Chapter 1 The Toast That Destroyed Everything

Daniel Mercer looked older than he did in the photograph.

His hair had turned silver at the temples, and a deep scar crossed one cheek. But his eyes were unmistakable.

Nia stepped into the corridor.

"You're Daniel Mercer?"

He nodded.

"Your father was a good man. I'm sorry I didn't come forward sooner."

Adrian immediately interrupted.

"Daniel has been unstable for years. You shouldn't listen to anything he says."

Daniel turned toward him.

"That's what you told the board when you blamed me for the missing funds."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

Rachel stepped between them.

"Nobody is making accusations until we have evidence. Daniel, would you be willing to speak with us privately?"

"Absolutely."

Adrian moved to block their path.

"That man stole millions from the foundation."

Daniel gave a humorless laugh.

"You remember the missing millions? Good. Then perhaps you remember the transfers I refused to approve."

Nia looked at Adrian.

"What transfers?"

He didn't answer.

Daniel opened a leather folder and removed several printed emails.

"Five years ago, I discovered that funds designated for pediatric medical research were being diverted into shell companies. The transfers were authorized through executive accounts. When I reported them, I was accused of stealing the money myself."

"Why didn't you go to the police?" Nia asked.

"I did. But the records I'd collected disappeared from the foundation's servers, and the remaining documents made it look as if I had approved the transfers."

He glanced at Adrian.

"I left because someone threatened my family."

Adrian folded his arms.

"Convenient story."

Daniel ignored him.

"Your father helped me preserve copies of the original financial records. He believed the money could be traced through the trust he established for you."

Nia opened the notebook from the safe deposit box.

Inside were dates, account numbers, and handwritten notes matching the transactions Daniel had described.

Rachel studied the pages.

"This could support an independent forensic audit. We'll need the original bank records and authenticated copies."

Daniel nodded.

"I brought the backup files."

He placed a small encrypted drive on the table.

Adrian's composure finally cracked.

"You can't use those. They're stolen company property."

"They're records of transactions that I reported before I resigned."

"You have no idea what you've done!"

Daniel leaned forward.

"No, Adrian. I know exactly what I did. I stopped covering for you."

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Daniel looked at Nia.

"Your father suspected that the financial scheme was being used to conceal another arrangement. He believed the medical payments were a way to move money without attracting attention."

Nia frowned.

"Why would anyone use a fertility clinic to hide financial transfers?"

"The payments weren't necessarily for treatment alone. Some were routed through consulting contracts, research fees, and private donations. The clinic's records became entangled with a much larger financial investigation."

Rachel nodded slowly.

"That explains why the medical documents and foundation accounts overlap. It doesn't prove who manipulated the records, but it gives us a clear trail to follow."

Nia looked at Adrian.

"Was any of our money used to fund this?"

He said nothing.

Daniel answered instead.

"The records suggest that part of your inheritance was transferred into a company connected to Vanessa. But I can't confirm where all of it went until the accounts are examined."

Nia's phone rang.

Vanessa's name appeared on the screen.

She answered.

"Vanessa?"

The other woman was crying.

"Nia, I need to tell you something before Adrian finds out."

"What is it?"

"I got the original pregnancy report."

Nia gripped the phone.

"And?"

Vanessa took a shaky breath.

"The clinic confirmed the pregnancy is real. But the paternity result Adrian showed me was never issued by the laboratory."