Chapter 3 - The Lawyer Who Waited Fifteen Years
Richard Lawson met me inside a private law office.
He carried an old leather document case.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
Edward Blackwood's handwriting covered the front.
FOR JULIAN'S WIFE.
Lawson explained that Edward ordered the envelope to remain hidden until someone questioned Julian's birth records.
My hands shook as I opened it.
Inside lay photographs.
Hospital records.
A birth certificate.
One sentence was highlighted.
INFANT MALE REMOVED FROM ROOM 214.
REPLACEMENT INFANT ADMITTED SIX HOURS LATER.
Julian had been switched at birth.
Lawson lowered his voice.
“Edward knew.”
“Then why raise him?”
“Because Evelyn insisted.”
I stared at him.
“She threatened divorce?”
“No.”
“She threatened something much worse.”
Lawson placed another photograph on the table.
A young Evelyn stood beside another newborn.
A baby boy wearing a bracelet labeled...
JONAH MERCER.
My maiden name.
The room spun.
Before Lawson could explain further, his office lights suddenly went dark.
Someone had cut the building's power.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
May you like
Then someone began trying the office door.
👉 Someone knew Clara had Edward's hidden documents and arrived before the truth about Jonah Mercer could be revealed.
