That Birthmark Exposed My Husband's Seven-Year Lie

CHAPTER 3 — The Price of a Dead Child

Malcolm was taken in for questioning but released when he blamed the medication switch on a pharmacy error.

Alexandra knew better.

While Rose remained unconscious, Alexandra opened the wooden box recovered from her apartment.

Inside were Oliver's original hospital records, photographs from every birthday and a small brass key.

The key belonged to a private bank box.

Detective Brooks accompanied Alexandra to the bank.

Inside the box was a payment ledger kept by Rose. It documented transfers made to Dr. Webb during the weeks surrounding Oliver's birth.

Every payment came from Sinclair Holdings.

Several were authorized by Malcolm.

The largest transfer carried another signature.

Diane Sinclair.

Alexandra's older sister.

Their late father had created a special trust before Oliver's birth. On the child's seventh birthday, control of forty percent of Sinclair Holdings would transfer to Alexandra's first biological child.

If no child existed, those shares would remain under Malcolm and Diane's control.

Oliver would turn seven the following morning.

Alexandra called Diane and said nothing about the evidence.

Instead, she invited her sister to meet Oliver at the hospital.

Diane arrived wearing a warm smile and carrying an expensive gift.

"What a miracle," she said.

Oliver refused to accept the present.

"I remember you."

Diane's smile disappeared.

Oliver had seen her outside Rose's apartment with Malcolm. They argued about taking him away before his birthday.

Detective Brooks stepped from the hallway.

Diane immediately demanded an attorney.

Then the hospital fire alarm sounded.

Sprinklers activated. Nurses rushed patients toward the exits.

Alexandra reached for Oliver.

His bed was empty.

The window beside it stood open.

On the floor lay the expensive gift Diane had brought.

Inside the box was a second hospital bracelet and a one-way train ticket issued under a false name.

Security footage showed a man carrying Oliver through the service entrance.

The man was Dr. Webb.

His vehicle left the hospital with another car following behind.

That car belonged to Diane.

Malcolm had distracted the police while Alexandra's sister took her son again.