Chapter 4: The Secret My Father Took to His Grave
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The sentence on my father's letter seemed to burn through the paper.
If Daniel ever tries to take my grandchildren, tell Laura who their real father is.
I read it again.
Then I looked at Michael.
"What does that mean?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Laura, I need you to let me explain.""
"No. You need to tell me why my dead father left a message suggesting my daughters have a different father.""
Michael rubbed his forehead.
"Your father discovered something shortly before he died. He hired a private investigator because he suspected Daniel was hiding financial problems. During that investigation, something else came to light.""
"What?""
"Daniel wasn't the first man your mother was involved with before you were born.""
I stared at him.
"That's not funny.""
"I'm not joking.""
"My mother died when I was seventeen. What does she have to do with this?""
Michael placed another photograph on the table.
It showed my mother standing beside a man outside a hospital.
I recognized the man immediately.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
My medical director.
The same man whose signature appeared on the fraudulent medical certification.
I stepped backward.
"How did Mom know him?""
"Your father discovered that they had known each other for years. He believed Samuel might have been your biological father.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"But Dad raised me.""
"Yes. And he loved you. Nothing in those documents changes that.""
I covered my mouth.
Michael continued.
"Your father never wanted this information to hurt you. He only wanted to make sure nobody could use it against you.""
I sank into a chair.
Then I remembered something.
My father had always become unusually quiet whenever I mentioned Dr. Reed.
I'd assumed it was because he disliked doctors.
Apparently, there had been another reason.
"What does this have to do with Daniel?""
Michael opened the investigator's report.
"Six months ago, Daniel contacted Samuel. He claimed he needed access to your medical records for the custody case.""
"Why would Samuel help him?""
"Because Daniel told him something.""
Michael hesitated.
"What?""
"He said he knew about your mother's relationship and intended to expose it unless Samuel helped him.""
I felt nauseated.
"So Daniel blackmailed him?""
"That's what the report suggests.""
My phone rang.
Dr. Reed.
I stared at the screen before answering.
"Laura," he said immediately.
"We need to talk.""
"About the medical certification?""
Silence.
Then he sighed.
"I can explain.""
"Did you sign a document claiming I'm medically incapacitated?""
"Daniel told me you were having serious problems.""
"Did you examine me?""
"No.""
"Then how could you certify anything?""
His voice became defensive.
"Laura, I was trying to prevent a difficult situation from becoming worse.""
"By helping my husband take my children?""
"That's not what I intended.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you know he was sleeping with my sister?""
Another silence.
Then he said something that made my stomach tighten.
"Vanessa told me she was protecting the girls.""
I closed my eyes.
"From their mother?""
"Laura, please. You don't understand the whole situation.""
"Then explain it.""
He lowered his voice.
"Meet me alone. There are things about your father, your mother, and Daniel that Michael hasn't told you.""
I glanced at my brother.
He shook his head.
"Where?"" I asked.
"St. Catherine's Hospital. My office. Eight o'clock.""
I ended the call.
Michael immediately objected.
"You're not going there alone.""
"I need answers.""
"We can send the attorney.""
"No. I want to hear him say it.""
Michael studied me.
Then he nodded.
"Fine. But we're documenting everything, and you're not signing anything.""
At 7:45, we arrived at the hospital.
The corridors smelled of disinfectant and burnt coffee.
Everything looked painfully familiar.
Nurses hurried between rooms. Monitors beeped behind closed doors. A child cried near the elevators.
I'd spent eight years working in this building.
Now I felt like a stranger.
Dr. Reed was waiting in his office.
He looked older than I remembered.
"Thank you for coming," he said.
I remained standing.
"Start talking.""
He closed the door.
"Your father knew about your mother and me.""
"Was he my biological father?""
Dr. Reed swallowed.
"I don't know. Your mother never told me.""
"Did you help Daniel?""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
The admission hit harder than I expected.
"Why?""
"Daniel showed me messages suggesting you were struggling emotionally. He said the girls were frightened and that you were considering leaving them.""
"All lies.""
"I understand that now.""
"Now?""
He opened a drawer and removed a sealed envelope.
"Daniel came to me three days ago. He wanted me to sign another statement.""
"What statement?""
"One claiming you had voluntarily abandoned your children.""
My hands tightened.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
He looked directly at me.
"Because I saw the photographs he brought.""
My heart began pounding.
"What photographs?""
Dr. Reed slid a printed picture across the desk.
It showed Daniel and Vanessa entering a private clinic.
The date was six weeks earlier.
On the back, someone had written:
*DNA RESULTS — CONFIRMATION REQUIRED.*
I looked up.
"What is this?""
Dr. Reed's voice dropped.
"Daniel told me he had discovered something about one of your daughters.""
Before I could ask another question, his office phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?""
His expression changed.
Then he slowly put the receiver down.
"Laura, you need to leave.""
"Why?""
May you like
He looked toward the door.
"Because Daniel just arrived with a police officer.""
