Chapter 8: The Daughter Who Could Save Her Sister
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
"One of my other daughters?""
Victoria nodded.
"Rosie is a potential donor match.""
I stared at her.
"How do you know that?""
"Your father arranged genetic testing through the family foundation.""
I felt sick.
"You tested my daughters without my permission?""
"Emma needed help.""
"Then why did you withdraw the authorization?""
My mother looked toward the nurse.
"Because I don't trust the results.""
The nurse stepped forward.
"Mrs. Caruso, the compatibility screening was conducted by an accredited laboratory. We have already explained the findings.""
Victoria ignored her.
"Dominic, listen to me. If Rosie becomes involved, the entire family could be exposed.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You're worried about exposure while your granddaughter is fighting for her life?""
"There's more at stake than you realize.""
I pulled out my phone.
"Then tell me everything.""
She shook her head.
"Not here.""
"Now.""
Emma watched us silently.
She was clutching her yellow duck so tightly that its little fabric wings were bent.
I crouched beside her.
"Sweetheart, Daddy needs to talk to the doctors. I'll be right back.""
She nodded.
"Will you come back?""
I kissed her forehead.
"Always.""
I stepped into the hallway with the nurse.
"Tell me exactly what Emma needs.""
The nurse introduced herself as Sarah.
She explained that Emma had been diagnosed with a serious inherited blood disorder. Her treatment team had identified a potential matched donor, and Rosie had been tested as part of the family investigation.
"Is Rosie a suitable donor?"" I asked.
"Her preliminary results are promising. But we need formal confirmation and parental consent before proceeding with any further evaluation.""
"Can that be arranged?""
"Yes, if the legal situation is clarified.""
I nodded.
"Then start the process.""
Sarah hesitated.
"There's another issue.""
"What?""
"The original guardianship paperwork lists Margaret Caruso as Emma's biological aunt.""
I frowned.
"That's correct, apparently.""
"But there's a second record. It lists Victoria Caruso as the person who requested the initial genetic testing.""
I looked at my mother.
"Why?""
Sarah lowered her voice.
"She wasn't simply trying to identify a donor. She also requested a confidential ancestry report.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why would she need that?""
"I don't know. But the report was never added to Emma's medical file.""
I turned toward Victoria.
She was standing near the window, speaking urgently on her phone.
I walked toward her.
"Who were you calling?""
She ended the call.
"Nobody.""
"Who authorized Emma's genetic testing?""
"I did.""
"Why?""
She looked at me.
"Because I needed to know whether she was really your father's granddaughter.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Victoria's voice trembled.
"Your father had a hereditary condition. It was the reason he spent years visiting specialists. When Emma was born, I noticed something in her medical results.""
"And?""
"Her bloodwork suggested the possibility of a genetic connection to someone outside our family.""
I shook my head.
"That makes no sense.""
"Margaret claimed Emma was her brother's granddaughter. But I knew something wasn't right.""
"You're saying Emma might not be my father's granddaughter?""
My mother looked down.
"I'm saying there was a reason I couldn't allow the original records to remain accessible.""
I grabbed her arm.
"Stop speaking in riddles!""
A doctor approached.
"Mr. Caruso?""
I released my mother.
"I'm Dr. Bennett. Emma's attending physician.""
"How is my daughter?""
"She's stable at the moment. But we need to resolve the donor authorization as soon as possible.""
I nodded.
"Do whatever is medically appropriate. I'll provide the necessary parental consent.""
Dr. Bennett glanced at Victoria.
"There's one more thing you should know. We received a call earlier from a woman claiming to be Emma's mother.""
My heart stopped.
"Who?""
"She said her name was Isabella Caruso.""
I grabbed the doctor's sleeve.
"Did you speak to her?""
"Only briefly. She asked whether Emma was still at this facility.""
"Where is she now?""
"We don't know. She disconnected before we could confirm her identity.""
I pulled out my phone.
No new messages.
No missed calls.
Then a text appeared.
Unknown number.
*Dominic, I know you're with Emma. Please don't let Victoria take her. I'm coming.*
I stared at the screen.
A second message arrived.
*There's something I haven't told you about Margaret. She wasn't the only person involved in Emma's birth.*
I looked toward my mother.
"Who else was involved?""
Victoria's face changed.
Then the elevator doors opened.
A woman stepped out.
She was wearing a dark blue coat and carrying a leather handbag.
I recognized her immediately.
My aunt Margaret.
She looked at me.
Then at Victoria.
"Dominic," she said quietly.
I stepped toward her.
"Where is my daughter?""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"I came to explain.""
"Explain why you took Emma?""
"I didn't take her.""
"Then why does your name appear on her guardianship papers?""
She glanced toward the hospital room.
"Because I was trying to save her.""
"From whom?""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"From your mother.""
Victoria laughed.
"Don't you dare pretend you're innocent.""
Margaret turned sharply.
"You promised me the child would be safe!""
"She was safe!""
"She was sick, Victoria! And you wouldn't let me bring her to her own mother!""
The hallway went silent.
I felt my heart stop.
I looked at Margaret.
"What did you just say?""
She covered her mouth.
Then she whispered:
"Dominic, Emma isn't my daughter.""
I stared at her.
"Then whose daughter is she?""
Margaret looked directly into my eyes.
"She's yours and Isabella's.""
I shook my head.
"Then who is Emma's biological mother?""
Margaret's voice broke.
"Isabella.""
I stepped backward.
"But you said—"
"I know what I signed. I know what the documents say. But Victoria forced me to take responsibility for Emma because she wanted to control the family trust.""
I turned toward my mother.
Victoria was trembling.
"Mom?""
She said nothing.
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"There's something else. Isabella didn't have three babies by accident. Your father had been hiding a medical inheritance arrangement for years.""
I frowned.
"What arrangement?""
Margaret looked toward Emma's room.
"An agreement that would transfer control of the entire Caruso medical foundation to the first grandchild born with your father's rare genetic marker.""
My blood ran cold.
"Emma?""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
May you like
Then she added:
"But Emma wasn't the only baby who inherited it.""
