My Greedy Nephew Tried to Steal My Fortune — My Fake Death Caught Him Red-Handed — Part 2 of 3

A Letter from the Past

Barnes led Walter to a small conference room adjacent to the cardiac ward. The lights were dim, the air still. Walter's heart monitor beeped steadily as he sat down, his mind racing.

"What is this about?" Walter asked, his voice unsteady for the first time in years.

Barnes pulled a yellowed envelope from his briefcase. It was sealed with red wax, the kind that hadn't been used in decades. "Do you remember Eleanor Vance?"

Walter's breath caught. Eleanor. The name he hadn't spoken in forty years.

"She died in a car accident," Walter said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mourned her. I never remarried because of her."

Barnes shook his head slowly. "She didn't die, Walter. She left. She was pregnant, and she couldn't face you because she thought you'd reject the child."

Walter felt the world tilt. "A child?"

"A daughter. She gave birth in a small clinic in Ohio. She named her Kimberly."

Walter's hands trembled. "Kimberly?"

Barnes opened the envelope and slid out a faded photograph. A young woman with Eleanor's eyes, holding a newborn baby.

"Eleanor died five years ago," Barnes said. "But before she passed, she sent me this letter. She asked me to give it to you when the time was right. When you were ready to know the truth."

Walter unfolded the letter with shaking fingers. Eleanor's handwriting was delicate, familiar.

"My dearest Walter," it read. "I never stopped loving you. But I couldn't bear to see you choose the factory over our child. So I left. Our daughter is kind, smart, and strong. She became a nurse, like her mother. Her name is Kimberly. She works at St. Mary's Hospital. Please find her. Please forgive me."

Walter looked up, his eyes wet. "Nurse Kim," he whispered. "The nurse who was in my room."

Barnes nodded. "She's been your nurse for the past three days. She doesn't know who you are. She only knows you as the elderly patient in room 204."

Walter stood abruptly, his legs weak. "I need to see her."

He walked back to the cardiac ward, his mind reeling. Gavin's words echoed in his ears: "You don't even know who your real heir is."

Gavin knew. Gavin had found out somehow, and he'd been planning to steal the inheritance before Kim could claim it.

Walter stopped at the door to his room. Kim was inside, adjusting the monitor, her back to him. She hummed softly, a tune he recognized—Eleanor's favorite lullaby.

Walter's heart ached. He cleared his throat. "Nurse Kim?"

She turned, her smile warm. "Mr. Vance, you should be resting."

"I need to ask you something," Walter said, his voice cracking. "Your mother—was her name Eleanor?"

Kim's smile faded. "How do you know that?"

Walter stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. "Because I'm your father."

Kim went pale. She reached for the wall to steady herself. "That's not possible. My mother died five years ago. She never mentioned a father."

"She wrote me a letter," Walter said, holding it out. "She told me everything."

Kim took the letter, her hands trembling. She read it in silence, tears streaming down her face.

"All these years," she whispered. "I thought you didn't want me."

Walter pulled her into a hug, his own tears falling. "I didn't know. I swear, I didn't know."

But even as they embraced, a shadow loomed in the doorway. Gavin stood there, a crooked smile on his face.

"Well, isn't this touching," he said. "Daddy's little girl."

Kim pulled back, her eyes hardening. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if the old man had a heart attack," Gavin said. "But I see you've found your long-lost heir."

Walter stepped in front of Kim. "You're not getting a penny, Gavin. The police are on their way."

Gavin laughed. "The police? For what? A little ink pad? I'll say you gave me permission."

Barnes stepped forward, holding up the iPad. "I have video evidence, Gavin. And I have witnesses."

Gavin's smile faltered. "That doesn't prove anything."

"It proves forgery," Barnes said. "And fraud. And attempted theft of a multi-million-dollar estate."

Gavin's face twisted with rage. "You think you've won? I'll contest the will. I'll drag this through the courts for years."

"You'll be in prison," Walter said calmly. "And I'll be spending time with my daughter."

Kim looked at Walter, her eyes full of confusion. "Why did you fake your death?"

Walter sighed. "I needed to know the truth. I suspected Gavin was up to something, so I set a trap. But I never expected to find you."

Kim wiped her tears. "I don't know if I can forgive you yet. But I'm glad I know the truth."

Gavin scoffed. "This is pathetic. I'm leaving."

But as he turned, two security officers blocked his path. "Mr. Vance, you're under arrest."

Gavin struggled as they cuffed him, screaming curses. Walter watched without a hint of pity.