Chapter 18 - The Name on the Certificate
Grace pulled Lily’s original birth certificate from the blue box.
The father field was blank.
At least on her copy.
Rebecca obtained the state archive version.
It was different.
A man’s name had been added six months after Lily’s birth.
PETER MALLOY.
Nathan recognized it immediately.
Peter had been his personal assistant four years ago.
The same assistant who resigned two weeks after Nathan’s crash.
Daniel found him living in Arizona under his own name.
Peter agreed to a video interview after Rebecca promised nothing except that the truth would be documented.
He looked terrified even through the screen.
“Charles paid me to forward Nathan’s calls,” he admitted.
Grace went pale.
“I called Nathan seventeen times.”
Peter closed his eyes. “I know.”
“You told me his number changed.”
“I know.”
Nathan’s voice was quiet. “Why is your name on Lily’s birth record?”
Peter stared at the desk.
“Charles needed a legal father in the database so automated trust searches wouldn’t flag Nathan’s name.”
“You signed it?” Grace asked.
“No. Mark Collins did. He used a notarized sample of my signature from old employment documents.”
Nathan felt rage rise again.
Peter continued.
“I tried to undo it. Charles threatened my wife. We left New York.”
Rebecca leaned forward. “Do you have proof?”
Peter held up an old external drive.
“Every forwarded call. Every instruction. I kept all of it.”
The drive became the final link.
It proved Grace had called.
It proved Nathan’s messages were intercepted.
It proved the birth record was altered.
And it proved Charles knew Lily was Nathan’s daughter before Lily was born.
Grace turned away, crying silently.
Nathan wanted to hold her.
May you like
He waited.
A few seconds later, Grace reached back and took his hand herself.
