Chapter 7: Margaret’s Secret Was Worse Than Robert’s Lie
Police lights flashed through the windows as Robert dragged Margaret into the dining room.
“Everyone stay upstairs!” he shouted.
Daniel ignored him and followed at a distance. “Let her go.”
Robert pressed the gun under Margaret’s chin. “Tell the officers there was an accident.”
Margaret’s voice shook. “You shot two people.”
“And you helped me bury the truth.”
Daniel stopped halfway down the stairs. “What truth?”
Robert smiled without humor. “Ask your mother why Thomas died six months ago.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Adrian’s voice came from behind Daniel. “He died from heart failure.”
Robert laughed. “That was the official story.”
Adrian stiffened. “What are you saying?”
Margaret whispered, “Thomas contacted me last year.”
Daniel’s face changed. “You knew he was alive?”
“He sent me a letter. He said he had learned the baby survived.”
“You answered him?”
“Yes.”
Robert tightened his arm around her. “Tell them the rest.”
Margaret began to cry. “I agreed to meet Thomas at a café.”
Adrian moved down one step. “My father collapsed after meeting an unknown woman. The hospital said there was a drug in his blood.”
“I didn’t drug him!”
Robert pressed the gun harder. “Careful.”
Margaret looked at Daniel. “Robert followed me. He sat at another table. I didn’t know he was there until Thomas became sick.”
Daniel’s voice was barely audible. “Did you call an ambulance?”
Margaret sobbed. “Robert told me Thomas was pretending. He said if I called for help, our lives would be destroyed.”
Adrian’s eyes filled with rage. “You left him there?”
“I went back ten minutes later, but he was gone. Someone else had called for help.”
“He died two days later,” Adrian said.
“I didn’t know!”
“You didn’t want to know.”
Robert spoke toward the front door. “Officers, my wife is unstable! She shot two people and I’m trying to restrain her!”
Margaret stared at him. “You’re blaming me?”
“Someone must take responsibility.”
“You promised we would protect Daniel together.”
“I protected my family. You protected yourself.”
Elena came down carrying Noah, her face calm despite the fear in her eyes. “Robert, there is nowhere to go.”
“There is always somewhere to go when you have money.”
“Not anymore.”
He looked at her. “What did you do?”
“I sent the DNA report, Thomas’s letters, and the trust records to the board of your company before dinner.”
Robert’s confidence cracked. “You’re lying.”
“My attorney received confirmation twelve minutes ago. Your accounts are being frozen.”
“You stupid woman!”
“No. I finally understood why you wanted Daniel to divorce me. As his wife, I could challenge the trust. You needed me gone before the board learned Daniel was Thomas’s heir.”
Robert’s hand trembled.
Margaret felt it.
She suddenly bit his arm and dropped to the floor.
Daniel rushed forward.
A gunshot thundered.
Robert stumbled, grabbed the table, and stared at the blood spreading across his shirt.
Everyone turned toward the doorway.
Claire stood there, pale and wounded, holding the second pistol.
May you like
“I told you,” she whispered, “I wouldn’t stay silent again.”
Robert collapsed—but before officers could enter, he smiled at Daniel and said, “You still don’t know which baby Margaret brought home from the hospital.”
