“Can You Be The Father Of My Baby For One Day?” She Asked… And I Said, “Only If You Tell Me Why”
Chapter 10
Daniel finally understood.
The baby was leverage.
Olivia was protection.
But Daniel was the scapegoat.
Mercer had spent years building a false case using Daniel’s stolen identity.
When the trust was activated, all the evidence would appear to point toward him.
If the company collapsed, Daniel would be blamed.
If the money disappeared, his accounts would be linked.
If Noah died, Daniel would look responsible.
Everything had been designed to make him appear guilty.
Daniel looked at Olivia.
“They planned this before we met.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew my name.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Noah told me.”
He shook his head.
“You should have told me.”
“I was afraid you’d walk away.”
“I almost did.”
She looked at him.
“But you didn’t.”
He nodded.
“No.”
They returned to the Bennett estate with Noah.
The family had scattered.
Richard was gone.
Nathan was missing.
Olivia’s mother was still absent.
Daniel called the police.
This time, he gave them everything.
The files.
The recordings.
The security evidence.
The false accounts.
The hidden contracts.
Within hours, warrants were issued.
But before the authorities arrived, Ethan Black appeared at the estate.
He stood in the doorway.
Olivia moved closer to Daniel.
Ethan noticed.
“You trust him now.”
Olivia said,
“Yes.”
Ethan smiled.
“Then you should ask him why Sarah died.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Leave.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You still don’t understand.”
“Explain.”
“Your wife found Mercer.”
“And?”
“She found out who was paying them.”
“Who?”
Ethan looked at Olivia.
“Your grandfather.”
Olivia froze.
“My grandfather?”
“Not the one you knew.”
Her family had another secret.
Richard’s father had created the original security network decades earlier.
It had been passed down.
Expanded.
Weaponized.
Ethan hadn’t started it.
He had simply been recruited by Richard.
But he had eventually learned the truth.
“So you were going to marry me for the trust,” Olivia said.
“Yes.”
“And when I refused?”
“You became a problem.”
“No.”
Ethan shook his head.
“You were always a problem.”
He raised a gun.
Daniel moved.
The shot hit the wall.
Noah pulled Olivia behind the table.
Daniel tackled Ethan.
They fought across the room.
Ethan was younger.
But Daniel had learned long ago that survival mattered more than winning.
He disarmed him.
Police arrived seconds later.
Ethan was arrested.
Later that night, Olivia’s mother returned.
She looked exhausted.
“I had to get away.”
Olivia stared.
“Why did you hide?”
“Because I was followed.”
“By who?”
“Mercer.”
Her mother handed Daniel an envelope.
“Sarah left this for you.”
Daniel opened it.
His wife’s handwriting.
Daniel,
If you’re reading this, then Mercer finally found a way to use you.
Don’t let them make you believe you were ever part of their world.
Daniel’s eyes blurred.
The letter continued.
Protect Olivia.
Protect her baby.
And when the time comes, don’t choose money.
Choose the people.
At the bottom was one final sentence.
You will know when the right person is standing beside you.
Daniel looked at Olivia.
She was crying.
He folded the letter.
For the first time, he understood why Sarah had trusted her.
Because Olivia had risked everything to protect her child.
And Daniel realized he was no longer helping her because he’d promised.
He was helping because he wanted to.
