Chapter 3 - The Husband I Thought Was My Enemy Was Actually the Child My Parents Died ProtectingI couldn't speak.
Derek.
My husband.
The man who had grabbed my throat six hours after I gave birth.
The man I had spent years trying to escape.
He wasn't simply Howard's son.
He was the baby my parents had died protecting.
The heir.
The reason for the war.
The reason Ray had stayed close.
The reason Howard had tracked my family.
Everything.
But one thing didn't make sense.
“Why did my parents give him back?”
Ray shook his head.
“They didn't.”
“Then how did Howard get him?”
“He didn't.”
I stared.
“Derek grew up with Howard.”
“Yes.”
“So he was never taken.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Ray looked at me.
“Because your mother died before she could escape with him.”
My stomach twisted.
“And your father?”
“Died trying.”
“Then who raised Derek?”
“Howard.”
“And Howard knew who he was.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he allow Derek to marry me?”
Ray looked away.
“Because Howard never knew who you really were.”
I understood.
He thought I was a harmless woman.
An adopted orphan.
A nobody.
Derek married me for control.
Maybe not knowing I was connected to his father's biggest secret.
And now our daughter had been born.
The heir's heir.
The bloodline had returned.
I stared at Ray.
“Why didn't you tell me before?”
“Because you needed to have your daughter first.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“That the Caldwell line continued.”
My mind was spinning.
The trust.
The heir.
Derek.
My daughter.
“Does my daughter have a claim?”
“Yes.”
“A legal one?”
“Potentially.”
Ray opened another document.
A family trust.
Signed by Howard Caldwell.
The condition:
First legitimate child of the first legitimate male heir.
My daughter qualified.
I stared.
“So Howard wants her.”
“Yes.”
“Derek knows?”
“He may.”
I remembered the night at the hospital.
“I’m just teaching her who runs this family.”
I had thought he was talking about me.
Maybe he had been talking about the baby.
My hands shook.
“Then why did he hurt me?”
“Because he believes you are weak.”
“And the baby?”
“Leverage.”
I closed my eyes.
Ray put a hand on my shoulder.
“We're going to protect her.”
“Who is we?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“You are her mother.”
I swallowed.
“What can I do?”
“Survive.”
I laughed bitterly.
“I thought you were going to say fight.”
“You don't need to fight everyone.”
“What then?”
“Choose the right person.”
“Who?”
He looked toward the photograph of my parents.
“Your father had one ally.”
“Who?”
“Liam Mercer.”
“Who is that?”
“Your real uncle.”
I froze.
“My family is full of secrets.”
Ray smiled sadly.
“They were trying to keep you alive.”
We found Liam in Maine.
He was seventy.
Quiet.
A retired judge.
When he saw me, he cried.
“Michael's daughter.”
I hugged him.
“Why didn't you find me?”
“Because Ray told me not to.”
I looked at Ray.
He shrugged.
“Your family would have come looking.”
Liam gave me a box.
Inside was a birth certificate.
My name.
Emma Grace Mercer.
Mother: Grace Caldwell.
Father: Michael Mercer.
I stared.
“My mother was Grace Caldwell?”
“Yes.”
“Then she was Howard's wife.”
“Yes.”
“Then Derek and I…”
Liam shook his head.
“Derek was not Grace's biological child.”
“What?”
“Howard had him through another woman.”
I exhaled.
“So we're not related.”
“No.”
“But Derek was the baby my parents protected.”
“Yes.”
“And my daughter is his heir.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the documents.
“Why would Grace help my father?”
“Because she wanted her son safe.”
“She loved him?”
“She did.”
“Then why did she abandon me?”
“She didn't.”
He opened another envelope.
Inside was a letter.
My daughter,
I cried.
Grace's handwriting.
She had known I existed.
She had loved me.
She had hidden me.
She had sacrificed me to protect both children.
She wrote:
If Howard ever learns who you are, he will use you to reach Derek.
And if Derek becomes like his father, he may use you too.
I looked at Ray.
“That happened.”
He nodded.
Grace's final sentence cut deeper.
I am sorry you will grow up believing I did not want you.
I loved you enough to disappear.
I couldn't stop crying.
Liam placed another document beside the letter.
A photograph.
Grace.
My father.
And two babies.
Derek.
Me.
The truth had been buried.
Until now.
Then Liam's phone rang.
He listened.
His face turned pale.
“They found you.”
“Who?”
“The Caldwells.”
May you like
Ray stood.
“Then we're out of time.”
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