Chapter 9 - THE FATHER WHO WAS NEVER SICK
Nurses rushed into the room.
Julian was pushed toward the wall.
The doctor adjusted the monitor.
“Turn her onto her left side.”
A nurse helped move me.
The alarm continued.
I gripped the sheet.
“What is happening?”
“We are watching the second twin.”
“Is he dying?”
“No.”
The doctor’s voice remained controlled.
“But his heart rate is unstable.”
Julian stepped closer.
“What can you do?”
“We may need emergency intervention.”
“They are too early.”
“I know.”
The doctor looked at me.
“I need you to breathe slowly.”
I tried.
My entire body shook.
Julian moved beside the bed.
“Look at me.”
I did.
“Breathe with me.”
He inhaled slowly.
I followed.
Again.
And again.
The monitor began to steady.
The alarm stopped.
The doctor watched the screen.
“Good.”
I started crying.
Julian pressed his forehead against my hand.
For one brief moment, we were not betrayed wife and guilty husband.
We were simply two frightened parents.
The doctor stepped away.
“We avoided an emergency.”
“But any additional stress could change that.”
Julian looked toward the detective.
“I am leaving.”
I tightened my hand around his.
“Where?”
“To find my father.”
“No.”
“If he knows what my mother has done, he may be the only person who can stop her.”
“You could be walking into a trap.”
“I know.”
“Then do not go.”
He looked at me.
“If I stay here and she keeps coming after you, the boys will never be safe.”
I wanted to argue.
But I knew he was right.
The detective stepped forward.
“You are not going alone.”
“I was not asking.”
“Good.”
Before Julian left, he bent beside the bed.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I loved you every day.”
I looked away.
“That does not make it better.”
“I know.”
“It makes it worse.”
“Yes.”
His voice broke.
“But it is true.”
He placed his hand beside mine on the bed.
He did not touch me until I moved my fingers over his.
“Come back alive.”
“I will.”
He left with the detective and two officers.
Madison remained under guard in another room.
Hannah sat beside me.
For three hours, we heard nothing.
Then Julian called.
His voice was low.
“We found the vehicle.”
“Where?”
“An abandoned Foster property outside the city.”
“Is your father there?”
“We do not know yet.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
The line disconnected.
At the old Foster estate, Julian stood behind a police vehicle.
The mansion had been empty for years.
Its windows were dark.
The front gate hung open.
Grant’s SUV was parked near the entrance.
No one was inside.
The detective signaled to the officers.
They entered through the front door.
Julian followed despite being told to remain outside.
Dust covered the furniture.
Every room smelled stale.
They found Charles Foster in the basement.
He was tied to a chair.
His hair was gray.
His face was thin.
But his eyes were completely clear.
Julian stopped in the doorway.
“Dad?”
Charles looked up.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Charles whispered.
“You finally found me.”
Julian rushed forward.
“You know who I am?”
“Of course I know who you are.”
“They said you had dementia.”
Charles gave a bitter laugh.
“Your mother paid doctors to say that.”
The detective cut the restraints.
“Where is Eleanor?”
“She left twenty minutes ago.”
“With Grant?”
“Yes.”
Julian crouched beside his father.
“Why did she keep you here?”
Charles looked at him.
“Because I discovered she was stealing from the company.”
“How much?”
“Nearly three hundred million dollars.”
Julian stared at him.
“That is impossible.”
“No.”
“Your mother created shell companies years ago.”
“Grant moved the money.”
“I confronted her.”
“She had me declared incompetent.”
Julian’s face went cold.
“And Audrey?”
Charles’s eyes changed.
“She found out.”
Julian froze.
“What do you mean?”
“Before your anniversary.”
“Before the kiss.”
Charles struggled to stand.
“Audrey came to see me.”
Julian stared at his father.
“She knew you were here?”
“She suspected something was wrong.”
“She found irregular payments connected to the medical facility.”
Julian’s mind raced.
“Why did she not tell me?”
“She tried.”
“She called your office repeatedly.”
“Madison blocked the messages.”
Julian closed his eyes.
Charles continued.
“Audrey came alone.”
“She promised to help me expose Eleanor.”
“Then she disappeared.”
Julian looked toward the detective.
“My mother thought Audrey had evidence.”
Charles nodded.
“She did.”
“What evidence?”
“A ledger.”
“Where is it?”
“I gave it to Audrey.”
Julian’s face changed.
Audrey had not simply vanished because of the kiss.
She had been carrying proof that could destroy the Foster family.
“Did my mother know?”
“She knew Audrey visited me.”
“She did not know what I gave her.”
Julian stood.
“Then the fire at Hannah’s hotel was not only about the babies.”
“No.”
Charles looked directly at his son.
“It was about that ledger.”
Julian called me immediately.
I answered on the first ring.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“We found my father.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes in relief.
Then Julian asked the question I had feared for four years.
“Audrey, where is the ledger?”
Hannah looked at me.
My silence told her everything.
Julian’s voice became tense.
“You still have it.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I cannot tell you over the phone.”
“Audrey, my mother is trying to kill you for it.”
“I know.”
“You knew?”
“I knew she was dangerous.”
“Why did you never tell me?”
“Because the night I came to tell you, I found you kissing Madison.”
The line went silent.
Hannah stared at me.
Julian finally spoke.
“The anniversary dinner.”
“Yes.”
“The card.”
“Yes.”
“I was not only coming to save our marriage.”
“I was coming to show you the proof.”
His breathing changed.
“Where is the ledger now?”
I looked toward the hospital door.
A shadow moved beneath it.
Then the handle slowly turned.
“I need to go.”
“Audrey?”
The door opened.
Eleanor Foster stepped inside wearing a nurse’s uniform.
May you like
She held a gun beneath a folded blanket.
“End the call,” she said.
