Chapter 6 - The Trust Nobody Knew Existed
Margaret Price was alive.
For twenty-two years, Hannah and Claire had believed their mother had abandoned them.
Now Daniel was standing beside her.
Ethan sent the photograph to police.
Brooke was arrested for her role in the kidnapping, but before officers took her away, she gave Ethan everything she knew.
Daniel had kept Margaret hidden in a private care facility under another name.
Why?
Because Margaret knew where Hale Harbor's earliest money came from.
And because she was Daniel's biological mother.
The truth unfolded slowly.
Margaret had been nineteen when she gave birth to Daniel.
Unable to support him, she allowed the Hale family to adopt him privately.
Years later she became an accountant for the same family without initially realizing Daniel was her son.
When she discovered it, she remained silent.
Then she uncovered Daniel stealing from the company.
She confronted him.
He made her disappear.
Not by killing her.
By destroying her credibility, isolating her, and eventually placing her in private care after a breakdown.
Claire had discovered the truth.
Daniel threatened her.
Brooke had become useful to him because she wanted Ethan's wealth.
But Daniel wanted something bigger.
Control.
Caleb uncovered one more secret.
Ethan's grandfather had created a dormant family trust.
If Ethan died or became permanently incapacitated before his children reached adulthood, control of a large voting block transferred to the senior surviving Hale board member.
Daniel.
Unless Ethan had legally acknowledged biological heirs.
Noah and Jack destroyed Daniel's plan.
“They weren't complications to Brooke,” Ethan said.
“They were obstacles to Daniel,” Caleb replied.
Ethan looked toward his sleeping sons.
“And Claire died before she could finish exposing him.”
Hannah stood by the window.
“She died thinking Mom abandoned us.”
Ethan approached her.
“We're bringing Margaret home.”
“How?”
“Daniel wants the drive.”
Hannah looked at him.
“You can't give it to him.”
“I won't.”
Ethan had Caleb create an exact duplicate.
The original went into a bank vault.
That evening Daniel sent coordinates.
An abandoned Hale Harbor warehouse.
Ethan was to come alone.
He didn't.
Hannah insisted on coming.
“She is my mother.”
“And Daniel is dangerous.”
“So was Brooke. I still stood between her and those babies.”
Ethan couldn't argue with that.
They reached the warehouse at midnight.
Margaret sat beneath a single overhead light.
Daniel stood behind her.
She looked frail.
Older than her sixty-three years.
But alive.
Hannah whispered, “Mom.”
Margaret raised her head.
Recognition came slowly.
Then tears filled her eyes.
“Hannah?”
Hannah ran forward.
Daniel raised a gun.
Ethan stopped her.
“The drive.”
Ethan held it up.
“Let Margaret go.”
“First the drive.”
“You've already lost.”
Daniel smiled.
“You still think this is about the company.”
“What else?”
“Your father.”
Ethan froze.
“My father left when I was twelve.”
“No.”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“He discovered what I was doing.”
Ethan stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“He didn't abandon you, Ethan.”
Hannah whispered, “What happened to him?”
Daniel pointed toward a locked office at the rear of the warehouse.
“The answer is in there.”
A heavy sound came from behind the door.
Once.
Then again.
May you like
Someone was alive inside.
And a man's voice called Ethan's childhood nickname.
