Chapter 3 - THE PERFECT PREGNANCY
By the third week, Chloe's pregnancy had become the center of Julian's world.
The Mercer family celebrated.
Margaret hosted dinners.
Friends sent gifts.
Julian proudly announced that his life was finally moving forward.
Emma watched from a distance.
But something bothered her.
Chloe was always careful.
Too careful.
She never allowed anyone to see medical records.
Whenever someone asked about the doctor, she changed the subject.
Emma began noticing inconsistencies.
Dates.
Appointments.
Statements.
Small things.
Nothing she could prove.
Then one evening, Emma received a message from an unknown number.
YOU WERE NEVER SUPPOSED TO SEE THE ORIGINAL FILE.
Emma stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
STOP LOOKING.
She immediately called the number.
It had already been disconnected.
The next morning, Garrison came to her house.
Emma showed him the messages.
He read them.
His face hardened.
“You shouldn't have received these.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means someone knows you're investigating.”
Emma stared at him.
“I'm not investigating.”
Garrison gave her a look.
“You're asking questions.”
“Isn't that allowed?”
“It depends who you're asking them about.”
Emma sat down.
“Julian?”
Garrison said nothing.
She looked at him.
“Or his father?”
Garrison's silence answered enough.
That night, Emma returned to the old photograph.
She searched Julian's family history.
His father had been a businessman.
But the records showed something unusual.
Several companies.
Several names.
Several transactions.
And one recurring surname.
Blackwood.
Emma stared at the screen.
The connection was too precise to ignore.
Then her phone rang.
Garrison.
“Emma.”
His voice sounded different.
“What happened?”
“Don't go anywhere.”
“Why?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“The medical report isn't the only thing Julian hid.”
