Chapter 31 — The Attorney’s Brother

Chapter 31 — The Attorney’s Brother

Alexander stared at the message on his phone, reading it twice.

Martin Hale.

The name belonged to the man who had been following Charlotte. More importantly, Martin was the brother of Thomas Hale, the attorney who had handled several private agreements for the Laurent and Blackwood families years ago.

“You’re telling me Thomas knew his brother was following Charlotte?” Amelia asked.

“We don’t know that yet,” Alexander replied. “But I intend to find out.”

Charlotte stood near the window, holding the photograph of Daniel. Her expression had changed since the previous night. She looked worried, but beneath the worry was something stronger.

Determination.

“I recognize the name Thomas Hale,” she said quietly. “I saw it on the document Mother kept hidden.”

Richard turned toward her.

“What document?”

“The one listing the arrangements made after we were born. Your name was there, too.”

Richard’s face tightened.

“I never agreed to any arrangement involving children. I already told you that.”

“I believe you,” Charlotte answered. “But someone used your name, and someone knows exactly what happened to us.”

Alexander placed his phone on the table.

“Thomas Hale is coming here tomorrow. I’ve requested a meeting.”

Amelia looked at him.

“And if he refuses?”

“Then we’ll find another way to get answers.”

Later that afternoon, Amelia found Charlotte sitting alone in the library. The photograph of Daniel rested on her lap.

“Do you think he’s alive?” Amelia asked.

Charlotte looked up.

“I have spent years wondering the same thing.”

Amelia sat beside her.

“We’re going to find him.”

Charlotte’s eyes filled with emotion.

“I don’t even know what he looks like now. The photograph is all I have.”

“Then we’ll start there.”

For a moment, neither sister spoke. They had spent their entire lives separated by decisions they had never made. Now, for the first time, they were sitting in the same room, trying to put the pieces together.

A knock interrupted them.

A housekeeper entered carrying a small envelope.

“This was delivered for Miss Laurent.”

Amelia took it.

There was no return address. Inside was a single photograph.

It showed Thomas Hale standing beside Alexander’s father outside a hospital. The date printed on the back matched the night Amelia, Charlotte, and Daniel were born.

But there was something else.

A handwritten message appeared beneath the photograph.

Ask Thomas who took Daniel away.

Amelia felt her stomach tighten.

“Alexander needs to see this.”

She hurried downstairs and found him with Richard.

When Alexander examined the photograph, his expression darkened.

“My father,” he whispered.

Richard took the picture from him.

“That explains why he was so desperate to stop us from investigating.”

Alexander looked toward the staircase.

“Tomorrow’s meeting just became very important.”

That evening, Amelia received another message from an unknown number.

Stop looking for Daniel. You have already found more than you should.

Before she could show Alexander, a second message appeared.

And don’t trust the man who claims to be protecting you.

Amelia slowly lowered her phone.

Someone was watching them.

And whoever it was knew exactly what they were doing.

Across the city, Thomas Hale sat in his office, staring at an old photograph of three newborn babies.

His phone rang.

“Did you send the warning?” a man asked.

Thomas closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

“And did she believe it?”

“I don’t know.”

The man’s voice became colder.

“Then make sure she never gets the chance to ask another question.”

The call ended.

Thomas looked again at the photograph.

For the first time in years, he wondered whether the truth could finally destroy everyone who had helped bury it.