Chapter 6 - The Lawyer Who Knew Too Much

At 7:30 the next morning, Charles Mercer walked into Nathan's office carrying coffee.

Nathan had not told him Grace was alive.

"Rough night?" Charles asked.

Nathan slid the access log across the desk.

Charles's face changed.

"Old system."

"Old access that still works."

"I haven't used it."

Nathan leaned back.

"Grace Bennett."

Charles did not ask who she was.

That was his first mistake.

"You remember her," Nathan said.

"I remember the situation."

"What situation?"

"Your father believed she intended to use a pregnancy to force her way into the family."

Nathan stood.

"She was pregnant."

Charles's eyes moved.

Second mistake.

Nathan had never said the child survived.

"Did you help my father threaten her?"

"I handled legal exposure."

"Did you write the fake goodbye letter?"

Silence.

That was enough.

Nathan set his phone face down. It was recording.

"Who filed the custody petition?"

"I don't know."

"Try again."

Charles exhaled.

"Martin Vance."

"Why?"

"Because Victoria cannot marry you while an unacknowledged child appears nine days before the wedding."

"That isn't a legal problem."

"It is to the Vances."

Nathan stepped closer. "Why?"

Charles glanced toward the door.

For the first time Nathan saw fear.

"Your father and Martin built leverage together," Charles said quietly. "Judges. Contracts. Investigators. Favors. Secrets."

"Why was my marriage part of it?"

"Because Cole Meridian was not as healthy as you were told."

Nathan stared.

Charles moved toward the door.

Nathan blocked him.

"One more question. Did my father know Lily was mine?"

Charles looked at him for a long moment.

"Ask your mother."

Nathan went still.

"What does she know?"

"Ask why she stopped speaking to Edward the year Grace vanished."

Charles reached for the handle, then paused.

"And ask her what happened to the first paternity test."

Nathan's throat tightened.

"The first?"

Charles gave him a tired look.

"You think last night was the first time anyone checked whether Lily was your daughter?"

Then he walked out.

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Nathan immediately called his mother.

For the first time in years, he was afraid she might actually answer.