I drove back to the hospital with Priya beside me, the folder from Eleanor's house locked inside the glove compartment. Neither of us spoke during the first ten minutes.
My mind kept returning to the nurse's warning.
Someone had come to the hospital asking about my father's documents.
The timing was too precise to dismiss.
I had just discovered Eleanor's hidden records, found evidence connecting Natalie to Marissa, and learned about the safety deposit box. Then someone appeared at the hospital.
I called the nurse again through the car's hands-free system.
“Was the person still there?”
“No,” she said. “They left before you called.”
“Did they give a name?”
“They identified themselves as family.”
“Which family?”
There was a pause.
“Mercer.”
I looked at Priya.
She shook her head slightly.
My father had one son.
That was me.
The rest of the Mercer family lived in another state, and none of them had been informed about the surgery.
“Did they see my father?”
“No. He was asleep.”
“Did they ask about the envelope?”
“They asked about paperwork.”
“What paperwork?”
“The nurse said they wanted to know whether Mr. Mercer had left legal instructions concerning his estate.”
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
“Did they know about Priya?”
“Yes.”
That was the detail that frightened me most.
Only a handful of people knew Priya was involved.
My father.
Eleanor's attorney.
Me.
And Natalie.
We reached the hospital shortly after noon.
I parked near the emergency entrance and hurried inside.
Priya stopped me before we reached the elevator.
“Grant.”
I turned.
“If Natalie is there, don't confront her in front of your father.”
“I won't.”
“And don't tell her about the safety deposit box.”
“I won't.”
“Let her talk first.”
I nodded.
When the elevator doors opened, we stepped inside.
The surgical floor was quieter than it had been the previous day.
A nurse recognized me immediately.
“Your father is awake.”
“Is anyone with him?”
She hesitated.
“No.”
I felt some relief.
Then she added, “Your wife was here earlier.”
I looked at Priya.
“When?”
“About forty minutes ago.”
“What did she want?”
“She asked to see him.”
“Did she?”
“No. Your father was resting.”
“Did she ask about the documents?”
The nurse nodded.
“She asked whether his attorney had arrived.”
I thanked her and walked toward his room.
Dad was awake, propped against several pillows.
His face looked exhausted.
When he saw me, he lifted his hand.
“Come here.”
I moved beside the bed.
“What happened?”
He looked at Priya.
“Is she with you?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
I sat down.
“Someone came here.”
“I know.”
Dad's eyes narrowed.
“Who told you?”
“The nurse.”
He took a slow breath.
“She asked for my records.”
“Who?”
He looked toward the door.
“Natalie.”
My stomach tightened.
“She came herself?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“This morning.”
“What did she say?”
Dad's expression hardened.
“She wanted to know where the original documents were.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No.”
“What did she say?”
“She told me you were confused.”
I stared at him.
“Confused?”
“She said the surgery and the medication had affected my memory.”
Priya's expression changed.
Dad continued.
“She said she wanted to protect you from making decisions while you were emotional.”
I felt anger rise.
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her to leave.”
That sounded like him.
“What happened next?”
“She became angry.”
“Did she threaten you?”
“No.”
Dad looked at me.
“She said you would regret trusting me.”
The room went silent.
I looked down at the blanket.
I wanted to confront Natalie immediately.
But Dad's earlier warning returned to me.
Don't make decisions about Natalie because of me.
So I forced myself to stay calm.
“What else did she say?”
“She asked whether Eleanor's documents were still in the house.”
My eyes lifted.
“She knows about Eleanor's house?”
Dad nodded.
“She knows more than she should.”
I stood.
“Where is she now?”
“I don't know.”
As if summoned by the question, footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Natalie appeared in the doorway.
She looked directly at me.
Then at Priya.
Then at Dad.
Her face was pale.
“Grant.”
I didn't answer.
She stepped inside.
“I need to explain.”
Dad closed his eyes.
Priya stood.
“Perhaps you should explain outside.”
Natalie ignored her.
“I wasn't trying to hurt anyone.”
I looked at my wife.
“Then tell me what you were trying to do.”
She swallowed.
“I was trying to protect us.”
“From what?”
“From your father.”
Dad opened his eyes.
“Don't blame me for what you chose.”
Natalie flinched.
“You lied to him for forty years.”
Dad's face tightened.
“I made mistakes.”
“You kept his mother from him.”
“I protected him.”
“You controlled his life.”
I stepped between them.
“Stop.”
Both became silent.
I looked at Natalie.
“You knew about Eleanor before I did.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
She hesitated.
“Someone contacted me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You've been paying Marissa.”
“Yes.”
“You've been meeting her.”
“Yes.”
“You went to the bank with another woman.”
Natalie's eyes widened.
“How did you know?”
“Dad saw you.”
She sat down.
For the first time, she looked exhausted rather than defensive.
“I didn't know what I was getting involved in.”
“You knew enough to hide it.”
She covered her face with both hands.
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing everything.”
“What does that mean?”
She lowered her hands.
“Your grandfather's company.”
I stared at her.
“What about it?”
“The company your grandfather owned didn't simply collapse.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't.”
She looked at Priya.
“Your grandfather had partners.”
“Who?”
“One of them is still alive.”
“Name.”
She shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows where I live.”
Dad spoke quietly.
“Grant, ask her about the payments.”
I looked at Natalie.
“Why did you send Marissa twenty-three thousand dollars?”
She looked at the floor.
“Because she promised to find the records.”
“What records?”
“The ones Eleanor found.”
I took a breath.
“And why did you want them?”
Natalie looked at me.
“Because someone told me those records could destroy your grandfather's former partners.”
“That doesn't explain why you wanted them.”
She began crying.
“I thought if I found them first, I could stop them from using you.”
The room went silent.
I didn't know whether to believe her.
Then she said something that changed the direction of everything.
“I wasn't the one looking for you, Grant.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“They were.”
Click here to continue reading: PART 10: Natalie Finally Told Me Who Had Been Behind the Search for Eleanor’s Records, and the Name Connected the Past to Our Marriage
My Father Asked for Money He Had Never Needed Before, and My Wife’s Cruel Answer Made Me Realize Something Was Terribly Wrong
Part 9 of 12
