Chapter 7: The Records Don't Lie

Third-Person POV

The smug look on Gwen's face froze in place, as if she'd just heard something that couldn't possibly be real.

She shook her head hard.

"No. That's impossible. You've got it wrong. Andy was just... He was in school two days ago."

"The death certificate was issued by City Hospital. The cause of death was hemorrhagic shock following a traffic accident."

The officer sighed, looking at the woman who was still refusing to accept it.

"We also have it on file that you were at the hospital when he died."

Gwen's face went completely white.

"No... I wasn't."

The second officer stepped closer, his expression turning serious.

"Ma'am, your name appears in the hospital's visitor and treatment records. You were listed as the child's mother."

"That's not possible!" Gwen screamed.

She snatched the tablet from the officer's hand, her eyes darting desperately across the screen.

There it was.

Andy Morrison.

Age four.

Deceased.

Cause of death: hemorrhagic shock following a traffic accident.

Time of death: 11:47 p.m.

Gwen's fingers began to shake.

"This has to be some kind of mistake. Call the hospital. Call his school. Call anyone!"

Nobody answered her.

The office had fallen completely silent.

One of her coworkers slowly lowered her phone. She had been recording everything.

"Gwen... Liam wasn't lying."

Gwen turned toward her sharply.

"What did you say?"

"I said Liam wasn't lying."

The woman's voice trembled, but she forced herself to continue.

"You really were at the hospital that night. I remember seeing your car outside. You told everyone you were away on assignment."

Gwen's lips parted, but no words came out.

Another coworker stepped forward.

"And what about Pierce? You left with him, didn't you?"

"Stop it!" Gwen screamed.

"All of you, stop talking!"

But the room was no longer afraid of her.

The officer took back the tablet.

"Ma'am, we need you to come with us. We have some questions about the circumstances surrounding your son's death."

Gwen stumbled backward.

"I'm his mother. I didn't hurt him."

"Nobody said you did," the officer replied. "But there are questions about why a blood transfer was ordered while your son was undergoing emergency surgery."

Gwen's breathing stopped.

For the first time, real fear appeared in her eyes.

"Who told you about that?"

The officer's expression hardened.

"The hospital records."

Gwen's knees nearly gave out.

She remembered the blood bag.

She remembered Liam screaming.

She remembered the nurse demanding Andy's blood.

And she remembered leaving him tied to the floor because Pierce needed her.

Until that moment, she'd convinced herself that Andy would survive.

She had told herself the doctors would find another donor.

She had told herself Liam was exaggerating.

But the cold words on the tablet destroyed every excuse she'd built.

Andy was dead.

Her son was actually dead.

"I need to see him," Gwen whispered.

"You should have thought about that three days ago," someone muttered from the back of the room.

Gwen turned around, but nobody met her eyes.

The officers escorted her out.

Outside the building, cameras and reporters were already gathering after word of the scandal spread through the company.

"Ms. Dalton, did your husband tell the truth about your affair?"

"Did you really leave your son at the hospital to care for another man?"

"Is it true that you transferred millions of dollars to Pierce Donovan?"

Gwen covered her face and pushed through the crowd.

For the first time in years, there was nowhere for her to hide.

...

Meanwhile, I sat alone in a small funeral home, staring at Andy's photograph.

His smile was bright and innocent, completely untouched by everything that had happened.

I placed the little essay he'd written about his mother beside the frame.

"I'm sorry, Andy."

My voice cracked.

"Dad should have taken you away sooner."

My phone vibrated.

It was a message from my lawyer.

"Mr. Morrison, we've reviewed the financial records. There's something you need to see."

A file was attached.

I opened it.

My eyes slowly widened.

The transfers to Pierce weren't just two million dollars.

There were several accounts I had never known existed.

And one of them had received a massive transfer only hours before Andy's accident.

I stared at the number, my hands turning cold.

Then I saw the payment description.

It read: "Emergency Arrangement — Andy Morrison."

My blood ran cold.

This wasn't just about Pierce anymore.

Someone had been planning for Andy's blood long before that night.