She Threw the Baby in Front of Everyone—Then Her Son Exposed Her Darkest Secret

Daniel woke on the lawn with rain hitting his face.

Rachel was kneeling over him.

"Look at me."

"Lily?"

"Safe. She's safe."

He tried to sit up.

Pain tore through his shoulder.

"My mother?"

Torres stood nearby, soaked and coughing.

"Alive. In custody."

Daniel let his head fall back into the grass.

The east wing of Ashbourne House burned until dawn.

But firefighters saved most of the underground archive. More importantly, Torres had already copied William's final recording before the flames reached the shelves.

Celeste was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping conspiracy, child endangerment, financial crimes, obstruction, and later with crimes connected to William's death.

Robert agreed to cooperate when prosecutors showed him the evidence.

Judge Hall resigned before he was arrested.

Henry Cole surrendered his license and testified against Celeste.

Martin survived, though Daniel could not decide whether forgiveness would ever come.

Nora asked to see him from her hospital room.

Daniel almost refused.

Rachel said, "Go. Not for her. For you."

Nora looked small beneath the white blankets.

"I don't expect you to forgive me," she said.

"Good."

She nodded, accepting it.

"I thought if I helped her, she'd finally love me."

Daniel sat beside the bed.

"She doesn't know how."

Nora cried quietly.

"I took Lily from the hospital because Celeste said Robert was coming to kill her there. I thought the boathouse was safe. Then I realized Celeste planned to blame me for the kidnapping."

"You still took my child."

"I know."

Daniel stood.

At the door Nora said, "There is one more thing."

He turned.

"Your father knew about me."

Daniel frowned.

Nora reached into the bedside drawer and handed him a sealed letter.

"He wrote this a week before he died."

Daniel opened it in the hallway.

The first line stopped him cold.

Daniel, if Nora ever finds you, do not punish her for the sins of her parents.