Chapter 9: The Daughter Who Remembered Everything
“Mommy?””
Lily's tiny voice broke something inside me.
I wanted to run toward her.
I wanted to lift her into my arms and never let go.
But Vanessa held the gun so close to the little girl's shoulder that every movement felt dangerous.
Marcus raised both hands.
“Vanessa, let the children go.””
She laughed.
“After everything you've done, you expect me to surrender?””
“You're holding two children at gunpoint.””
“I'm holding the only things that matter to you.””
I stepped forward slightly.
“Vanessa, look at me.””
Her eyes shifted toward mine.
“Don't speak to me.””
“Lily doesn't know what's happening. She's frightened.””
Vanessa glanced at the girl.
“She's perfectly fine.””
Lily began crying.
“No, I'm not.””
Vanessa tightened her grip.
“Be quiet!””
The little girl flinched.
My hands began shaking.
“Please don't hurt her.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“That's enough.””
She pointed the gun at him.
“Don't tell me what to do!””
Eleanor stood several feet behind Vanessa.
Her face was wet with tears.
“Vanessa, please. These are innocent children.””
Vanessa turned.
“You should have minded your own business, Eleanor.””
Eleanor lowered her head.
“I made a terrible mistake.””
“You made several.””
“You told me the baby was dying. You said you needed my signature to save her.””
Vanessa laughed.
“And you believed me.””
I looked at Eleanor.
“Is that how Lily was taken?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Vanessa brought me hospital documents. She said Danielle had suffered complications and the baby needed immediate treatment. She told me Marcus had approved the transfer.””
Marcus's face twisted.
“I never signed anything.””
“I know that now.””
Eleanor began crying harder.
“I searched for Lily for years. I found her at Daniel's house, but Vanessa threatened to tell Marcus that I had knowingly given away his daughter.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid. I thought if I stayed close to Vanessa, I could protect the children.””
Lily suddenly pulled away from Vanessa.
“She isn't telling the truth!””
Vanessa grabbed her shoulder.
“Lily!””
The little girl looked directly at me.
“Mommy, she said Daddy would never love me because I wasn't his real baby.””
Marcus went completely still.
“What?””
Lily began crying.
“She said Uncle Daniel was my real daddy.””
The words seemed to stop the world.
I looked at Marcus.
He stared at Lily, unable to speak.
Vanessa's expression changed.
“She's confused!””
But Lily shook her head.
“No! I heard you talking!””
She pointed at Vanessa.
“You told Uncle Daniel that he couldn't let Daddy find out.””
Marcus took one step forward.
“Vanessa, is Lily my daughter?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Answer me!””
She began laughing.
Then she looked at me.
“Do you really think everything is as simple as you believe?””
I felt sick.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa's eyes glittered.
“Your husband was never the innocent man you remember.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Don't.””
“Oh, you don't want her to know?””
“Vanessa, stop.””
She smiled.
“Tell her what happened the night Danielle disappeared.””
I looked at Marcus.
“What happened?””
He swallowed.
“I don't know what she's talking about.””
Vanessa laughed louder.
“You were at the restaurant that night. You argued with Danielle. You told her you wanted a divorce.””
My stomach tightened.
A flash of memory.
A restaurant.
Marcus standing beside a window.
His face angry.
My own voice saying, You promised me you'd tell the truth.
I grabbed my head.
“No…”
Marcus moved closer.
“Danielle, look at me. I never wanted a divorce.””
Vanessa continued.
“He told you he was tired of your accusations. He said the company mattered more than your marriage.””
I closed my eyes.
Another fragment appeared.
A glass breaking.
A door opening.
Someone saying, You can't keep hiding this.
Then headlights.
Marcus reached for my hand.
“Danielle, whatever you remember, don't let her use it against us.””
I looked at him.
“Why can't I remember that night?””
Before he could answer, Lily suddenly screamed.
“Mommy! The bad man is coming!””
A second vehicle had pulled into the driveway.
Daniel stepped out.
He was no longer wearing his tuxedo jacket.
His face was bruised, and his right hand was wrapped in a bandage.
He walked toward Vanessa.
“You were supposed to wait for me.””
Vanessa glared at him.
“You said you had everything under control!””
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“Brother. Still playing the hero?””
Marcus moved in front of me.
“It's over, Daniel.””
Daniel laughed.
“Not even close.””
He pulled a document from his coat.
“Do you know what happens when the majority shareholders discover that you've been hiding your wife's identity, your son's paternity, and a second child?””
Marcus frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel held up the document.
“An emergency board resolution.””
He smiled.
“Effective immediately, control of Blackwood Enterprises transfers to the interim chairman.””
Marcus stared at the signature.
His own name appeared at the bottom.
But he hadn't signed it.
“That's a forgery.””
Daniel shrugged.
“Prove it.””
Then he looked toward Vanessa.
“Give me the children.””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Daniel, we agreed—”
“Now!””
He grabbed Lily's arm.
She screamed.
I rushed forward.
“Don't touch my daughter!””
Daniel shoved me backward.
Marcus lunged at him.
The two men crashed against the iron railing.
The gun slipped from Vanessa's hand and landed on the stone pathway.
A police siren sounded in the distance.
Vanessa immediately reached for the weapon.
Eleanor struck her wrist with her cane.
The gun slid beneath a parked car.
“Run!”” Eleanor shouted.
A police officer rushed through the gate.
“Drop your hands! Now!””
Daniel released Marcus.
Vanessa backed toward the house.
But Lily broke free and ran straight into my arms.
I held her so tightly that she began crying against my shoulder.
“Mommy, I waited for you.””
I kissed her hair.
“I'm here, baby. I'm here.””
Marcus knelt beside us.
“Lily, sweetheart. I'm your daddy.””
She looked at him.
Then she pointed toward Daniel.
“Daddy, he told Mommy Vanessa that you weren't my real father.””
Marcus's face went pale.
Daniel laughed.
“She's telling the truth.””
Marcus slowly turned toward him.
Daniel continued.
“Lily is my biological daughter.””
I felt my arms tighten around her.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Is that true?””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
Then she whispered something none of us expected.
“Lily is Daniel's daughter.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“But Noah…”
Vanessa began crying.
“Noah is yours.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did you tell Noah that his mother was dead?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because I needed him to believe it.””
“Why?””
She wiped her tears.
“Because if you had returned, you would have discovered what happened to your first child.””
I froze.
“What are you talking about?””
Vanessa looked toward Daniel.
Then she said the words that made Richard's earlier warning echo in my mind.
“Danielle, you didn't give birth to two babies that night.””
She paused.
“You gave birth to three.””
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And somewhere inside the house, a phone began ringing.
*The caller ID displayed one name: DANIELLE BLACKWOOD.*
