDCHILD, IF I EVER HAVE ONE.
Nathan's hands shook.
His father had died before Lily was born.
How could he have known?
The letter explained.
Richard had discovered Grace's pregnancy through Marcus's surveillance reports.
Marcus brought the information to him and argued that Grace should be paid to disappear.
Richard refused.
He tried to contact Grace personally.
Marcus blocked him.
Then Richard wrote:
I thought I was protecting Nathan from scandal. By waiting, I gave Marcus time to turn secrecy into a weapon.
Grace wiped tears from her face.
Nathan could barely read the next page.
Richard had changed the trust specifically to protect any child Nathan might have.
He also ordered an audit of Marcus.
Two days later, Richard died after collapsing in his study.
Cause: cardiac arrest.
Emma whispered, "Paul never believed it."
The envelope for Emma held a copy of Richard's toxicology request.
It had never been processed.
Attached was a note.
If the lab says the sample was lost, ask who signed the destruction order.
Daniel called the hospital archive.
The old destruction record still existed.
May you like
Authorized by outside counsel.
Name: Daniel Mercer.
