"Her name is Natalie Cross."

Olivia placed the photograph on the table.

Rachel stared at the woman who had greeted her during the supposed prenatal appointment.

Natalie had worn a medical identification badge.

She had spoken gently.

She had offered Rachel water.

And she'd directed her away from the part of the building where Daniel was being held.

Now investigators had identified her as an administrator at the private recovery center.

She had also worked for a medical consulting company hired by Marcus Bell.

Rachel looked toward Olivia.

"Was she really a nurse?"

"No. She's an administrator. We're examining whether she falsely represented her credentials and role."

Rachel felt sick.

Derek had arranged a fake medical appointment to obtain financial signatures.

Natalie had helped him make the appointment appear legitimate.

Then she had helped facilitate Daniel's transfer to the private facility.

And now she was helping Derek flee.

Ethan sat across from Rachel.

His expression was cold.

But he didn't interrupt.

Olivia continued.

"Investigators located Natalie's vehicle near a motel outside Milwaukee. She was taken into custody there."

"Was Derek with her?"

"No."

Rachel's shoulders tightened.

"Then where is he?"

"Police are continuing to search."

Natalie had agreed to speak with investigators through her attorney.

According to the preliminary account Olivia received, Derek had asked her to drive him out of Chicago.

He told her he was being falsely accused.

When she learned that Marcus had been arrested and the financial records recovered, she became frightened.

She dropped Derek at a bus station and left.

Investigators were checking whether her account matched the available evidence.

Rachel listened quietly.

Then she asked something she'd been wondering for days.

"Did Natalie know I was pregnant when she helped Derek?"

"Yes."

"Did she know about Sophie?"

"Yes."

Rachel looked down at her hands.

She remembered the woman smiling at her stomach.

Asking when the baby was due.

Congratulating her.

All while helping Derek obtain signatures he intended to use for his own financial benefit.

The betrayal felt almost unbearable.

Later that evening, Rachel sat with Ethan in the hotel lounge.

Sophie was sleeping in her stroller beside them.

"I keep thinking about the people I trusted," Rachel whispered.

Ethan looked at her.

"Derek. Natalie. Everyone who told me I was being dramatic when I asked questions."

She wiped her eyes.

"How am I supposed to trust anyone again?"

Ethan remained quiet for a moment.

Then he said, "You don't have to trust everyone. And you don't have to trust me just because I helped you."

Rachel looked up.

"You've done more for us than anyone."

"That doesn't mean you owe me anything."

She felt tears gathering again.

Derek had never said those words.

Not once.

Then Ethan's phone vibrated.

A message from Daniel.

He had been discharged from the hospital and was staying in a protected location while recovering.

The independent financial audit had also produced an important result.

The proposed sale of Daniel's shares had never been lawfully completed.

His ownership interest remained intact.

And the money moved through Sophie's account had been traced to accounts controlled by Marcus and Derek.

Rachel exhaled.

At least that part of the nightmare was nearing an end.

But then Olivia called.

Derek had contacted the police through an attorney.

He was willing to surrender.

On one condition.

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He wanted to speak to Rachel first.

👉 Derek was finally prepared to surrender, but his demand for a private conversation gave Rachel one last chance to decide whether she would allow him to control the terms of her future.