Hannah read the name.
Then went perfectly still.
Jonathan Caldwell.
Ethan’s uncle.
For one horrible second, Ethan thought the revelation meant something impossible.
Maria immediately saw it.
“No. Jonathan was not Hannah’s biological father.”
Ethan exhaled.
“Then what is this?”
“Guardianship fraud.”
Maria sat down.
“Jonathan Caldwell had a business partner named Samuel Mercer—Hannah’s biological father. Samuel helped build the diagnostic technology that made Caldwell Medical billions. He died when Hannah was two.”
Hannah stared at her.
“My father died in a construction accident.”
“That was the story.”
Maria shook her head.
“He died of cancer. Before his death, he transferred a twelve-percent founding stake in Caldwell Medical Holdings into trust for you.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
Twelve percent.
At current valuation, it was worth more than a billion dollars.
Maria continued.
“Jonathan became trustee.”
Hannah whispered, “And stole it.”
“Yes.”
Ethan suddenly understood.
“My mother knew.”
