Chapter 9: The Daughter Michael Never Told Me About
I stared at the phone.
"What did you just say?""
The woman on the other end began crying.
"My name is Sophie. I'm twenty-two. Michael was my father.""
I felt as if someone had pulled the floor from beneath me.
I looked at my own father.
He immediately recognized that something was wrong.
"Emily?""
I raised one hand, asking him to wait.
"How do you know Michael?""
"Because I grew up believing he abandoned me.""
My throat tightened.
"That's impossible.""
"I know how it sounds.""
"Michael never told me he had another daughter.""
Sophie took a shaky breath.
"He probably didn't know about me until recently.""
I sat down.
"Explain.""
"My mother was named Claire. She and Michael dated when they were in college. She got pregnant, but Michael's family paid her to disappear.""
I closed my eyes.
Michael had once mentioned a college girlfriend, but he'd never spoken about a child.
"Why are you calling me now?""
"Because my grandmother contacted me three days ago.""
I froze.
"Margaret?""
"Yes.""
Sophie continued.
"She told me Michael had died, and that I was entitled to part of his estate. She wanted me to sign some documents.""
I glanced at the wooden box on the table.
"What documents?""
"Something transferring my inheritance rights to her.""
My father leaned closer.
"Ask her whether she signed anything.""
I repeated the question.
"No," Sophie answered quickly.
"I refused. I asked to see the original trust agreement, and she became furious.""
"Why?""
"Because I found a different document in the packet she sent me.""
"What document?""
"A birth certificate.""
My stomach tightened.
Sophie continued.
"It had Michael listed as my father. But the date of birth was wrong.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had gone pale.
"How wrong?""
"Four years.""
I frowned.
"That doesn't make sense.""
Sophie whispered:
"Because the document wasn't mine. It belonged to another child.""
My father took the phone from my hand and placed it on speaker.
"Miss Carter, this is Robert Ashford. Please tell us exactly what you found.""
Sophie hesitated.
Then she answered.
"The document was for a little boy named Noah. His mother was Claire.""
I stared at the floor.
"Michael had another child?""
"I think so. But there's something else.""
"What?""
Sophie began crying harder.
"My grandmother told me that Michael had arranged for Noah to be placed with another family. She said he was trying to hide the boy's identity.""
I looked at Lily's bassinet.
"Where is Noah now?""
"I don't know. That's why I contacted you.""
My father leaned forward.
"Do you have any evidence?""
"Yes. I have copies of the documents Margaret sent me. And I have an audio message.""
"Can you send it?""
"I already sent it to the number I found in Michael's old contacts.""
My phone vibrated.
An audio file appeared.
I pressed play.
Margaret's voice filled the room.
"Sophie, your father made terrible mistakes. But you can still receive what belongs to you. Sign the papers, and I'll make sure you never have to worry about money again.""
A younger female voice answered.
"What about the other child?""
Margaret went silent.
Then she replied:
"That child is irrelevant.""
The recording ended.
I looked at my father.
"She knew.""
He nodded slowly.
"Apparently.""
Sophie spoke again.
"Emily, there's one more thing. Margaret told me something about your husband.""
"What?""
"She said Michael wasn't the only person who knew about the original inheritance.""
My father frowned.
"Who else?""
Sophie answered.
"Your mother.""
I felt my heart stop.
"My mother died years ago.""
"I know. But Margaret said your mother left something with Michael. Something that proves the entire Carter family inheritance was stolen.""
I looked at the wooden box.
"Do you know where it is?""
Sophie hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Michael told me once that he hid it inside the house where your mother grew up.""
I stared at my father.
My mother's childhood home had been sold after her death.
Nobody in our family had visited it in years.
But I remembered something.
A small locked room beneath the staircase.
My mother had always called it her father's study.
She'd told me never to enter it.
I had assumed it contained old furniture and family photographs.
Now I wondered what she had really been protecting.
My father took a deep breath.
"Emily, we need to find that house.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That property was sold to a private buyer years ago.""
"Who bought it?"" I asked.
He looked through his notes.
Then his expression changed.
"Margaret Carter.""
I felt sick.
"She bought my mother's house?""
"Yes.""
My father immediately reached for his phone.
"We're going there.""
But before he could make another call, Sophie spoke again.
"Emily, wait.""
I brought the phone closer.
"What is it?""
"There's something I haven't told you.""
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"My grandmother didn't just send me those papers.""
"Then what did she do?""
"She sent me a photograph of a little boy.""
I stopped breathing.
Sophie continued.
"It was taken yesterday. He's about four years old.""
"Who is he?""
She began sobbing.
"His name is Noah. And the woman standing beside him is Margaret.""
My father grabbed the phone.
"Where was this photograph taken?""
Sophie gave us an address.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Emily, I think Margaret has been keeping Michael's son hidden all these years.""
I looked at Lily.
My daughter was sleeping peacefully.
But suddenly, I understood why Margaret had been so desperate to control the inheritance.
It wasn't only about the money.
She was hiding a family secret that could destroy everything.
Then Sophie sent one final message.
*I know where Noah is. But someone just called me asking whether I've spoken to you.*
A second message appeared.
*Emily, don't trust the person who comes to your hotel next.*
At that exact moment, someone knocked on my suite door.
Three slow knocks.
My father moved toward the entrance.
"Who is it?""
A familiar male voice answered.
"Robert, it's me.""
My father froze.
It was Richard.
May you like
But the next sentence was what made me pull Lily out of her bassinet.
"Open the door. I know who really ordered Michael's accident.""
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