The police arrived before Patricia could force the door.
She ran.
They caught her in the alley behind the building.
When they brought her inside, she no longer looked composed.
Her hair was loose.
Her coat was torn.
She looked exhausted.
But she kept staring at me.
“You don't understand.”
I said nothing.
“You think Michael is the villain.”
My father stepped forward.
“He is.”
Patricia shook her head.
“He is worse than that.”
The officer sat her down.
“Then start talking.”
Patricia looked at the attorney.
“I want immunity.”
“You're not negotiating.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Then you'll never find him.”
The attorney leaned forward.
“You're already facing serious charges.”
“I know.”
“Tell us what you know.”
Patricia looked at me.
“Michael doesn't want your child.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Then what does he want?”
“You.”
My father shook his head.
“Why?”
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
“Because you are the last person who can expose him.”
I stared at her.
“What did I do?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why me?”
“Because your blood connects two families.”
The attorney frowned.
“The trust.”
“No.”
Patricia looked toward Rebecca.
“Something older.”
Rebecca stepped closer.
“What?”
Patricia swallowed.
“Your grandfather's original inheritance agreement.”
My mother went still.
“What about it?”
“Your grandmother altered it.”
“For Elena?”
“For herself.”
Patricia explained that the original agreement had named Elena as the primary heir.
If Elena died, her descendants would inherit.
But the altered version placed control in the hands of Michael.
My father stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because Michael threatened her.”
“With what?”
Patricia shook her head.
“She had secrets too.”
“What secrets?”
Patricia looked at my mother.
“She knew about a death.”
My mother went pale.
“Whose?”
Patricia didn't answer.
“Tell them.”
Patricia's voice dropped.
“Your grandfather's.”
Silence.
My mother whispered, “He died naturally.”
“No.”
Patricia looked at her.
“He was poisoned.”
I felt a chill.
“By Michael?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Patricia looked down.
“Your grandmother.”
My mother covered her mouth.
The attorney stared.
“Why?”
“She wanted control of the estate.”
My mother shook her head.
“That isn't true.”
“I saw the records.”
“You were a child.”
“I was old enough.”
Patricia explained that Michael discovered the truth afterward.
He used it to control my grandmother.
He threatened to expose her unless she changed the inheritance documents.
“That was the beginning,” Patricia said.
“And Elena?”
“She tried to stop him.”
“So he took her baby.”
“Yes.”
Rebecca looked at Patricia.
“And you helped.”
“I was afraid.”
“You kept helping.”
Patricia cried.
“I thought I was protecting the family.”
“You were protecting Michael.”
Patricia looked at her.
“For years, I believed he would eventually stop.”
“And did he?”
“No.”
The officer asked, “Where is he now?”
Patricia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“Liar.”
She looked at me.
“He told me one thing.”
“What?”
“He said the farmhouse was only a distraction.”
My father frowned.
“Then where?”
Patricia looked at me.
“Your grandmother's house.”
My heart stopped.
“The old house?”
“Yes.”
“But it's empty.”
“No.”
Patricia shook her head.
“Michael has been using the basement.”
My father immediately called the officers at the farmhouse.
They searched the property.
Nothing.
Patricia smiled sadly.
“He moved before you arrived.”
The attorney asked, “How long?”
“An hour.”
My father looked at me.
Michael had known we were coming.
Patricia continued.
“He knew because someone inside the police department told him.”
The officer's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
The room went silent.
Then Patricia said, “But I know where he will go next.”
“Where?”
“The hospital.”
My father stood.
“Why?”
“Because he believes Valerie will give birth soon.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“I'm not due for weeks.”
“He doesn't care.”
Patricia explained that Michael intended to use a false emergency authorization to have me transferred to another facility.
The attorney shook his head.
“That won't work.”
“He has forged documents before.”
“But now they're watching.”
Patricia looked at me.
“He doesn't need legal authority if he can create enough confusion.”
My father cursed.
I suddenly remembered the unknown messages.
The photographs.
The hospital clerk.
The guardianship papers.
Michael had been preparing every route.
Patricia looked at Rebecca.
“He also knows about you.”
“What about me?”
“He believes you will testify.”
Rebecca nodded.
“I will.”
“He said you won't reach court.”
My father stepped forward.
“Where is he?”
Patricia finally broke.
“He has a second property.”
The officer leaned closer.
“Address.”
She gave it.
The attorney checked the location.
It was a small lakeside property registered to an old company.
The company had one director.
Daniel Mercer.
Mercer looked stunned.
“I never knew about that.”
Patricia laughed.
“You signed the transfer.”
He lowered his head.
“I didn't know what it was for.”
The police prepared to leave.
Then Patricia stopped them.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Michael has the original test.”
The room went silent.
“And the original adoption papers.”
Rebecca stared.
“He has everything.”
Patricia nodded.
“Not everything.”
She looked at my mother.
“Your mother kept one thing he never found.”
My mother stared at her.
“What?”
“The hospital bracelet.”
My mother froze.
Rebecca whispered, “The bracelet?”
My mother nodded.
“It had Elena's name.”
Patricia looked at me.
“That bracelet can connect the baby to the hospital record.”
The attorney immediately understood.
“It can establish the chain of custody.”
My mother took the bracelet from the wooden box.
It was small.
Faded.
The lettering was nearly worn away.
But Elena's name was still visible.
Rebecca touched it.
“This is the first proof I ever existed.”
My mother gave it to her.
“No.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“You keep it.”
She looked at me.
“Your baby deserves to know where she came from.”
I held the bracelet.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
One photograph.
The old hospital.
A message underneath.
Bring the bracelet.
My father stared at the screen.
“He knows.”
Another message arrived.
Come alone.
I looked at Patricia.
She closed her eyes.
“He's giving you a choice.”
My father shook his head.
“No.”
But I already knew Michael had designed this moment.
He wasn't asking me to come.
He was forcing me to choose between protecting my family and walking into his trap.
Click here to continue reading: PART 16: I Refused Michael’s Demand and Set a Trap of My Own, but the Evidence We Found Inside the Hospital Changed Everything Again
The Morning My Family Turned Against Me Was the Morning I Realized Someone Had Already Decided What Would Happen to My Baby
Part 15 of 20
