Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER SHE ALMOST MARRIED
Julian drove to the Bellamy hospital room before sunrise.
He didn’t call.
He didn’t knock.
He walked in holding the photograph.
Audrey was asleep in a chair.
Richard was awake.
The second Richard saw Julian’s face, he knew.
“Get out,” Richard said.
Julian shut the door.
Audrey woke.
“What are you doing here?”
Julian ignored her.
He threw the photograph onto Richard’s blanket.
“Tell me she’s lying.”
Audrey picked it up.
Her eyes moved from Richard to Lenora to the baby.
“What is this?”
Richard looked exhausted.
“Julian, this isn’t the place.”
“Tell me.”
Audrey stood.
“Tell you what?”
Julian’s voice cracked.
“That he’s my father.”
Audrey went completely still.
Richard stared at Julian.
Then nodded.
Once.
Audrey dropped the photograph.
“No.”
Richard looked at her.
“Audrey—”
“No.”
She backed away from the bed.
“No.”
Julian laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“Apparently our wedding had more problems than we thought.”
Audrey looked like she might throw up.
“You’re saying…”
“Yes.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“We almost got married.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I never knew you two were together.”
Audrey snapped.
“You knew his last name.”
“Mercer is his legal father’s name.”
“You knew Lenora had a son.”
“I hadn’t seen him since he was a baby.”
Julian stepped closer.
“You paid child support?”
“No.”
“You visited?”
“No.”
“You called?”
“No.”
Richard looked at him.
“Your mother didn’t want me near you.”
Julian’s voice went cold.
“Convenient.”
“She was right.”
Audrey stared at her father.
“You knew I was dating Julian for almost two years.”
“I never met him until the engagement dinner.”
“And you didn’t recognize him?”
“He looks like his mother.”
Julian shook his head.
“Unbelievable.”
Audrey gripped the back of a chair.
Then another thought hit her.
“Lenora knew.”
Julian turned.
“She says she only figured it out recently.”
“She knew at the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“And still let us stand at that altar?”
Julian said nothing.
Audrey’s face hardened.
“She wanted the property.”
“It was her family’s property.”
“She was willing to let us marry for it.”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“She said she planned to stop it.”
“When? Before or after the cake?”
“Audrey.”
“No. Don’t defend her.”
“You pushed her into a pool.”
“And she almost let me marry my brother!”
Richard shouted, “Enough!”
The heart monitor jumped.
Everyone stopped.
Richard struggled to sit up.
“I made this mess.”
Audrey looked at him.
“For once, we agree.”
Richard coughed.
“I have maybe three months.”
The room went silent.
Audrey’s anger broke for one second.
“What?”
“Maybe less.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you were getting married.”
“To my half-brother.”
“Yes, Audrey. I understand the irony.”
She slapped the bed rail.
“You don’t get to joke.”
Richard nodded slowly.
“No. I don’t.”
Julian looked at him.
“What happens when you die?”
Richard’s eyes shifted toward him.
Audrey noticed.
That question.
Not “Why did you abandon me?”
Not “Did you ever think about me?”
What happens when you die?
Richard noticed too.
“The company goes into trust.”
“For Audrey?”
“Mostly.”
Julian’s face gave away almost nothing.
Almost.
Audrey saw it.
A flicker.
Calculation.
Richard saw her watching him.
“Harbor Street is part of the trust,” Richard continued.
Julian looked at Audrey.
“How much?”
Audrey’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“I’m asking.”
“Why?”
Lenora appeared in the doorway.
“Because half of it belongs to him.”
Everyone turned.
Richard’s face changed.
“Lenora.”
She walked in.
“You never told them?”
Richard whispered, “Don’t.”
Lenora looked at Audrey.
“Your father signed a private agreement twenty-eight years ago.”
She pulled a folder from her bag.
“If he ever acknowledged Julian as his son, Julian would receive fifty percent of Harbor Street.”
Audrey stared at the papers.
Richard went pale.
May you like
Lenora smiled without warmth.
“And last night, in front of both of you, he just acknowledged him.”
