I'm afraid I have some difficult news. Where's Victoria? Bradford didn't answer. He simply looked at Daniel with an expression that said everything. No.
Daniel stepped back. No, that's not. She was fine yesterday. I saw her yesterday. She was fine.
Mr. Carter, she asked about my bed. Daniel grabbed Bradford's lapels. She asked if it was big enough for two. She was going to tell me something important. She can't be.
She can't. She collapsed last night around 11:30 p.m. Her housekeeper found her this morning. Bradford's voice was gentle, careful. It was her heart, a congenital condition. She never knew about it.
Daniel released the attorney and stumbled backward. His back hit a car. He slid down until he was sitting on the wet asphalt rain pouring over him and he screamed. He screamed Victoria's name. He screamed at the sky.
He screamed until his throat tore and his voice gave out. Bradford stood over him, umbrella blocking the rain, waiting patiently for the storm to pass. "Mr. Carter," he finally said. I know this is the worst possible time, but Ms. Hayes left specific instructions. There are things you need to know.
Things about your daughter. Daniel looked up, eyes red face ravaged. What about my daughter? Not here. Come with me, please.
They went to Bradford's office downtown. Daniel sat in a leather chair, still dripping, still shaking, while the attorney poured two glasses of whiskey. Drink, Bradford ordered. You're in shock. Daniel drank.
The whiskey burned, but he felt nothing. Bradford sat across from him and opened a leather folder. Mr. Carter, how much do you know about Ms. Hayes's personal life? Not much. She was private.
Very private. Deliberately so. Bradford removed a photograph and slid it across the table. This was taken 22 years ago. Daniel picked up the photo.
A young woman, barely more than a girl, sat in a hospital bed holding an infant. The woman was Victoria, younger, softer, but unmistakably Victoria, and she was crying. Victoria had a daughter, Bradford said. 22 years ago, she was 18, unmarried, and pregnant. Her parents, wealthy, powerful people, demanded she give the child up for adoption or be cut off completely.
I don't understand. The child was adopted through Grace Hope Adoption Services in Wisconsin. Bradford paused. The same agency your sister used to adopt Lily. The photograph slipped from Daniel's fingers.
Victoria spent 15 years searching for her daughter. Bradford continued. She hired investigators traced records followed every lead. 6 months ago she finally found her. No, the birth date matches.
The medical records match. 3 months ago, Ms. Hayes obtained a DNA sample and had it tested. The results were conclusive. No. No, that's not possible.
Lily is Victoria's biological daughter, Mr. Carter. Your boss was your daughter's birth mother. Daniel stood so fast his chair toppled backward. You're lying. I have the DNA results here if you'd like to.