Chapter 8: The Contract That Sold My Daughter
I grabbed the document so tightly that the paper began tearing.
"Tomorrow morning?"" I demanded.
"What does that mean?""
My father adjusted his cuffs.
"It means Lily has a future beyond this little house.""
I stepped toward him.
"She's seven years old.""
"She's an heir.""
"She's my daughter!""
He smiled coldly.
"That's precisely what we're trying to establish.""
Vanessa rushed between us.
"Mark, please. Don't let him take her.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew about this?""
She shook her head.
"I knew he wanted to move her somewhere. I didn't know it was happening tomorrow.""
My father laughed.
"You signed the agreement, Vanessa.""
"I signed because you threatened Sophie!""
Sophie looked at her mother.
"You told me you were protecting me.""
"I was.""
"Then why did you give them my name?""
Vanessa covered her face.
Margaret quietly pulled out a chair.
"Everyone needs to sit down. There are things Richard hasn't told you.""
My father glared at her.
"Don't start.""
She ignored him.
"Twenty-five years ago, Richard discovered that your mother had inherited a substantial estate from her family. The money was placed in a trust for her children.""
I frowned.
"What trust?""
"One that could only be accessed by her biological descendants.""
Margaret placed another document on the table.
"The trust included land, property, shares in several companies, and an account worth millions.""
I looked at my father.
"That's why you switched the hospital records.""
He didn't answer.
Margaret continued.
"Richard wanted control. He arranged for the children to be separated and their identities changed. He believed that if the records disappeared, he could control the inheritance.""
Michael clenched his fists.
"And when I discovered the truth?""
My father looked at him.
"You were supposed to stay quiet.""
Michael laughed bitterly.
"So you buried me alive.""
"I kept you alive.""
"You locked me in a room without sunlight!""
My father raised his voice.
"You were making dangerous accusations!""
I stepped between them.
"Enough.""
I looked at Margaret.
"Why does he need Lily tomorrow?""
She hesitated.
"Because tomorrow is the date the trust becomes fully transferable under the original agreement.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Who receives it?""
Margaret looked at Vanessa.
"Whoever can prove they are the legitimate firstborn descendant.""
I looked at the photograph of Lily.
"She's seven.""
"Exactly," Margaret replied.
"Richard wants legal guardianship transferred before the verification process begins.""
My father smiled.
"And Vanessa agreed.""
Vanessa shook her head violently.
"I agreed to protect Lily from you!""
"Then why did you sign?""
"Because you said you'd leave Sophie alone!""
Sophie stepped toward her mother.
"You used me as a bargaining chip?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"I was trying to save both of you.""
Sophie turned away.
I couldn't blame her.
I was beginning to understand that everyone in the room had been lying to someone.
And my daughter was the prize.
I pulled out my phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
My father didn't move.
"Go ahead.""
I dialed emergency services.
Before the call connected, he spoke again.
"Tell them about the original hospital records. Tell them about the illegal transfers. Tell them your wife signed the agreement.""
I froze.
He leaned forward.
"And when they ask who authorized the disappearance of three children, make sure you give them every name.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was shaking.
Margaret suddenly stood.
"Richard, stop.""
He turned toward her.
"Or what?""
Margaret reached into her handbag and removed a small voice recorder.
"I kept the original conversations.""
My father went pale.
She pressed a button.
A familiar voice filled the room.
Richard's voice.
"Once the girl is transferred, nobody will ever find her.""
Then another voice answered.
Evelyn's.
"And what happens to Vanessa?""
Richard laughed.
"She'll be paid. Just like the others.""
Vanessa collapsed into a chair.
I stared at my father.
"You were going to buy my daughter.""
He shrugged.
"Don't be dramatic.""
The recording continued.
"If Mark discovers the truth, use the brother. Michael is already unstable. Nobody will believe him.""
Michael stepped forward.
"That was your plan?""
My father looked directly at him.
"It was the only way to keep this family together.""
Michael laughed.
"You destroyed this family.""
Then the recording played something else.
A sentence that made everyone stop.
Richard's voice became quieter.
"There's still the third child. Once we find her, the trust is ours.""
I looked at Margaret.
"What third child?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, Sophie slowly pulled a photograph from her pocket.
It showed three newborn babies lying in hospital bassinets.
Three.
Not two.
Not the children we had been discussing.
Three.
On the back were three names.
Mark.
Michael.
And a third name that had been crossed out.
I turned toward my father.
"Who was the third baby?""
He said nothing.
Margaret looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"Your mother gave birth to triplets, Mark.""
Before I could speak, the lights went out.
Someone grabbed my shoulder.
Lily screamed upstairs.
And when the emergency lights finally flickered on, my father was gone.
May you like
So was the contract.
But the front door was still locked.
