Chapter 3: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead

Michael locked the consultation-room door.

Thomas sat across from him, his rough hands clasped tightly together.

“Start from the beginning.”

Thomas inhaled slowly.

“Three months ago, Sarah called me for the first time in years. She sounded terrified.”

“What did she say?”

“She said someone had discovered Emily’s identity.”

Michael frowned.

“What identity?”

“She didn’t explain. She only said that if anything happened to her, I had to take Emily and never trust anyone claiming to represent the Bennett family.”

“Bennett family?”

Thomas nodded.

“Sarah’s father was Charles Bennett.”

Michael recognized the name.

Everyone in the state did.

Charles Bennett was the billionaire founder of Bennett Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest medical corporations in the country.

Michael had never known Sarah was connected to him.

“She told me her father was dead.”

“That was what Charles wanted the public to believe. He cut Sarah off when she refused an arranged marriage and disappeared under her mother’s maiden name.”

Michael’s mind raced.

“Why would anyone care about Emily?”

“Because Sarah was Charles Bennett’s only child.”

“And Emily is his heir.”

Thomas nodded.

Michael leaned back.

The pieces began to form.

Sarah’s hidden past.

Her disappearance.

The child poisoned with a pharmaceutical anticoagulant.

“Who knew Emily was with you?”

“Only Sarah’s attorney.”

“What was his name?”

“David Mercer.”

Michael stood abruptly.

“Where is he?”

“He disappeared after Sarah’s funeral.”

A knock came at the door.

Nurse Ramirez entered.

“Dr. Carter, Emily is awake.”

Michael was already moving.

Inside the ICU, Emily looked impossibly small beneath the blankets.

Her eyes opened slowly.

They were hazel.

The same shade as his.

Michael approached carefully.

“Hi, Emily. I’m Dr. Carter.”

She studied his face.

“My grandpa said your name is Michael.”

Michael glanced at Thomas.

“Yes.”

Emily’s fingers tightened around the blanket.

“My mom had a picture of you.”

Michael stopped breathing.

“She did?”

Emily nodded weakly.

“She used to look at it when she thought I was asleep.”

Thomas turned away, overcome.

Michael sat beside the bed.

“Emily, do you remember taking any medicine today?”

She frowned.

“A woman gave me vitamins.”

“What woman?”

“She came to Grandpa’s house.”

Thomas spun around.

“No one came to the house.”

Emily shook her head.

“You were outside fixing the truck.”

Michael leaned closer.

“What did she look like?”

“Blonde hair. Red coat. She said she was my aunt.”

Michael’s expression darkened.

Sarah had no sister.

Before he could ask more, Emily looked toward the glass wall.

Her face drained of color.

“That’s her.”

Michael turned.

A blonde woman in a red coat stood at the far end of the ICU corridor.

Watching them.

The moment their eyes met, she ran.

Michael burst through the doors.

“Security!”

He chased her down the corridor, but she disappeared into a stairwell.

By the time he reached the lower floor, she was gone.

Only one thing remained on the concrete steps.

A silver bracelet engraved with the initials V.B.

Thomas stared at it.

His face collapsed.

“I know who she is.”

“Who?”

Thomas looked at Michael.

“Victoria Bennett.”

“Sarah’s aunt?”

“No.”

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Thomas swallowed.

“Sarah’s mother.”