“Can You Be The Father Of My Baby For One Day?” She Asked… And I Said, “Only If You Tell Me Why”
Chapter 6
Daniel barely slept.
His name was in Noah’s files.
That couldn’t be coincidence.
The next morning, he took Olivia to the harbor.
The lighthouse stood at the end of a rocky path.
The tide was low.
Wind blew off the water.
Daniel found the storage building.
Locker 614 opened with the brass key.
Inside was a black duffel bag.
Noah’s clothes.
A laptop.
A folder.
And a photograph.
Daniel picked up the photograph.
Noah stood beside another man.
Daniel.
Himself.
His stomach dropped.
Olivia stared.
“That’s you.”
“I’ve never met him.”
She looked at him.
“You’re in the photograph.”
Daniel turned it over.
On the back:
If you see this, trust Daniel Harper. He doesn’t know why yet.
Olivia whispered,
“What does that mean?”
Daniel opened the folder.
Inside were employment records.
His own name.
His military records.
His contractor history.
Noah had been investigating Daniel too.
Not because he suspected him.
Because someone had used Daniel’s identity.
A private security contract had been signed under his name.
Payments had been made.
Weapons had been purchased.
People had been tracked.
And all of it was connected to Bennett Medical Systems.
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
“Someone is using my identity.”
Olivia stared at him.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
He opened the laptop.
There were hundreds of encrypted files.
One video wasn’t locked.
Noah appeared on screen.
“Daniel, if you’re watching this, it’s because I couldn’t find another way to reach you.”
Daniel leaned closer.
Noah continued.
“Your name has been used by people inside Bennett.”
He looked exhausted.
“I don’t know why they chose you.”
“But I know this.”
“You were never supposed to be involved.”
The video paused.
Then Noah said something that changed everything.
“Your daughter may be connected.”
Daniel froze.
His daughter.
Sophie.
Noah knew about her.
Olivia looked at him.
“Why would he know about Sophie?”
Daniel couldn’t answer.
The video continued.
“I found records showing that your late wife, Sarah, once worked with Richard Bennett.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
Olivia stepped closer.
“Your wife?”
“Yes.”
Noah said:
“Sarah discovered financial transfers from Bennett Medical Systems.”
“She tried to report them.”
“She was threatened.”
“She left.”
Then the video cut.
Daniel closed his eyes.
His wife had died three years earlier.
He had always believed her death was unrelated to his work.
Now he wasn’t sure.
Olivia touched his hand.
“Daniel.”
He opened his eyes.
The laptop screen flashed.
A new message appeared.
YOU FOUND THE WRONG LOCKER.
Then:
ASK OLIVIA ABOUT THE BABY.
Daniel turned toward her.
“What does that mean?”
Olivia went pale.
“I don’t know.”
“You told me you’d tell me everything.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
She looked at the floor.
“The baby isn’t the reason they want me.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
“They think my child knows something.”
“A baby can’t know anything.”
“I know.”
“Then what?”
Olivia touched her stomach.
“Noah told me the baby inherited something.”
Daniel frowned.
“Like what?”
“A legal right.”
“To the company?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
She whispered,
“A trust.”
Daniel waited.
“A private trust created by my grandfather.”
“How big?”
“Nearly one billion dollars.”
Daniel stared.
“And your baby is the beneficiary?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my grandfather didn’t trust my father.”
She looked away.
“He trusted Noah.”
Daniel understood.
Noah had been protecting the trust.
Then he disappeared.
And if Olivia’s baby was the heir, whoever controlled the trust controlled billions.
He looked at the photograph again.
Noah beside Daniel.
Maybe Noah had chosen Daniel because he knew exactly what kind of man he was.
The kind who would protect someone even when he had nothing to gain.
Daniel looked at Olivia.
“You’ve got one more secret.”
She nodded.
“My baby’s legal father is listed as…”
She stopped.
Daniel waited.
“Daniel Harper.”
The world seemed to stop.
