Chapter 7: The Woman Who Claimed to Be Lily's Mother
I stared at the front door.
The woman outside had just claimed to be Lily's biological mother.
But Vanessa was standing three feet away from me, crying so hard she could barely breathe.
"Don't open it," she whispered.
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because she's lying.""
The doorbell rang again.
Then the woman outside spoke.
"Mark, I know you're confused. But I have proof. Please, let me see my daughter.""
Lily stood halfway down the staircase.
"Mommy, who's outside?""
Vanessa immediately rushed toward her.
"Go upstairs, sweetheart.""
"But she said she's my mother.""
Vanessa stopped.
Her face crumpled.
I had never seen my wife look so frightened.
I walked to the front door and checked the security camera.
An elderly woman stood on the porch. Her silver hair was tucked beneath a beige scarf, and she held a thick envelope.
Beside her stood a young woman in her twenties.
The young woman was holding a photograph.
Michael suddenly appeared behind me.
When he saw the photograph, he grabbed the doorframe.
"That's impossible.""
"What?""
He pointed at the young woman.
"I know her.""
The woman outside looked directly into the camera.
"Michael, if you're in there, I need you to listen. Your father has lied to you about everything.""
I opened the door.
The elderly woman stepped inside.
She looked around the hallway, then stopped when she saw Vanessa.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Finally, Vanessa whispered, "Margaret.""
The older woman nodded.
"Hello, Vanessa.""
Vanessa backed away.
"You were supposed to be dead.""
Margaret gave a bitter laugh.
"So was your husband, apparently.""
My father remained seated at the dining table.
He looked irritated rather than surprised.
"Margaret, you should have stayed away.""
She turned toward him.
"Richard, you've taken enough from this family.""
My father stood.
"You have no idea what you're talking about.""
"I know exactly what I'm talking about. I know what happened in that hospital. I know what you did to Michael. And I know what happened to the original Bennett children.""
I looked at the young woman.
"Who is she?""
Margaret placed a hand on her shoulder.
"This is Sophie.""
The young woman stepped forward.
"Hello, Mark.""
Her voice trembled.
I looked at her face.
Something about her seemed familiar.
The shape of her eyes. The small dimple in her left cheek.
Then she looked at Michael.
"Uncle Michael?""
He went completely still.
"Who are you?""
Sophie held out the photograph.
It showed a younger Michael standing beside a woman holding a newborn baby.
The woman was Vanessa.
Michael stared at the picture.
"That's from the hospital.""
Sophie nodded.
"My mother told me you were dead.""
Michael looked at Vanessa.
"Your mother?""
Vanessa slowly covered her mouth.
Margaret spoke quietly.
"Sophie is Vanessa's biological daughter. She was born before Lily.""
I turned toward my wife.
"How many children do you have?""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"Mark, I can explain.""
Sophie interrupted.
"No. You've had years to explain.""
She placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Vanessa holding a baby boy.
A date was written on the back.
Eight years earlier.
The same year Michael supposedly died.
My brother stared at the photograph.
"That's the year I disappeared.""
Sophie nodded.
"My mother gave birth to me at seventeen. But she was told I died.""
Vanessa began crying.
"Because your grandfather arranged it.""
Sophie stepped closer.
"You let me grow up believing I had no family.""
"I was seventeen," Vanessa whispered.
"I was terrified.""
"And what about Lily?""
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
"Your grandfather told me Lily was safer with me.""
Margaret shook her head.
"That's not the whole truth.""
She opened her envelope and removed a hospital document.
It contained three birth records.
One belonged to Sophie.
One belonged to Lily.
The third had no name.
Only a handwritten note:
*Infant transferred to private custody under authorization of Richard Bennett.*
I looked at my father.
"How many children did you steal?""
He slammed his palm against the table.
"Those children were protected!""
Margaret stared at him.
"Protected from whom? Their own parents?""
My father ignored her.
He looked at Sophie.
"You're not supposed to be here.""
Sophie stepped backward.
"Why?""
"Because your mother signed an agreement.""
Vanessa looked confused.
"What agreement?""
My father smiled.
"Ask her what she received in exchange for giving up her children.""
The room went silent.
Vanessa looked at Margaret.
Margaret lowered her eyes.
Then my father reached into his briefcase and pulled out a document.
"Here is the original contract. Signed by Evelyn Cross, Vanessa Bennett, and Margaret Whitmore.""
I took it.
The first page contained financial figures.
The second contained signatures.
But the third page had something that made my blood run cold.
A photograph of Lily.
Taken in our house three days earlier.
Beneath it were six words:
*Final transfer scheduled for tomorrow morning.*
I looked at my father.
"Transfer to where?""
He smiled.
"Ask your wife.""
Vanessa suddenly screamed.
May you like
"HE WAS GOING TO TAKE LILY!""
And for the first time, my father looked genuinely angry.
