Chapter 62 - THE FIRST HAWTHORNE DAUGHTER WAS ERASED FROM THE FAMILY—THEN A FORTY-YEAR-OLD LETTER EXPOSED WHO ORDERED IT
Daniel sat alone inside the chapel for nearly an hour.
Sofia remained beside him.
Neither spoke.
There were moments when the truth demanded immediate action.
And there were moments when it simply needed to be endured.
This was one of them.
Daniel stared at the photograph of his father.
Charles Hawthorne had built an empire.
He had donated millions to hospitals, universities, and charities.
He had also helped create a family history filled with hidden children, false identities, and terrible decisions.
Now Daniel had learned that Charles had once been married to Helena Mercer.
And that a daughter named Claire had vanished from the family.
"Do you think she survived?" Daniel asked.
Sofia looked toward the photograph.
"I think somebody wanted us to believe she didn't."
Daniel nodded slowly.
Elizabeth approached with another folder.
"I found something."
Sofia turned.
"What?"
"A letter from Helena."
Daniel stood.
"Where?"
"Inside the original registry."
Elizabeth handed him the document.
The paper was yellowed.
The ink had faded.
But the words remained legible.
Daniel began reading.
Helena had written that she feared for Claire's safety.
She believed Richard Ashford had discovered an inheritance provision that would give Charles's firstborn child controlling rights over certain family holdings.
If Claire remained alive and legally recognized, Richard's financial plans would fail.
Sofia frowned.
"So he wanted her removed."
Elizabeth nodded.
"That's what Helena believed."
Daniel continued reading.
Helena had arranged to leave New York with Claire.
She planned to take the child to relatives.
But someone learned about the departure.
The final paragraph made Daniel stop.
Sofia touched his arm.
"What?"
He read aloud.
"If anything happens to us, Charles must never trust the woman who offered to help."
Sofia stared.
"What woman?"
Daniel looked at the signature.
"Helena didn't name her."
Elizabeth turned another page.
"There is a witness statement."
Sofia leaned closer.
The witness described a woman entering the Mercer residence the night before Helena disappeared.
She wore a nurse's uniform.
She carried a black medical bag.
Daniel looked toward Sofia.
"Margaret?"
Sofia shook her head.
"We can't assume."
Elizabeth nodded.
"The witness didn't identify her."
They examined the remaining documents.
A photograph showed a car parked outside the Mercer home.
A registration number had been written beneath it.
Marcus ran the plate through archived records.
The vehicle belonged to a medical transport company.
One that had once served Meridian.
Daniel stared at the report.
"Who owned it?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Samuel Kane."
Sofia felt cold.
The same doctor whose family had been connected to Meridian's earliest experiments.
The same man who had appeared at Hawthorne Villa claiming to possess the truth.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Find him."
Marcus nodded.
But before he could leave, his radio crackled.
"Sir, we have an incoming call."
"From whom?"
"The medical center."
Sofia stepped forward.
"Mateo?"
The guard hesitated.
"Yes, ma'am."
Sofia grabbed the radio.
"Mateo?"
Static.
Then her brother's voice.
"Sofia."
She closed her eyes.
"Thank God. Where are you?"
"I'm safe."
"Where?"
"I can't tell you yet."
Sofia's relief turned to fear.
"Why?"
"Because someone is following us."
Daniel moved closer.
"Who's with you?"
Mateo hesitated.
"Elena."
Sofia looked at Elizabeth.
"She's alive?"
"Yes."
"Then bring her home."
Mateo's voice became urgent.
"No. Listen carefully."
Sofia gripped the radio.
"I'm listening."
"Elena says Claire Hawthorne survived."
Daniel froze.
Sofia stared at him.
Mateo continued.
"She says Claire was taken to a Meridian facility and given another identity."
Daniel stepped forward.
"What identity?"
Mateo hesitated.
Then said:
"That's what we're trying to prove."
Sofia's heart pounded.
"Mateo, what do you know?"
Her brother's voice trembled.
"Claire Hawthorne didn't disappear from the family."
A long silence followed.
"She grew up inside it."
Daniel stopped breathing.
Mateo continued.
"And Sofia..."
His voice broke.
May you like
"Elena believes you already know her."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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