Chapter 8
“Ms. Morgan, there’s new progress in your son’s hit–and–run case. Was just about to call you.”
I grabbed his hand, heart pounding: “For real? Did you catch the driver?!”
Officer Kate shook his head, grim: “Not yet, but we’ve ID’d the license plate.” As he read the number, Ryan and Kayla went ghost–white.
Ryan’s neck snapped toward Kayla, voice tight: “That plate… isn’t that your car?” Connecting the dots–Kayla had made him take her car in for repairs days ago–it all clicked.
She flailed her hands: “No! It wasn’t me!”
He pressed: “Then why fix your car? Why make me do it?!”
Kate noticed their panic, badge flashing: “You’re the registered owner? Come with us.”
Kayla shrieked, trying to bolt: “I didn’t mean to hit him! It was an accident!” Her words were a confession. I lunged, grabbing her: “You wanted your daughter to be Ryan’s only heir–so you tried to kill my son!”
Ryan still looked confused: “Alia, stop! Liam’s alive–Kayla showed me a video!”
Kate shot him a look: “You’re the father? I’m sorry–your son died from blood loss after the crash. Hospital declared
him DOA.”
Ryan went silent, then collapsed. “No way! This is a setup! You’re all actors–Alia paid you to trick me!”
Zane cut in: “You said you saw a video. With AI these days, she probably faked it to keep you hooked.”
Ryan wheeled on Kayla, eyes wild: “Is he lying? TELL ME!”
She crouched, sobbing: “No… I didn’t…” But her denials fell flat.
Kate motioned, and cops hauled Kayla away for questioning. Ryan finally cracked, wailing on the floor: “My boy… My Liam… gone…”
I ignored his tears, taking Zane’s hand to head for the main ballroom. But Ryan lunged, grabbing my leg: “Alia, I lost our son–don’t leave me too! After all these years, we have history! How can you ditch me for another guy?”
16:38
