Chapter 10: The Little Girl Who Called Me Mommy
"Emily, don't move.""
Michael's voice was firm, but I barely heard him.
I was staring at my phone.
The little girl's voice kept replaying in my mind.
Mommy, Grandma says you're not coming to get us.
I looked at Tyler.
"Do you recognize that voice?""
He shook his head.
"I've never heard it before.""
Vanessa had gone completely pale.
Michael noticed.
"Vanessa, you know something.""
She shook her head.
"Don't ask me.""
"Who was that child?""
"I don't know.""
Rachel stepped closer.
"Your reaction suggests otherwise.""
Vanessa covered her face.
Then she whispered, "Her name is Sophie.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who is Sophie?""
Vanessa looked at Tyler.
"She's Margaret's granddaughter.""
Tyler stared.
"But Margaret only has one son. Me.""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"That's what everyone believes.""
Michael crossed his arms.
"Start talking.""
Vanessa sat down.
"Before Margaret arranged the surrogacy, she told me about another child. A little girl who had been living with a family in Georgia.""
Tyler frowned.
"What family?""
"I don't know their names. Margaret said the girl's mother had died shortly after giving birth.""
Rachel opened her notebook.
"How old is she?""
"Almost four.""
I felt a chill.
Four years old.
My daughters were three months old.
Margaret had been hiding an entire child for years.
Vanessa continued.
"She said the little girl was Tyler's daughter.""
Tyler stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.
"What?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Margaret said your father had arranged everything before he died.""
"That's impossible. I've never had another child.""
"She showed me a photograph.""
Tyler grabbed his phone.
"Where is it?""
Vanessa opened her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed a little girl with curly brown hair, standing beside a woman in a hospital gown.
The child's eyes were unmistakable.
They were Tyler's eyes.
I looked at the photograph.
"Who is the woman?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Her name was Lauren.""
Tyler went completely still.
I turned toward him.
"You know her?""
He nodded slowly.
"Lauren was my college girlfriend.""
His voice became distant.
"We dated for almost a year. She disappeared after graduation. I tried contacting her, but her number changed.""
Michael took the photograph.
"Did she ever tell you she was pregnant?""
Tyler shook his head.
"Never.""
Vanessa spoke quietly.
"Margaret found out. She paid Lauren to disappear.""
I stared at her.
"She paid a woman to give up her child?""
"Not exactly. Margaret arranged for Lauren to stay with a family friend. She told her that Tyler wanted nothing to do with the baby.""
Tyler looked devastated.
"She told Lauren that?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She said it was easier that way.""
Michael placed the photograph on the table.
"Then why did Margaret bring this child into the current situation?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Because Sophie is Tyler's firstborn child. Under the original trust, she has rights too.""
Rachel immediately opened the agreement.
"That changes the beneficiary calculations.""
Tyler stared at the paper.
"My mother hid my daughter for four years?""
Vanessa began crying.
"She said she was protecting the family.""
I stepped back.
I couldn't process another betrayal.
A secret girlfriend.
A hidden daughter.
A second baby.
And a mother-in-law who apparently viewed children as pieces on a financial chessboard.
Then Rachel's phone rang.
She answered.
"Yes, this is Rachel Collins.""
Her expression changed.
"Do you have the records?""
She listened.
Then she looked at Tyler.
"There's a birth record matching the child's information.""
Tyler gripped the table.
"Is she my daughter?""
Rachel nodded.
"According to the preliminary records, yes.""
He covered his mouth.
For a moment, he looked like a man who had just discovered that his entire life had been built on lies.
Then he looked at me.
"Emily, I didn't know.""
I believed that part.
But believing him didn't mean I could forgive everything else.
Michael stood.
"We need to locate Sophie and Lauren. And we need to secure the property in Coral Gables.""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't go there.""
"Why?""
"Because Margaret isn't alone.""
Michael narrowed his eyes.
"Who is with her?""
Vanessa whispered:
"The man who arranged Tyler's medical treatment aboard the ship.""
Rachel froze.
"The fake doctor?""
Vanessa nodded.
"He isn't a doctor. His name is Daniel Cross. He used to work in private security.""
Tyler looked at her.
"What does he want?""
Vanessa wiped her face.
"He's the person Margaret hired to make sure you never reach your birthday.""
Before anyone could respond, the officer approached.
"Mr. Bennett, we have a vehicle outside.""
Michael turned.
"Who?""
The officer lowered his voice.
"Someone claiming to be Lauren.""
Tyler's face drained of color.
Then the officer added:
May you like
"She says she has evidence that Margaret paid someone to arrange Tyler's death.""
And she refuses to speak to anyone except his wife.
