Chapter 9 - THE ENEMY UNDER HIS OWN ROOF
Michael felt like the floor disappeared.
“My mother?”
Daniel nodded.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
Michael looked at him.
“My mother loved this family.”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“That’s what she wanted everyone to think.”
Frank looked uncomfortable.
“Michael…”
Michael turned.
“You knew?”
Frank didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Michael’s anger returned.
“You knew.”
Frank looked down.
“I suspected.”
“For how long?”
“Years.”
Michael stepped closer.
“You let me believe Daniel betrayed me.”
Frank’s voice was quiet.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By lying?”
“No.”
Frank looked at Noah’s room.
“By keeping you alive.”
That stopped Michael.
“What does that mean?”
Frank took a breath.
“Your father didn’t die naturally.”
Silence.
Michael stared.
“What?”
“Before he died, he discovered financial problems inside the company.”
Daniel nodded.
“He found the truth.”
Michael looked between them.
“And my mother?”
Daniel answered.
“She knew.”
The room felt colder.
Michael’s memories started changing.
The arguments.
The strange phone calls.
The way his mother always controlled conversations.
He had ignored every warning.
Because he trusted family.
A nurse suddenly ran into the hallway.
“Mr. Carter!”
Michael turned.
“What?”
“Your son woke up.”
For the first time that night, hope returned.
Michael rushed inside.
Noah’s tiny eyes opened.
His little fingers moved.
Michael grabbed his hand.
“Hey, buddy.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I’m here.”
The baby made a weak sound.
A miracle.
After everything.
A miracle.
Then Noah suddenly looked past Michael.
Toward the doorway.
His expression changed.
Like he recognized someone.
Michael slowly turned.
Standing there was a woman.
Elegant.
Calm.
Older.
A woman who looked exactly like the person Michael remembered.
His mother.
Victoria Carter.
She smiled.
“Hello, Michael.”
Nobody spoke.
Michael stood frozen.
Because the woman he thought had been living quietly overseas for years…
was standing inside the hospital.
Near his son.
And in her hand…
May you like
was the same bottle that almost killed Noah.
TO BE CONTINUED…
