Chapter 13: The Truth About the Fourth Child
The photograph of my daughters remained on my phone.
Lily was sitting on a narrow hospital bed, clutching a stuffed rabbit. Grace sat beside her, holding Lily's hand.
Both girls looked terrified.
I zoomed in.
There was a small digital clock on the wall behind them.
11:42 p.m.
We had less than two hours.
“I'm going,” I said.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
“You're not going alone.””
The message had specifically warned me not to bring him.
I looked at the second message again.
Your brother is not who you think he is.
“Daniel, why would someone send that?””
He shrugged.
“Your father is trying to turn us against each other.””
My father stood near the coffee shop entrance, surrounded by two security guards.
“Actually,” he said, “he should listen.””
I turned.
“What now?””
Arthur removed a photograph from his wallet.
It showed Daniel as a newborn, wrapped in a hospital blanket.
Beside him stood a woman.
Margaret Collins.
My biological grandmother.
Daniel stared at the picture.
“Why are you showing me this?””
“Because you've spent your entire life believing I stole you from your mother.””
“Didn't you?””
Arthur shook his head.
“No. Margaret agreed to the arrangement. She was paid to carry the embryos, but she was also your biological mother.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Then why did she spend years searching for me?””
“Because she changed her mind.””
Dr. Carter stepped forward.
“Arthur, that's enough.””
He ignored her.
“Margaret discovered that the program was using her genetic material to create multiple children. She wanted custody. I refused.””
Daniel's fists tightened.
“You told me she abandoned me.””
“She signed the agreement.””
“She was my mother!””
Arthur looked away.
Then he turned toward me.
“And Olivia was the child she tried hardest to protect.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Who is Olivia?””
My father hesitated.
“Margaret's first child. She was born before the fertility program officially began.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That's impossible. Olivia is my daughter.””
“Biologically, she may be your daughter. But she was born before you.””
I looked at Daniel.
He seemed genuinely confused.
My father continued.
“Twenty-six years ago, Margaret gave birth to a baby girl. She was placed with a family under a private adoption arrangement. Years later, Bennett used stored genetic material from that child to conduct further research.””
Dr. Carter interrupted.
“That's not what the original records say.””
My father turned sharply.
“You haven't seen the original records.””
She opened her handbag and removed a sealed envelope.
“I have.””
She placed it on the table.
Inside was a laboratory report.
The first page identified Olivia as the biological daughter of Margaret Collins and Arthur Mitchell.
The second page contained a genetic comparison.
Daniel's name appeared as a biological relative.
My father's name appeared beside another classification.
I read the conclusion twice.
Then I looked at Daniel.
“She's your half-sister.””
He sat down heavily.
For years, he'd believed Olivia was his daughter because Bennett had told him she was.
But the truth was far worse.
My father had used their genetic relationship to manipulate him.
Daniel looked at Arthur.
“You let me believe I had a daughter.””
“I gave you a reason to cooperate.””
Daniel suddenly stood.
He punched my father so hard that Arthur fell against the coffee shop counter.
The security guards rushed forward.
I stepped between them.
“Enough! We need to get the girls!””
Daniel was breathing heavily.
“I spent twenty-six years looking for a daughter who was never mine.””
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“She may not be your daughter, but she's still your family.””
He looked at me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Dr. Carter opened the final envelope.
“There is something else.””
She removed a photograph.
It showed Sarah holding two newborn girls.
On the back was a handwritten note.
My daughters, Lily and Grace. If anything happens to me, please tell Ryan that he was never responsible for what our families did.
My eyes filled.
Dr. Carter explained.
“Sarah discovered that the original genetic records had been manipulated. Your father wanted the children to believe they were products of his research. But Sarah found proof that the program had been using unrelated donor material and falsified parentage reports.””
I looked at her.
“Does that mean the story about Sarah and me being related was false?””
She nodded.
“According to the original laboratory records, yes. Your father's sister was listed as the donor in the falsified report. The authentic sample records identify an unrelated donor.””
I felt a strange mixture of relief and rage.
My marriage to Sarah had been built on love.
My father had deliberately poisoned even the memories I had left of her.
“Then why did he lie?””
“Because the real donor records would expose the illegal research program.””
I looked at the blue ledger.
Everything was there.
Every payment.
Every transfer.
Every fabricated medical report.
My father slowly stood.
“You're making a mistake, Ryan.””
I looked at him.
“No. I made a mistake when I trusted you.””
He approached me.
“Give me the ledger. I'll arrange for the girls to be returned.””
I shook my head.
“You had five years to do that.””
He lowered his voice.
“Then you leave me no choice.””
He nodded toward the security guards.
One of them reached inside his jacket.
Daniel pulled me backward.
“MOVE!””
The coffee shop erupted into chaos.
Dr. Carter knocked over a chair.
I grabbed the ledger and ran toward the back exit.
Daniel followed.
We reached the parking lot and jumped into his car.
As he started the engine, I looked at my phone.
Another message had arrived.
*11:58 p.m. Project Sanctuary. Main entrance. Come alone.*
Then a final photograph appeared.
It showed Lily standing beside a woman in a white coat.
The woman was holding Lily's chin.
I recognized her.
She was Melissa.
May you like
But beneath the photograph was a message that made my blood run cold.
*Your wife has already chosen which daughter gets to leave.*
