Chapter 4 — The Woman in Pink’s Real Name
Chapter 4 — The Woman in Pink’s Real Name
The woman in pink had lied about almost everything.
Her name.
Her relationship to Emily.
Her reason for being at the hospital.
And, most importantly, why she wanted Emily to sign that contract.
But there was one thing she had not expected.
Raymond already knew where she lived.
At 6:15 the next morning, two black sedans stopped outside a quiet townhouse on Bellamy Street.
Victoria Hale was standing in the kitchen when she saw them through the window.
She dropped her coffee.
The cup shattered across the floor.
“No.”
She stepped backward.
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Then again.
Victoria didn't move.
A voice came through the door.
“Victoria Hale?”
She closed her eyes.
“Open the door.”
She remained silent.
The voice became firmer.
“This is hospital security. We need to speak with you.”
Victoria looked toward the back door.
Then toward the hallway.
She grabbed her purse.
The moment she reached the back entrance, another security officer was already standing there.
She froze.
The officer held up his phone.
“Mr. Raymond would like a word.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Of course he would.”
Twenty minutes later, Victoria sat inside Raymond's private office.
She had been escorted through the hospital under heavy security.
Nobody spoke to her.
Nobody looked at her.
She had finally understood what Emily had understood the night before.
She was no longer in control.
Raymond entered carrying a thin folder.
He placed it on the desk.
“You've been using the name Victoria Hale.”
“Yes.”
“That isn't your name.”
Victoria stared at him.
“I have identification.”
“Fake.”
She said nothing.
Raymond opened the folder.
Inside was an old photograph.
A young woman.
Long dark hair.
Standing beside Daniel's father.
Victoria looked at it.
Her face changed.
“You've been searching for me.”
“No.”
Raymond sat down.
“I've been searching for the truth.”
He slid the photograph toward her.
“Your real name is Vivian Mercer.”
Victoria—or Vivian—said nothing.
“You were born Vivian Margaret Mercer.”
Still nothing.
“You changed your name twelve years ago.”
Her eyes lifted.
“Why?”
Vivian smiled faintly.
“Because sometimes surviving requires becoming someone else.”
Raymond leaned back.
“You expect me to sympathize?”
“No.”
“Good.”
The door opened.
Emily entered.
Raymond immediately stood.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I want to know.”
“Emily—”
“I want to hear it from her.”
Vivian looked at Emily.
For the first time, something almost like regret appeared in her eyes.
“You look like your mother.”
Emily stopped.
“What did you say?”
Vivian looked away.
Raymond's expression hardened.
“You knew Emily's mother.”
Vivian didn't answer.
Emily stepped closer.
“How?”
Vivian finally looked at her.
“Because your mother saved my life.”
Emily's face went pale.
“What?”
“Twenty years ago.”
Vivian's voice was quiet.
“Before you were born.”
Raymond stared at her.
“Start talking.”
Vivian took a breath.
“Your mother and I worked together.”
“Where?”
“For the Blackwell family.”
Emily froze.
“My mother worked for them?”
“Yes.”
“As what?”
“Financial analyst.”
Raymond's eyes narrowed.
“That isn't in her records.”
“Because she left.”
“Why?”
Vivian looked at Emily.
“She found something.”
“What?”
“Money.”
Raymond leaned forward.
“How much?”
“Millions.”
Emily stared.
“Stolen?”
“Yes.”
“By the Blackwells?”
Vivian shook her head.
“Not exactly.”
“Then who?”
Vivian's eyes moved toward Raymond.
“Your uncle knows more than he thinks.”
Raymond's face hardened.
“What does that mean?”
“Your family was connected to them.”
Emily looked at Raymond.
“Uncle?”
He didn't answer.
Vivian continued.
“Your mother discovered that the Blackwell family wasn't simply moving money.”
“They were buying people.”
“Judges.”
“Doctors.”
“Politicians.”
“Hospital administrators.”
Emily's eyes widened.
“Evelyn.”
Vivian nodded.
“Evelyn.”
Raymond slowly sat down.
“How long has she been involved?”
“Since before you became owner.”
Raymond's expression changed.
“That is impossible.”
Vivian smiled sadly.
“Nothing is impossible when enough money is involved.”
Emily stared at her.
“Why did you come after me?”
Vivian's expression hardened.
“Because your mother left something behind.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why me?”
“Because they believe you have it.”
Emily frowned.
“I don't have anything.”
Vivian leaned forward.
“You do.”
“What?”
“The baby.”
Emily's hand instinctively moved toward her stomach.
Vivian noticed.
“The Blackwell heir isn't simply an heir.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means the child has legal rights your husband never told you about.”
Raymond's expression became grim.
“Explain.”
Vivian looked at him.
“Daniel's grandfather created a private trust.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Vivian shook her head.
“You know about the public trust.”
Raymond went silent.
“The real trust is different.”
“How?”
“It contains controlling shares in every major Blackwell company.”
Emily stared.
“And the baby inherits them?”
Vivian nodded.
“Unless Emily is declared unfit.”
Raymond's eyes hardened.
“That explains the hospital.”
“Yes.”
“Why would Daniel marry her?”
Vivian looked at Emily.
“Because he needed a mother for the heir.”
Emily's face crumpled.
“So he never loved me.”
Vivian didn't answer.
That silence was answer enough.
Emily turned away.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I thought…”
Her voice broke.
“I thought he loved me.”
Raymond stepped toward her.
“Emily.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
She wiped her tears.
“I need to hear it.”
Vivian spoke quietly.
“He cared about you.”
Emily looked at her.
“But?”
“He cared more about his family's future.”
Emily closed her eyes.
The man she had loved.
The man who had held her when she cried.
The man who had promised her a family.
Maybe all of it had been part of a plan.
Raymond looked at Vivian.
“Why did you become Victoria Hale?”
She stared at the floor.
“Because the Blackwells tried to kill me.”
Emily looked at her.
“What?”
“They knew I had seen the financial records.”
“Your mother helped you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She gave me a new identity.”
Raymond frowned.
“Then why did you turn against her?”
Vivian's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't.”
“Then why did she disappear?”
Vivian looked at Emily.
“Because she went back.”
“Back where?”
“To the Blackwells.”
“Why?”
“She wanted to destroy them from inside.”
Emily's heart pounded.
“She died.”
Vivian nodded.
“They told everyone it was an accident.”
Raymond's face went cold.
“You believe it wasn't.”
“I know it wasn't.”
“Who killed her?”
Vivian shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“But you suspect someone.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Vivian looked directly at Raymond.
“Daniel's mother.”
Emily froze.
“Catherine?”
Vivian nodded.
“She ordered your mother's death.”
Raymond stood abruptly.
“Do you have proof?”
“Not enough.”
“Then why should I believe you?”
Vivian opened her purse.
She removed a small flash drive.
“This.”
Raymond stared.
“What is it?”
“Your mother's final records.”
“Where did you get them?”
“She gave them to me.”
Emily stepped forward.
“She knew she was going to die?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three days before.”
Emily covered her mouth.
Vivian continued.
“She told me if anything happened to her, I was to protect you.”
“But you didn't.”
Vivian looked down.
“I tried.”
“You attacked me.”
“I scared you.”
“You tried to make me sign away my baby.”
Vivian's expression broke.
“I had no choice.”
Emily stared at her.
“You always have a choice.”
Vivian's eyes filled with tears.
“Not when they have your brother.”
Silence.
Raymond looked at her.
“Your brother?”
Vivian nodded.
“They have him.”
“Who?”
“The Blackwells.”
Raymond's expression changed.
“How long?”
“Eight months.”
“They're holding him?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why did you work for them?”
“Because they promised to release him.”
“And did they?”
Vivian laughed bitterly.
“No.”
Emily whispered:
“They used you.”
Vivian looked at her.
“Yes.”
Emily's anger softened for a moment.
Not because she forgave her.
But because she understood.
Vivian had been trapped too.
Still, Emily shook her head.
“You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You frightened me.”
“I know.”
“You tried to take my child.”
Vivian lowered her eyes.
“I am sorry.”
Emily stared at her.
“Sorry doesn't erase it.”
“No.”
“It doesn't undo what you did.”
“I know.”
“Then why tell us?”
Vivian looked at Raymond.
“Because they are going to move tonight.”
Raymond's entire expression changed.
“Who?”
“Catherine.”
“What is she planning?”
“To take Emily.”
The room went silent.
“Where?” Raymond asked.
“The maternity wing.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“How?”
Vivian looked at Emily.
“Through the hospital.”
Raymond immediately reached for his phone.
“Security lockdown.”
Vivian shook her head.
“Too late.”
Raymond stopped.
“What?”
“Evelyn already disabled three cameras.”
His eyes narrowed.
“How do you know?”
“Because she told me.”
Raymond's voice became dangerously calm.
“When?”
“Last night.”
“Where?”
“Parking garage.”
Raymond stared at her.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was still trying to save my brother.”
“And now?”
Vivian looked at Emily.
“Now I realize they will never stop.”
Raymond called security.
“Lock every entrance.”
“Already done.”
“Check the maternity wing.”
“On it.”
“Do not let anyone access Emily's floor without my authorization.”
“Yes, sir.”
He ended the call.
Emily stood.
“What do I do?”
“You stay with me.”
“That's it?”
“For now.”
Vivian suddenly stood.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
“They won't come through the main entrance.”
Raymond frowned.
“How will they enter?”
Vivian pointed toward the ceiling.
“Service elevators.”
Raymond immediately understood.
“Security.”
The intercom crackled.
“Yes?”
“Seal the service elevators.”
A pause.
“Sir…”
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
“What kind?”
“The service elevator is already moving.”
Raymond looked at the clock.
11:42 p.m.
His face hardened.
“Which floor?”
The security officer's voice came through.
“Third.”
Emily's face went white.
Her floor.
Raymond stepped in front of her.
“Stay behind me.”
The elevator indicator changed.
3.
The hallway lights flickered.
Emily grabbed Raymond's arm.
“Uncle.”
“I know.”
The elevator doors began to open.
Everyone froze.
The first person who stepped out was a nurse.
She was pushing an empty wheelchair.
Raymond stared.
Then another person emerged.
A security guard.
Then another.
Raymond's eyes narrowed.
Something was wrong.
The guard looked at him.
“Mr. Raymond?”
“Yes?”
“We have an emergency downstairs.”
“What emergency?”
The guard smiled.
“Your niece.”
Raymond's blood ran cold.
Behind him, Emily screamed.
“Uncle!”
He turned.
A second service door had opened behind them.
Two men in hospital uniforms stepped into the corridor.
One grabbed Emily.
Raymond lunged.
“LET HER GO!”
The hallway exploded into chaos.
Security officers rushed forward.
Vivian screamed.
Emily fought desperately.
One of the men pulled out a syringe.
Raymond saw it.
“NO!”
He struck the man's wrist.
The syringe flew across the floor.
Emily screamed as the second man grabbed her.
Then Vivian attacked him.
She slammed her shoulder into him.
The man stumbled.
Security tackled him.
The first man tried to run.
He didn't make it three steps.
Raymond grabbed him by the collar.
“Who sent you?”
The man said nothing.
Raymond slammed him against the wall.
“WHO?”
The man smiled.
“Catherine.”
Raymond froze.
The man whispered:
“She said the baby belongs to the family.”
The police arrived minutes later.
The two attackers were arrested.
The hospital was placed under complete lockdown.
Emily sat on the bed, shaking.
Raymond stood beside her.
Vivian sat across the room.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Emily looked at Vivian.
“You saved me.”
Vivian nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vivian looked at her.
“Because your mother once saved me.”
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“And now?”
Vivian looked toward her stomach.
“Now I am trying to repay a debt.”
At 2:00 a.m., Raymond stood in his office.
He inserted Vivian's flash drive.
One folder opened.
Then another.
Then a final video file.
He pressed play.
Emily's mother appeared on screen.
She looked tired.
Frightened.
But determined.
“If you're watching this,” she said, “then they know about my daughter.”
Raymond stopped breathing.
Her voice continued.
“Emily was never supposed to become part of this.”
The screen flickered.
Then her mother said the words that changed everything.
“But Daniel Blackwell was.”
Raymond stared.
The video continued.
“Daniel knows what happened.”
“Daniel knows who ordered the fire.”
“And Daniel knows why Emily's child matters.”
Raymond slowly looked toward the hospital room.
Emily was sleeping.
Her hand rested protectively over her stomach.
The woman in pink had finally revealed her real name.
Vivian Mercer.
But her confession had opened a much darker door.
Because if Emily's mother had been telling the truth, Daniel had never entered Emily's life by accident.
He had been part of a plan.
And somewhere beneath the lies, the Blackwell family was hiding a secret powerful enough to explain why they were willing to destroy Emily, control her baby, and risk a war with Raymond himself.
The question was no longer whether Emily was in danger.
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The question was:
What had her mother discovered that made the Blackwells so desperate to control her child?
