Chapter 7: The Daughter He Tried to Erase
By eight the next morning, my photograph was everywhere.
Financial news websites had published it. Entertainment blogs had reposted it. Television commentators were discussing the alleged thirty-million-dollar fraud as though they had personally witnessed it.
Some headlines were even worse.
*BILLIONAIRE'S PREGNANT EX-WIFE ACCUSED OF STEALING FAMILY FORTUNE.*
*OLIVIA CARTER: VICTIM OR MASTER MANIPULATOR?*
One television presenter described me as a woman who had allegedly used an unexpected pregnancy to gain control of her former husband's company.
I turned the television off.
My hands were shaking.
I was six months pregnant, sitting in my apartment, watching strangers debate whether I deserved to be a mother.
Rachel arrived at 8:40 carrying a laptop and two folders.
"Don't read anything else," she said.
"I've already seen enough.""
"Good. Because we're going to focus on facts.""
She placed the folders on the table.
"First, the emergency petition. Second, the evidence Patricia provided.""
I looked at her.
"Can Liam really accuse me of stealing money he transferred into a company without my permission?""
"He can make an accusation. Proving it is another matter.""
She opened the laptop.
"His petition claims you were the beneficial owner of Carter Hayes Holdings and therefore responsible for its transactions.""
"But I didn't know the company existed.""
"That's our central argument.""
She displayed the incorporation documents.
"We have the unauthorized electronic filing, the questionable notarization, Patricia's testimony, and the emails instructing her to use your existing signature.""
I leaned forward.
"Is that enough?""
"It's a strong beginning. But we need to establish where the money went.""
I looked at the transaction records.
"To Sophie.""
Rachel nodded.
"That's what Patricia's documents suggest.""
I stared at the name.
"Why would Liam transfer thirty million dollars into an account connected to a daughter he has never publicly acknowledged?""
"That's the question.""
Rachel opened another document.
"This is a transaction authorization from the original trust.""
It showed a transfer from Carter Hayes Holdings to an account belonging to Sophie Hayes.
The amount was thirty million dollars.
The date was sixteen years earlier.
I looked up.
"Then the money wasn't stolen.""
"Not by you.""
Rachel scrolled farther.
"But look at the second transaction.""
Another transfer had been made six weeks later.
This time, the funds had moved from Sophie's protected account into a separate investment structure.
The recipient was listed as Meridian Advisory Group.
I recognized the name.
"The company connected to Liam's attorneys.""
"Correct.""
"How much?""
"Twenty-eight million.""
I stared at the screen.
"Where did the other two million go?""
Rachel didn't answer immediately.
She opened another attachment.
A payment of two million dollars had been transferred to a private account in Boston.
The account holder was Victoria Lane.
I blinked.
"Victoria received two million?""
Rachel nodded.
"According to this record, yes.""
"But she told us she only received two hundred thousand.""
"Which means either she wasn't informed of the remaining payment or someone misrepresented the transfer.""
I immediately called Victoria.
She answered after the second ring.
"Olivia?""
"Victoria, I need to ask you something.""
"Of course.""
"Did you ever receive two million dollars from the trust?""
Silence.
Then she whispered:
"No.""
I looked at Rachel.
"Are you certain?""
"Absolutely. I received two hundred thousand. That's all.""
"Do you have your bank statements?""
"Every one of them.""
Rachel leaned toward the phone.
"Victoria, we're going to need copies.""
"What's happening?""
I hesitated.
"Liam has accused me of stealing the thirty million dollars.""
Victoria's voice became sharp.
"What?""
"He claims I controlled the holding company.""
"Oh, my God.""
"Victoria, do you know who could have received the other two million?""
She went quiet.
Then she said something unexpected.
"Daniel Mercer.""
Rachel immediately looked up.
"Are you certain?""
Victoria took a breath.
"When Sophie's trust was established, Daniel was the administrator responsible for verifying the beneficiary payments. He told me the original account had been frozen.""
"Why would he tell you that?""
"Because he said Liam was trying to withdraw the money.""
I looked at Rachel.
"Did you ever meet him?""
"Once. He was at the hospital when Sophie was born.""
Victoria paused.
"Olivia, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Daniel was the person who arranged the two-hundred-thousand-dollar payment I received. He told me it was the only amount the family could release without Liam's approval.""
Rachel made a note.
"Can you contact him?""
"I haven't spoken to him in years.""
Then Victoria lowered her voice.
"But I know where he lives.""
At eleven that morning, the doorbell rang.
I expected Rachel's assistant.
Instead, a teenage girl stood outside.
She had dark red hair, a black jacket, and a backpack hanging from one shoulder.
For a moment, I didn't recognize her.
Then she spoke.
"Are you Olivia Carter?""
I nodded.
"My name is Sophie.""
My heart stopped.
Victoria's daughter.
Liam's daughter.
The girl whose name appeared on the thirty-million-dollar transfer.
I opened the door wider.
"Come in.""
Sophie hesitated.
"Is my mother here?""
"Not yet. But I can call her.""
She shook her head.
"I came alone.""
Her eyes moved toward my stomach.
"You're having twins?""
"Yes.""
She looked uncomfortable.
"Congratulations.""
"Thank you.""
I invited her into the living room.
She sat on the edge of the sofa, keeping her backpack on her lap.
Rachel was still at the office, so I offered Sophie some water.
She accepted.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she asked:
"Does he know I'm coming here?""
I understood immediately.
"Liam?""
She nodded.
"I don't think so.""
She stared at the glass in her hands.
"Good.""
I sat across from her.
"Your mother told me a little about you.""
Sophie looked up.
"What did she say?""
"That you're sixteen. That she raised you alone. And that your father hasn't been involved in your life.""
Sophie laughed without humor.
"That's one way to put it.""
I didn't know what to say.
She looked at my stomach again.
"Are they boys or girls?""
"One of each.""
She smiled faintly.
"That's nice.""
Then the smile disappeared.
"Did he look happy when he found out?""
I thought about the Plaza ballroom.
The shattered glass.
His pale face.
The way he had stared at my stomach.
"He looked surprised.""
Sophie nodded.
"That's how he looked when he found out about me too.""
My chest tightened.
"You remember?""
"No. My mother showed me the photographs.""
She opened her backpack and removed a small envelope.
Inside was an old picture of Liam holding a newborn baby.
His expression was completely different from the man I had seen at the gala.
He was smiling.
Actually smiling.
His eyes were full of wonder.
I looked at Sophie.
"That's you?""
She nodded.
"My mother says he held me for almost an hour.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Why did he leave?""
Sophie shrugged.
"Apparently, I was bad for his career.""
The words were delivered so casually that they hurt more than anger would have.
She took another photograph from the envelope.
This one showed her standing beside a birthday cake.
There were sixteen candles.
No father.
"Last month, I asked my mother why he never visited.""
I waited.
"She told me he sent money when I was little. Then he stopped. I asked if he knew what school I went to.""
Her voice cracked.
"He didn't.""
I looked down.
Sophie wiped her eyes quickly.
"Sorry.""
"You don't have to apologize.""
She took a breath.
"Are your babies going to meet him?""
I didn't answer immediately.
Then I said:
"I haven't decided.""
She nodded.
"That's probably wise.""
I looked at her.
"Why did you come here, Sophie?""
She opened the envelope again.
This time, she removed a folded piece of paper.
"My mother found this in an old box.""
It was a letter.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
At the top was the name Daniel Mercer.
Sophie pushed it toward me.
"He wrote it to my grandfather.""
I unfolded the paper.
The letter described a conversation between Daniel and Liam's father.
It stated that the family trust had been designed to protect all qualifying descendants, regardless of the parents' marital status at the time of birth.
I read the sentence twice.
Then another paragraph caught my attention.
*Mr. Hayes has made it clear that no child should ever be used as leverage in a dispute over company control. Any attempt to redirect beneficiary assets for personal advantage should trigger an independent investigation.*
I looked at Sophie.
"Where did your mother find this?""
"In the old documents from the original settlement.""
"Does Daniel have more?""
She nodded.
"He told my mother once that he kept copies of everything.""
I looked at the letter again.
"Why didn't you tell your mother you were coming?""
Sophie stared at her hands.
"Because she keeps telling me to stay away from Liam's family.""
"She's trying to protect you.""
"I know.""
She looked up.
"But I want to know why my father never wanted me.""
I felt tears gathering.
I reached across the table and gently touched her hand.
"I don't know the answer, Sophie.""
She nodded.
Then she said:
"But I think you deserve to know what he's planning to do to your babies.""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?""
Sophie opened her backpack and removed a small tablet.
She showed me an email.
It had been forwarded to her by an address she didn't recognize.
The subject line read:
*PROPOSED FAMILY SUCCESSION AGREEMENT — CONFIDENTIAL*
The email contained a draft document.
It stated that all future claims involving potential descendants would be resolved through a private settlement.
In exchange for a substantial financial payment, the parents would agree not to challenge the existing corporate structure.
I scrolled down.
The draft included a provision requiring the mother to relinquish all future claims on behalf of the children.
And there was a name listed as the proposed signatory.
Olivia Carter.
I felt sick.
"Where did you get this?""
Sophie shook her head.
"I don't know. Someone sent it to me.""
"Who?""
She looked at the screen.
"The sender's name was Daniel Mercer.""
Rachel arrived twenty minutes later.
She was visibly surprised to find Sophie sitting at my table.
But after hearing the story, she immediately examined the email.
"This is significant.""
Sophie looked nervous.
"Is it real?""
Rachel studied the metadata.
"It appears to be an authentic draft, but we need the original sender information.""
She opened her laptop.
Then she looked at Sophie.
"Do you have permission from your mother to share this?""
Sophie hesitated.
"No.""
Rachel softened.
"We're not going to use anything without considering your mother's position. But this document may help us understand what your father is planning.""
Sophie nodded.
Rachel scrolled down.
Then stopped.
"Olivia.""
"What?""
"Look at the proposed settlement amount.""
I leaned closer.
The amount was fifty million dollars.
Fifty million in exchange for signing away the children's potential trust interests.
I stared at the screen.
"That's what he thinks they're worth?""
Rachel shook her head.
"No. That's what he thinks he can pay to make the problem disappear.""
Sophie looked between us.
"Is he going to make you sign it?""
I took a breath.
"No.""
She looked at my stomach.
"Good.""
Then her phone rang.
The name on the screen was Victoria.
Sophie answered.
"Mom?""
Victoria's voice was loud enough for us to hear.
"Where are you?""
"With Olivia.""
A pause.
Then Victoria said:
"Stay there. I'm coming.""
Victoria arrived twenty minutes later.
She was frightened and angry.
"Sophie, you cannot disappear without telling me.""
"I'm sorry.""
Victoria hugged her tightly.
Then she looked at me.
"I hope she hasn't caused you any trouble.""
"Not at all.""
Rachel showed Victoria the proposed agreement.
Victoria read it.
Her face went pale.
"He's doing it again.""
Rachel looked up.
"What do you mean?""
Victoria placed the paper on the table.
"This is almost identical to the agreement he wanted me to sign sixteen years ago.""
I stared.
"Identical?""
"The wording is different, but the purpose is the same. Liam wants the mother to sign away the children's rights before the trust can recognize them.""
Rachel sat back.
"Then we need the original document.""
Victoria nodded.
"I have it.""
She reached into her handbag.
This time, she produced a thick envelope containing the original settlement papers.
Rachel began reviewing them.
Then she stopped.
"Victoria, there's a problem.""
"What?""
"Your signature appears on the final declaration.""
Victoria looked at the page.
"Yes.""
"Did you sign this?""
"Yes, but only after Liam promised the trust would remain intact.""
Rachel turned another page.
"Look at the next paragraph.""
Victoria leaned forward.
Her face changed.
The document stated that she had voluntarily relinquished all rights to any future financial claims on behalf of her daughter.
She shook her head.
"I never agreed to that.""
Rachel examined the signature.
"Did you have independent legal representation?""
Victoria nodded.
"His attorneys said the family would cover the legal fees.""
Rachel looked at her.
"That is not the same thing as independent representation.""
Victoria's eyes filled.
"I was twenty-nine. I had a newborn. Liam told me he would take care of us.""
Sophie reached for her mother's hand.
"Mom...""
Victoria wiped her eyes.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
Sophie squeezed her fingers.
"You did.""
Rachel closed the folder.
"Whatever happened then, we need to make sure it doesn't happen again.""
I looked at the three of them.
A woman who had been abandoned.
A daughter who had grown up without her father.
And a pregnant woman who had been accused of stealing money she hadn't even known existed.
We were all connected by the same man.
And he had made the same promise to each of us.
That he would take care of everything.
My phone vibrated.
An email from the trust administrator.
Rachel opened it.
Her eyes widened.
"Olivia, the emergency hearing has been scheduled.""
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
I sat straighter.
"What are they asking for?""
Rachel read the notice.
"The court will consider the temporary freezing of the disputed assets and whether the trust should appoint an independent guardian for the potential beneficiary interests.""
I frowned.
"A guardian?""
"Someone who can represent the children's interests until their legal status is confirmed.""
I looked down.
"Who would that be?""
Rachel scrolled farther.
Then her expression changed.
"The petition names a proposed guardian.""
"Who?""
She turned the laptop toward me.
The name appeared in bold.
*DANIEL MERCER.*
I stared.
The same man who had sent Sophie the draft agreement.
The same man who had helped manage her original trust.
The same man Liam's father had apparently trusted.
But why was he suddenly returning?
And why was Liam so afraid of him?
Before I could ask, Victoria's phone rang.
She checked the screen.
Then her face went white.
"It's Daniel.""
She answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Victoria. I believe it's time we spoke.""
She stood.
"What do you want?""
"To correct something that should have been corrected sixteen years ago.""
Victoria looked at Rachel.
Then at me.
Daniel continued.
"Tell Olivia to bring the twins' medical records to the hearing tomorrow.""
My heart started racing.
"Why?"" I asked loudly.
There was a pause.
Then he answered.
"Because Liam isn't the only person who knows about those children.""
Victoria gripped the phone.
"Daniel, what are you talking about?""
His reply was quiet.
May you like
"Your daughter Sophie isn't the only child whose identity was hidden from the Hayes family.""
And then the call ended.
